Ventilator operable in a bioelectric signal-dependent mode, with automatic switching to another mode upon dropout of the bioelectric signal

A ventilator comprising:

• a first detector that detects electrical activity generated in a patient due to breathing activity by the patient, and that emits a bioelectric signal representing said electrical activity;
• a second detector that detects mechanical breathing dynamics of the patient and that emits a breathing parameter related to said mechanical breathing dynamics of the patient;
• a pneumatic unit configured for connection to the patient to provide breathing therapy to the patient;
• and
• a control unit comprising a first control input that receives said at least bioelectrical signal from said first detector, via an electrical path control circuitry supplied with said at least one bioelectrical signal from said first control input and configured to control said pneumatic unit in a first mode in which a first mode control signal is generated from the electrical activity represented by said bioelectric signal, a control output configured to output the first mode control signal to the pneumatic unit, a second control input that receives said breathing parameter from said second detector, said control circuitry being supplied with said breathing parameter from said second control input and said control circuitry being configured to determine when said bioelectrical signal is absent from said first control input and to analyze said breathing parameter to identify whether the absence of bioelectric signal from said first control input is due to a disruption of said electrical path, or a disturbance of said bioelectric signal, or a changed position of said first detector, or no generation of the bioelectric signal by the patient, and, if said control signal is absent, to switch from operating said pneumatic unit in said first mode to operate said pneumatic unit in a second mode in which a second mode control signal is generated from the mechanical breathing dynamic related to said breathing parameter, and in which said control output outputs said second control signal to said pneumatic unit.

A method for operating a ventilator configured for connection to a patient for breathing therapy, said ventilator comprising a control unit and a pneumatic unit, said method comprising:

• detecting a bioelectrical signal representing electrical activity generated in the patient due to breathing by the patient with a first detector;
• supplying said bioelectrical signal via an electric path to said control unit and from the control unit, operating the pneumatic unit of the ventilator in a first mode in which a first mode control signal is generated from the electrical activity represented by said bioelectric signal;
• also detecting, with a second detector, a breathing parameter related to mechanical breathing dynamics of the patient and supplying said breathing parameter to said control unit;
• and
• in said control unit, determining when said bioelectrical signal is absent and analyzing said breathing parameter to identify whether the absence of the bioelectric signal is due to disruption of said electrical path, or a disturbance of said bioelectric signal, or a changed position of said first detector, or no generation of the bioelectric signal by the patient, and, if said control signal is absent, switching from operating said pneumatic unit in said first mode to operating said pneumatic unit from the control unit in a second mode in which a second mode control signal is generated in the control unit from the mechanical breathing dynamics related to said breathing parameter.

A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium encoded with programming instructions and being loadable into a control unit of a ventilator configured for connection to a patient for breathing therapy, said ventilator also comprising a pneumatic unit, said storage medium being loaded into said control unit and said programming instructions causing said control unit to:

• receive, via an electrical path from a detector, a bioelectrical signal representing electrical activity generated in the patient due to breathing by the patient;
• generate a first mode control signal from the electrical activity represented by said bioelectric signal and operate the pneumatic unit of the ventilator in a first mode using said first mode control signal;
• also receive a breathing parameter related to mechanical breathing dynamics of the patient;
• and
• determine when said bioelectrical signal is absent and to analyze said breathing parameter to determine whether the absence of the bioelectric signal is due to disruption of said electrical path, or a disturbance of said bioelectric signal, or a changed position of the detector, or no generation of the bioelectric signal by the patient, and, if said control signal is absent, switch from operating said pneumatic unit in said first mode to operating said pneumatic unit from the control unit in a second mode in which a second mode according to a second mode control signal and generate the second mode control signal from the mechanical breathing dynamics related to said breathing parameter.