Patent ID: 8186344

Claim:
A method to control mechanical lung ventilation, comprising a safe band of volume as defined by a first lower volume limit and a first upper volume limit and comprising the steps of: i) monitoring a volume as inspired by a patient during a respiratory cycle for an inspiratory time, ii) detecting when the volume as inspired by the patient is outside the first limits defining the safe volume range, by: a) determining whether an inspired volume has reached the first upper volume limit, such that a flow and/or a pressure control valve is closed and an exhalation valve is opened, and b) if the inspired volume is below the first lower limit: b1) at least one of a number of cycles below said first lower limit within a pre-determined time interval is counted; b2) the number of cycles below said first lower limit counted in step b1) is compared to a pre-defined or pre-adjusted reference value, b3) determining whether the number of cycles below said first lower limit counted in step b1) is equal to or higher than the pre-defined or pre-adjusted reference value, a pressure value is increased by a pre-defined pressure increase value, and b4) steps b1)-b3) are repeated until the number of cycles below said first lower limit counted in step b1) is less than the pre-defined or pre-adjusted reference value.