DETECTION OF EXPIRATORY AIRFLOW LIMITATION IN VENTILATED PATIENT
First Claim
1. A ventilator-implemented method for determining whether a ventilated patient exhibits an expiratory airflow limitation, the method comprising:
- monitoring ventilatory parameters;
trending airflow resistance over time during an expiratory phase to produce a resistance waveform;
calculating a slope of the resistance waveform;
comparing the slope of the resistance waveform to a defined slope threshold; and
determining that the patient exhibits an expiratory airflow limitation if the slope of the resistance waveform is greater than or equal to the defined slope threshold.
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Abstract
This disclosure describes systems and methods for monitoring and evaluating data associated with ventilatory parameters to detect expiratory airflow limitation in a ventilated patient. For example, a ventilator may monitor flow and/or pressure during ventilation of the patient. Based on the flow and/or pressure measurements, or ventilatory data derived therefrom, the ventilator may calculate expiratory resistance. Moreover, the ventilator may trend expiratory resistance over time to produce an expiratory resistance waveform. In embodiments, the ventilator may calculate the slope of the expiratory resistance waveform during an initial part of exhalation. If the slope of the expiratory resistance waveform during the initial part of exhalation breaches a defined slope threshold, the ventilator may determine that the patient exhibits expiratory airflow limitation.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A ventilator-implemented method for determining whether a ventilated patient exhibits an expiratory airflow limitation, the method comprising:
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monitoring ventilatory parameters; trending airflow resistance over time during an expiratory phase to produce a resistance waveform; calculating a slope of the resistance waveform; comparing the slope of the resistance waveform to a defined slope threshold; and determining that the patient exhibits an expiratory airflow limitation if the slope of the resistance waveform is greater than or equal to the defined slope threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system, comprising:
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at least one processor; and at least one memory, communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and containing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause a controller to determine whether the ventilated patient exhibits expiratory airflow limitation, the controller comprising; a monitoring module for monitoring ventilatory parameters; an expiratory resistance detection module for; calculating airflow resistance during an expiratory phase; trending airflow resistance over time during the expiratory phase to produce a resistance waveform; an expiratory airflow limitation detection module for; calculating a slope of the resistance waveform; comparing the slope of the resistance waveform to a defined slope threshold; and determining that the patient exhibits an expiratory airflow limitation if the slope of the resistance waveform is greater than or equal to the defined slope threshold. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer storage device storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a controller to determine whether a ventilated patient exhibits an expiratory airflow limitation, the controller comprising:
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a monitoring module for monitoring ventilatory parameters; an expiratory resistance detection module for trending airflow resistance over time during an expiratory phase to produce a resistance waveform; an expiratory airflow limitation detection module for; calculating a slope of the resistance waveform; comparing the slope of the resistance waveform to a defined slope threshold; and determining that the patient exhibits an expiratory airflow limitation if the slope of the resistance waveform is greater than or equal to the defined slope threshold. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification