Control of the administration of continuous positive airway pressure treatment

A CPAP treatment apparatus comprising:

• a patient mask coupled to an air delivery conduit;
• a blower for providing a supply of pressurised air or breathable gas to said patient mask via said air delivery conduit;
• and
• a controller having control over the blower to supply an inspiratory phase pressure and an expiratory phase pressure, and programmed to set a first flow threshold marking transitions between the inspiratory phase pressure and the expiratory phase pressure, and to set a second flow threshold, the controller further sensing flow due to a patient respiration and at least one of 1) selectively triggering generation of a continuous pressure at a level intermediate of the inspiratory phase and expiratory phase pressures for a period of time as a transitional state upon the first flow threshold being crossed, and 2) selectively triggering generation of another continuous pressure at a level intermediate of the expiratory phase and the inspiratory phase pressures for a period of time as a transitional state upon the second flow threshold being crossed.

A method for the administration of CPAP treatment comprising:

• providing a source of pressured air or breathable gas to a patient;
• controlling the pressure of the pressured air or breathable gas between an inspiratory phase level and a lower expiratory phase level;
• setting a first patient respiratory flow threshold;
• setting a second patient respiratory flow threshold;
• and
• at least one of 1) selectively generating a continuous intermediate pressure for a period of time as a transitional state upon the first patient respiratory flow threshold being crossed;
• and 2) selectively generating another continuous intermediate pressure for a period of time as a transitional state upon the second patient respiratory flow threshold being crossed.