Patent ID: 6968842

Claim:
A pressure support system comprising: a motor having a plurality of phase windings; a switching element operatively coupled to the plurality of phase windings to selectively supply electrical power from a power source to the plurality of phase windings; a blower coupled to the motor, wherein rotation of the blower by the motor elevates a pressure of fluid at an outlet of the blower; a patient circuit coupled to the outlet of the blower and adapted to communicate the pressurized fluid with an airway of a patient; rotational speed controlling means for maintaining a rotational speed of the motor at a set rotational speed corresponding to a selected pressure for the fluid in the patient circuit, wherein the rotational speed of the motor is maintained at the set rotational speed based on a first signal that controls actuation of the switching element; and fluid parameter monitoring means for monitoring a parameter associated with a flow of fluid in the patient circuit based on the first signal produced by the rotational speed controlling means.