Patent ID: 9498589
Filing Date: 2016-11-22
CPC Classification: A61M

Claim Text:
1. A method for improving an accuracy of estimating an exhalation volume while ventilating a patient with a ventilator, the ventilator comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the method comprising: delivering a base flow to a patient during exhalation, wherein the base flow includes an estimated leak flow; determining, by the ventilator, an initial base flow to improve the accuracy of estimating the exhalation volume; determining, by the ventilator, an initial inspiratory trigger threshold to prevent false triggering while base flow is changing; delivering the initial base flow during at least a first portion of the exhalation while setting an inspiratory trigger threshold to the initial inspiratory trigger threshold; changing the base flow from the initial base flow toward a desired base flow during at least a second portion of exhalation; decreasing the inspiratory trigger threshold from the initial inspiratory trigger threshold toward a desired inspiratory trigger threshold while performing the step of changing the base flow; determining a change in the estimated leak flow; and progressively adjusting the base flow in a set time period during at least the second portion of exhalation to compensate for the determined change in the estimated leak flow while adjusting the inspiratory trigger threshold in the set time period.