Method of determining lung pressure of a patient using a positive pressure breathing system
First Claim
1. A method of determining lung pressure during the breathing cycle of a patient undergoing positive pressure breathing therapy by means of a respiration system, comprising the steps of:
- sensing pressure at a location in the positive pressure respiration system having a low volume spatial separation, within the fluid communication path between the system and the lungs, from the patient'"'"'s lungs;
controlling the respiration system to provide a breathing cycle having an inspiration phase, followed by a plateau phase during which expiration is prevented and the sensed pressure falls to the maximum lung pressure, and an expiration phase;
generating and displaying a system pressure versus time characteristic from the sensed pressure; and
determining from said characteristic, lung pressure in the patient.
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Abstract
A method for determining the maximum and minimum lung pressure during the breathing cycle of a patient undergoing positive pressure breathing therapy by utilizing a respiration system which includes a console with a gas supply and control unit located at a substantial distance from the patient, and a transfer unit in proximity to the patient. The delivery hose from the transfer unit to the patient is very short and of relatively small volume, so that a pressure sensor located in the transfer unit can monitor the system pressure at a point which has a relatively low volume spacial separation from the patient'"'"'s lungs. In accordance with the method, a pressure versus time characteristic is generated from the sensed pressure, and the maximum and minimum lung pressures during each breathing cycle are determined from the characteristic by the pressure ordinates of readily identifiable discontinuities in the slope of the characteristic, the discontinuities being reliably indicative of the maximum and minimum lung pressures.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. A method of determining lung pressure during the breathing cycle of a patient undergoing positive pressure breathing therapy by means of a respiration system, comprising the steps of:
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sensing pressure at a location in the positive pressure respiration system having a low volume spatial separation, within the fluid communication path between the system and the lungs, from the patient'"'"'s lungs; controlling the respiration system to provide a breathing cycle having an inspiration phase, followed by a plateau phase during which expiration is prevented and the sensed pressure falls to the maximum lung pressure, and an expiration phase; generating and displaying a system pressure versus time characteristic from the sensed pressure; and determining from said characteristic, lung pressure in the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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Specification