Patent ID: 8881725
Filing Date: 2014-11-11
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for determining a level of ventilatory assist to be delivered to a patient by a mechanical ventilator, comprising: measuring a patient's neural respiratory drive; using a first calculator to multiply the patient's neural respiratory drive by an existing value of an amplification factor to obtain an existing predicted ventilatory assist pressure; applying to the mechanical ventilator a first control signal representative of the existing predicted ventilatory assist pressure; measuring an existing resulting pressure delivered to the patient by the mechanical ventilator as a result of the first control signal; using a modifier to increase or decrease the amplification factor to obtain a new value of the amplification factor; using a second calculator to multiply the patient's neural respiratory drive by the new value of the amplification factor to obtain a new predicted ventilatory assist pressure; applying to the mechanical ventilator a second control signal representative of the new predicted ventilatory assist pressure; measuring a new resulting pressure delivered to the patient by the mechanical ventilator as a result of the second control signal; using a first comparator to compare the new predicted ventilatory assist pressure and the existing predicted ventilatory assist pressure to determine an anticipated change in pressure that will be delivered to the patient by the mechanical ventilator; using a second comparator to compare the new resulting pressure and the existing resulting pressure to determine an actual change in pressure delivered to the patient by the mechanical ventilator; using a third comparator to compare the anticipated change in pressure with the actual change in pressure; and using a third calculator to deliver a decision to increase, maintain or decrease the amplification factor in response to the comparison between the anticipated change and the actual change in pressure.