Patent ID: 7267122

Claim:
A system for delivering a flow of gas to an airway of a patient, the system comprising: a gas flow generating system that generates a flow of gas; a patient circuit coupled to the gas flow generating system and adapted to communicate the flow of gas to an airway of a patient; a sensor associated with the gas flow generating system or the patient circuit and adapted to measure a characteristic associated with the flow of gas within the patient circuit and to transmit a flow signal indicative thereof; target value determining means for monitoring an effectiveness of the system in treating Cheyne-Stokes respiration of such a patient and for setting a target value based on the monitored effectiveness; CSR monitoring means for determining whether such a patient's respiratory activity is indicative of Cheyne-Stokes respiration by comparing the characteristic associated with the flow of gas with the target value; and controlling means for controlling the gas flow generating system so as to cause the gas to be delivered at a sufficient pressure during at least a portion of a breathing cycle to treat Cheyne-Stokes respiration based on an output of the CRS monitoring means.