Patent ID: 7367337
Filing Date: 2008-05-06
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling a pressure support ventilator comprising the steps of: supplying breathable gas to a patient's airway at a pressure that varies during each respiratory cycle in accordance with an adjustable pressure waveform template having a shape and a variable amplitude, determining adequacy of ventilation of the patient, and automatically making a change to the amplitude and shape of said pressure waveform template in accordance with the determined adequacy of ventilation, wherein said change produces a decrease in ventilatory support and an increase in comfort when the ventilatory support exceeds that required by the patient, and wherein said pressure waveform template is nondecreasing during the inspiratory part of a cycle, is nonincreasing during the expiratory part of a cycle, and has both its inspiratory and expiratory parts defined by a single smoothness parameter whose value is automatically varied in accordance with the adequacy of patient ventilation.