System and method for adjustable disconnection sensitivity for disconnection and occlusion detection in a patient ventilator

A system for detecting disconnection and occlusion of a patient tubing system of a pneumatically driven, electronically controlled ventilator system for providing breathing gas to a patient during the exhalation phase of a breath cycle, said exhalation phase having a plurality of control intervals, the system comprising:

• means for delivering a flow of breathing gas to a patient during an inspiratory phase of a breath cycle;
• means for determining an onset of an exhalation phase of said breath cycle;
• means for suspending gas flow delivery to the patient tubing system during said exhalation phase of said breath cycle;
• means for monitoring exhalation flow and pressure in the patient tubing system during a plurality of control intervals of said exhalation phase of said breath cycle to determine whether a condition indicating disconnection of the patient tubing system has occurred;
• means for monitoring exhalation pressure in the patient tubing system during a plurality of control intervals of said exhalation phase of said breath cycle to determine whether a condition indicating occlusion of the patient tubing system has occurred;
• and
• means for generating a disconnection signal indicating disconnection of the patient tubing system responsive to said exhalation flow and said pressure in said patient tubing system if said condition indicating occlusion of the patient tubing system has not occurred, and if said condition indicating disconnection of the patient tubing system has occurred.

A method for detecting occlusion of a patient tubing system of a pneumatic driven, electronically controlled ventilator system for providing breathing gas to a patient during the exhalation phase of a breath cycle, said exhalation phase having a plurality of control intervals, comprising the steps of:

• delivering a flow of breathing gas to a patient during an inspiratory phase of a breath cycle;
• determining an onset of an exhalation phase of said breath cycle;
• suspending gas flow delivery to the patient tubing system during said exhalation phase of said breath cycle;
• monitoring exhalation pressure in the patient tubing system during a plurality of control intervals of said exhalation phase of said breath cycle to determine whether a condition indicating occlusion of the patient tubing system has occurred;
• and
• generating a occlusion signal indicating occlusion of the patient tubing system responsive to said pressure in said patient tubing system if said condition indicating occlusion of the patient tubing system has occurred.

A system for detecting occlusion of a patient tubing system of a pneumatically driven, electronically controlled ventilator system for providing breathing gas to a patient during the exhalation phase of a breath cycle, said exhalation phase having a plurality of control intervals, each of said control intervals having a predetermined duration, the system comprising:

• means for delivering a flow of breathing gas to a patient during an inspiratory phase of a breath cycle;
• means for determining an onset of an exhalation phase of said breath cycle;
• means for suspending gas flow delivery to the patient tubing system during said exhalation phase of said breath cycle;
• means for monitoring exhalation pressure in the patient tubing system during a plurality of control intervals of said exhalation phase of said breath cycle to determine whether a condition indicating occlusion of the patient tubing system has occurred;
• and
• means for generating an occlusion signal indicating occlusion of the patient tubing system responsive to said pressure in said patient tubing system if said condition indicating occlusion of the patient tubing system has occurred.