Patent ID: 7530353
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A ventilator for ventilating a patient and for carrying out a determination of the functional residual capacity of the patient, said ventilator being couplable to a breathing circuit having a gas monitor and delivering/receiving breathing gases to/from the patient, said ventilator comprising: at least one gas flow control valve and controller for providing breathing gases containing oxygen and an inert gas to the breathing circuit for delivery to the patient; and for causing the ventilator to alter the amount of oxygen in the breathing gases provided to the breathing circuit and patient; a central processing unit incorporated in said ventilator for controlling said ventilator, said central processing unit employing the amount of inert gas expired by the patient obtained from measurements by the gas monitor following alteration of the amount of oxygen in the breathing gases to determine the functional residual capacity of the patient; and a display coupled to said central processing unit for displaying information relating to the operation of the ventilator and the determined functional residual capacity.