Pressure support ventilatory assist system

A pressure support ventilatory assist device including a patient interface for a patient comprising:

• a blower for presenting fluid to said patient;
• a conduit for placing said blower in fluid communication with said patient;
• a bi-directional valve disposed within said conduit between said blower and said patient interface for varying a pressure of said fluid within said conduit, said bidirectional valve moving to a first position to communicate fluid from said blower to a patient for maintaining a predetermined fluid pressure within said conduit and said bi-directional valve also moving to a second position to communicate fluid from said conduit to ambient environment for maintaining a predetermined fluid pressure within said conduit;
• and
• a variable valve actuator capable of providing varying forces to said bidirectional valve for regulating a pressure of said fluid within said conduit.

A method for providing a predetermined fluid pressure to a patient utilizing a pressure support ventilatory assist device, said device including a blower for providing fluid, said method comprising:

• positioning a valve between said blower and said patient for controlling a pressure of said fluid presented to said patient;
• determining a desired inhalation pressure of fluid for said patient;
• manipulating a valve actuator to position said valve in a first position for providing fluid at a desired inhalation pressure;
• determining a desired pressure within said conduit upon exhalation of said individual;
• and
• manipulating said valve actuator to position said valve in a second position for venting said fluid into ambient environment until a desired exhalation pressure is achieved within said conduit.

A pressure support ventilatory assist system for providing breathable fluid to a patient at an inhalation pressure during patient inhalation and maintaining an exhalation pressure present in an airway of a patient during exhalation of a breathable fluid by such a patient, said system comprising:

• a blower for blowing a fluid;
• a conduit for placing said blower in fluid communication with said patient;
• and
• a pressure controller for controlling a rise in pressure within said conduit from said exhalation pressure to said inhalation pressure to correspond with a desired pressure rise profile.

A method of providing breathable fluid under pressure to a patient via a conduit in fluid communication with such a patients wherein said breathable fluid is presented to such a patient under an inhalation pressure and an exhalation pressure is maintained in said conduit during exhalation of said breathable fluid by such a patient, said method comprising:

• determining a desired inhalation pressure of fluid within said conduit during inhalation by a patient;
• determining a desired exhalation pressure of fluid within said conduit during exhalation by such a patient;
• determining a desired profile of increase between said exhalation pressure and said inhalation pressure;
• and
• controlling an increase in pressure in said conduit from said exhalation pressure to said inhalation pressure with respect to said profile rate of increase, wherein said increase in pressure follows a predetermined pattern that occurs over a predetermined time interval.

A method of maintaining breathable fluid under pressure in a conduit, wherein said breathable fluid is presented to a patient under an inhalation pressure and an exhalation pressure is maintained in said conduit during exhalation of said breathable fluid by said patient, said method comprising:

• determining a desired inhalation pressure of fluid within said conduit during inhalation by said patient;
• determining a desired exhalation pressure of fluid within said conduit during exhalation by said patient;
• determining a desired profile of decrease between said inhalation pressure and said exhalation pressure;
• and
• controlling a decrease in pressure in said conduit from said inhalation pressure to said exhalation pressure with respect to said desired profile of decrease in a controlled manner such that a predetermined pressure is present at a predetermined time.

A method of maintaining breathable fluid under pressure in a conduit, wherein said breathable fluid is presented to a patient at an inhalation pressure and a separate exhalation pressure is maintained in said conduit during said exhalation of breathable fluid by such a patient, said method comprising:

• establishing a desired inhalation pressure of fluid within said conduit for inhalation by a patient;
• determining a blower motor speed for generating a pressure output from said blower at a pressure equal to said inhalation pressure of fluid plus a compensation factor;
• and
• operating said blower at said optimum desired speed and maintaining said blower speed constant during both inhalation and exhalation by such a patient.