US 7,727,160 B2 · Ventilator patient synchronization

Abstract

A method and apparatus that provides an expert system for determining respiratory phase during ventilatory support of a subject. Discrete phase states are partitioned and prior probability functions and observed probability functions for each state are defined. The probability functions are based upon relative duration of each state as well as the flow characteristics of each state. These functions are combined to determine phase probabilities for each state using Bayes' theorem. The calculated probabilities for the states may then be compared to determine which state the subject is experiencing. A ventilator may then conform respiratory support in accordance with the most probable phase. To provide a learning feature, the probability functions may be adjusted during use to provide a more subject specific response that accounts for changing respiratory characteristics.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method for estimating a subject's respiratory phase by probability functions while the subject is being provided with respiratory support from a ventilator, said ventilator including a processor for computations, wherein the respiratory support of said ventilator matches the phase of the respiratory cycle of the subject, comprising the steps of:

partitioning the respiratory cycle into discrete phase states including respiratory states of inspiration and expiration and additional states within inspiration and expiration and
calculating the probabilities of the subject being in each phase state from probability functions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ventilator patient synchronization

Life of this patent

Ventilator patient synchronization

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29