Control of mechanical ventilation based on laryngopharyngeal muscle activity

A system for use in connection with mechanical ventilation of a patient, provided by a ventilator, the system comprising:

• a bioelectric sensor arrangement configured to register at least one bioelectric signal, hereinafter referred to as LP signal, originating from and relating to muscular activity of at least one muscle in the laryngopharyngeal region of said patient;
• and
• at least one controller configured to control the operation of said ventilator based on said at least one LP signal,
• wherein the bioelectric sensor arrangement comprises:
• an oesophageal catheter having at least one LP electrode configured to register said at least one LP signal in the laryngopharyngeal region of the patient;
• and
• at least one diaphragm electrode configured to register at least one other signal related to the muscular activity of the patient's diaphragm,
• wherein the oesophageal catheter has a length along which the at least one LP electrode and the at least one diaphragm electrode are positioned, the oesophageal catheter being configured such that said length and said positions cause said at least one LP electrode to be positioned in the laryngopharyngeal region of the patient and the at least one diaphragm electrode to be positioned in a diaphragmatic region of the patient, when the oesophageal catheter is inserted as intended into the oesophagus of the patient.

A method for mechanically ventilating a patient with a ventilator, the method comprising:

• registering, by a bioelectric sensor arrangement, at least one laryngopharyngeal (LP) signal originating from and relating to muscular activity of at least one muscle in the laryngopharyngeal region of said patient, and
• controlling, by at least one controller, the operation of said ventilator based on said at least one LP signal, wherein the controlling comprises:
• determining if a level of ventilatory assist currently provided to the patient should be adjusted, based on said at least one LP signal;
• or
• determining if a level of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) currently applied to the patient should be adjusted, based on said at least one LP signal;
• or
• determining when to initiate an inspiratory cycle-off by determining when said at least one LP signal exceeds a certain threshold value serving as a trigger level for said inspiratory cycle-off;
• or
• using said at least one LP signal to detect false-triggering of patient-triggered respiration phases and/or reverse phase respiration.

A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium encoded with programming instructions, said storage medium when loaded into a control computer of a ventilator having a bioelectric sensor arrangement for registering at least one laryngopharyngeal (LP) signal originating from and relating to muscular activity of at least one muscle in the laryngopharyngeal region of said patient, said programming instructions causing said control computer to:

• receive, from said bioelectric sensor arrangement, said at least one LP signal;
• and
• control operation of said ventilator based on said at least one LP signal, wherein the control comprises:
• determining if a level of ventilatory assist currently provided to the patient should be adjusted, based on said at least one LP signal;
• or
• determining if a level of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) currently applied to the patient should be adjusted, based on said at least one LP signal;
• or
• determining when to initiate an inspiratory cycle-off by determining when said at least one LP signal exceeds a certain threshold value serving as a trigger level for said inspiratory cycle-off;
• or
• using said at least one LP signal to detect false-triggering of patient-triggered respiration phases and/or reverse phase respiration.