Leak determination in a breathing assistance system
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorsCédric Jourdain, Olivier Bernadet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for estimating a leak flow in a breathing assistance system including a ventilation device connected to a patient are provided. Data of a flow waveform indicating the flow of gas between the ventilation device and the patient is accessed. A specific portion of the flow waveform is identified, and a linear regression of the identified portion of the flow waveform is performed to determine an estimated leak flow in the breathing assistance system.
Claims17
A breathing assistance system for providing breathing assistance to a patient, comprising:
- a pneumatic system for providing breathing assistance to a patient;
- and
- a controller configured to control one or more operational parameters of the pneumatic system, the controller configured to estimate a leak flow in a breathing assistance system including a ventilation device connected to a patient by:
- accessing data of a flow waveform indicating the flow of gas between the ventilation device and the patient;
- identifying a specific portion of the flow waveform as a steady phase portion;
- and
- performing a linear regression of the identified portion of the flow waveform to determine an estimated leak flow in the breathing assistance system;
- wherein identifying the steady phase portion comprises:
- identifying a reference period of the flow waveform;
- determining a representative flow rate for the reference period;
- determining a series of one or more consecutive qualifying periods of the flow waveform having representative flow rates that vary from the representative flow rate for the reference period by less than a predetermined amount;
- and
- defining the steady phase portion as including the reference period and the series of one or more consecutive qualifying periods.
A controller for a breathing assistance system, the controller including logic instructions embodied in tangible computer readable media and executable by one or more processors to:
- access data of a flow waveform indicating the flow of gas between the ventilation device and the patient;
- identify a specific portion of the flow waveform as a steady phase portion;
- and
- perform a linear regression of the identified portion of the flow waveform to determine an estimated leak flow in the breathing assistance system;
- wherein identifying the steady phase portion comprises:
- identifying a reference period of the flow waveform;
- determining a representative flow rate for the reference period;
- determining a series of one or more consecutive qualifying periods of the flow waveform having representative flow rates that vary from the representative flow rate for the reference period by less than a predetermined amount;
- and
- defining the steady phase portion as including the reference period and the series of one or more consecutive qualifying periods.
A method for estimating a leak flow in a breathing assistance system including a ventilation device connected to a patient, the method comprising:
- accessing data associated with a flow waveform indicating the flow of gas between the ventilation device and the patient;
- identifying a steady phase portion near the end of an exhalation phase;
- and
- performing a linear regression of the identified portion of the flow waveform to determine an estimated leak flow in the breathing assistance system;
- wherein identifying the steady phase portion comprises:
- identifying a reference period of the flow waveform;
- determining a representative flow rate for the reference period;
- determining a series of one or more consecutive qualifying periods of the flow waveform having representative flow rates that vary from the representative flow rate for the reference period by less than a predetermined amount;
- and
- defining the steady phase portion as including the reference period and the series of one or more consecutive qualifying periods.
A method for controlling breathing assistance provided to a patient, comprising:
- providing breathing assistance to a patient according to one or more operational parameters;
- estimating a leak flow by:
- accessing data of a flow waveform indicating the flow of gas between the ventilation device and the patient;
- identifying a steady phase portion near the end of an exhalation phase;
- performing a linear regression of the identified portion of the flow waveform to determine an estimated leak flow in the breathing assistance system;
- and
- controlling at least one of the operational parameters based at least on the estimated leak flow;
- wherein identifying the steady phase portion comprises:
- identifying a reference period of the flow waveform;
- determining a representative flow rate for the reference period;
- determining a series of one or more consecutive qualifying periods of the flow waveform having representative flow rates that vary from the representative flow rate for the reference period by less than a predetermined amount;
- and
- defining the steady phase portion as including the reference period and the series of one or more consecutive qualifying periods.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.