Patent ID: 6945248

Claim:
A method for determining a delivery pressure at a mask during pressure assistance of a patient from remote measurements of pressure comprising: providing a controllable pressure delivery device with a mask and conduit; delivering pressure treatment to a patient through the conduit to the mask with the pressure delivery device; measuring a pressure distally from the mask; continuously determining a pressure characteristic for the conduit; calculating an instantaneous mask pressure as a function of the measured distal pressure and the determined pressure characteristic; calculating a conductance associated with a leak from said mask as a function of the average values of said instantaneous mask pressure and air flow to the mask taken over a time period that exceeds a normal breath; calculating an instantaneous leak flow based on said instantaneous mask pressure and said conductance; selecting a desired mask pressure for setting a delivery pressure for the patient; controlling the pressure delivery device to deliver the desired mask pressure as a function of the estimated mask pressure and the instantaneous leak airflow.