Respiratory profile parameter determination method and apparatus

A method, implementable in computer-useable code, for determining a plurality of respiratory profile characteristics, the method comprising:

• measuring respiratory flow;
• generating data representative of said measured respiratory flow;
• detecting at least one patient breath based on said respiratory flow data;
• employing the computer-useable code to convert said respiratory pressure data from a time domain to a volume domain to determine a plurality of respiratory volume parameters, a plurality of respiratory phase duration parameters, and a plurality of respiratory flow rate parameters;
• employing the computer-useable code to calculate a plurality of respiratory pressure parameters based at least in part on said respiratory flow data in said volume domain;
• and
• employing the computer-useable code to calculate at least one respiratory mechanics parameter based on at least one of said plurality of respiratory volume parameters and at least one of said plurality of respiratory pressure parameters.

A computer system which determines a plurality of respiratory profile characteristics, comprising:

• a logic circuit for detecting a patient breath;
• a logic circuit for converting said plurality of respiratory pressure data from a time domain to a volume domain to determine a plurality of respiratory volume parameters, a plurality of respiratory phase duration parameters, and a plurality of respiratory flow rate parameters;
• a logic circuit for determining a plurality of respiratory pressure parameters;
• a logic circuit for determining a plurality of carbon dioxide-related parameters;
• and
• a logic circuit for determining a plurality of dead space parameters.