Leak-compensated flow triggering and cycling in medical ventilators

Abstract

This disclosure describes systems and methods for compensating for inelastic and elastic leaks in a ventilation system. The disclosure describes a model-based enhancement to conventional flow triggering and cycling methodologies that improves the timing and patient work of flow-based triggering and cycling performance. The methods and systems described herein compensate for the leak condition and minimize additional effort a patient has to exert to generate the same patient synchrony and comfort level compared to no leak condition. One method described includes calculating an elastic leakage and an inelastic leakage based on current measurements of pressure and flow in the ventilation system and then estimating a leak-compensated lung flow using the inelastic and elastic leaks and pneumatic attributes of the patient-ventilator system.

Description

BACKGROUND

Medical ventilators may determine when a patient takes a breath in order to synchronize the operation of the ventilator with the natural breathing of the patient. In some instances, detection of the onset of inhalation and or exhalation may be used to trigger one or more actions on the part of the ventilator.

The response performance of a medical ventilator to a patient-initiated triggering (transition from exhalation into inhalation) and cycling (transition from inhalation into exhalation) are important characteristics of a medical ventilator. A ventilator's triggering and cycling response impacts the patient's work of breathing and the overall patient-ventilator synchrony. In patient-initiated ventilation such as Pressure Support Ventilation (PSV), Proportional Assist Ventilation (PAV), etc., the airway pressure drops below the baseline and flow moves into the lung as a patient initiates an inspiratory effort. As the inhalation phase proceeds, the inspiratory flow decreases in accordance with the decreasing inspiratory effort by the patient. The ventilator detects the patient's inspiratory or expiratory effort and uses this information to provide ventilation therapy to the patient as set by the operator.

The triggering or cycling response performance of a ventilator is a function of a patient's respiratory behavior (which includes breathing effort magnitude and timing characteristics) as well as the ventilator's gas delivery dynamics and flow control parameters (actuator response, deadbands, etc.). In conventional flow triggering and cycling modality, the patient effort is detected based on the magnitude of expiratory and inspiratory flow changes generated by the patient respiratory effort. In conventional flow cycling modality, the cycling point (transition from inhalation into exhalation) is determined using the descending inspiratory flow and comparing it against peak inspiratory flow and a set percent threshold. Inspiratory flow is sensed by the computation of the ventilator net flow (estimated lung flow) and compared against a set trigger sensitivity value for triggering or a set percentage of peak inspiratory flow for cycling.

SUMMARY

This disclosure describes systems and methods for compensating for pressure-dependent elastic as well as fixed size rigid sources of leaks in a ventilation system. The disclosure describes a model-based enhancement to conventional flow triggering and cycling methodologies that optimizes or attempts to optimize the timing and patient work of flow triggering and cycling performance. During the exhalation phase, the methods and systems may be used with known conventional flow triggering algorithms (i.e., comparing net ventilator flow against trigger sensitivity) and provide leak-compensated base flow to enable PEEP maintenance and avoid autocycling. During the inhalation phase, the methods and systems may be used with known conventional flow cycling algorithms (i.e., comparing the percent ratio of inspiratory flow over peak inspiratory flow against a cycling sensitivity). The methods and systems described herein compensate for the leak flow rates and reduce the patient's work of breathing and increase the patient's comfort (patient-ventilator breath phase transition synchrony). Without the improvements provided by the disclosed methods and systems, during the exhalation phase and in the presence of leak conditions, leak flows would appear as net flow differences to the ventilator and cause erroneous determination of transition into inhalation (false triggering or autocycling). Similarly, during the inhalation phase of a pressure-regulated spontaneous-breath and in the presence of leak conditions, leaks would make the ventilator net flow (delivered minus exhausted) appear to be larger and would prevent timely cycling into exhalation (because the set threshold for percent peak inspiratory flow may not be met) and lead to prolongation of ventilator's inhalation phase and thus cause patient's discomfort and ventilator-patient dyssynchrony.

In part, this disclosure describes a method of compensating for leakage in a ventilation system during delivery of gas from a medical ventilator to a patient. The method includes estimating instantaneous lung flow of gas inhaled or exhaled by the patient during inhalation and exhalation phases and identifying breath phase transitions (triggering from exhalation into inhalation or cycling from inhalation into exhalation) indicative of patient respiratory effort. The method further includes monitoring an instantaneous flow at a location in the ventilation system based on one or more measurements of instantaneous pressure or instantaneous flow in ventilation system and estimating leakage from the ventilation system during delivery of gas to the patient based on measurements of at least one of pressure and flow. The method models the leakage as a first leakage component through a first orifice of a fixed size and a second leakage component through a second orifice of a varying size, in which the first and second leakage components are different functions of instantaneous pressure in the ventilation system. The method generates a leak-compensated lung flow based on the monitored instantaneous pressure and flow rates, the first and second leakage components, and system tubing characteristics. The lung flow is then compared to a set flow triggering threshold (sensitivity) or percent peak flow cycling threshold (sensitivity) to identify patient-initiated transitions into inhalation or exhalation.

This disclosure also describes another method of compensating for leakage in a ventilation system during delivery of gas from a medical ventilator to a patient. The method includes identifying an inelastic leakage in the ventilation system as a first function of at least one of a pressure measurement and a flow measurement in the ventilation system and identifying an elastic leakage in the ventilation system as a second function of at least one of the pressure measurement and the flow measurement in the ventilation system. The method further includes estimating the tubing characteristics of the ventilation system. The method detects patient-initiated breath phase transitions and changes the medical ventilator between a first therapy and a second therapy (i.e., from inhalation to exhalation or from exhalation to inhalation) based on leak-compensated lung flow calculated by using the inelastic leakage, the elastic leakage, the tubing characteristics and at least one of the pressure measurement and the flow measurement in the ventilation system.

In yet another aspect, the disclosure describes a pressure support system that includes: a pressure generating system adapted to generate a flow of breathing gas; a ventilation system including a patient interface device; one or more sensors operatively coupled to the pressure generating system or the ventilation system, in which each sensor capable of generating an output indicative of a pressure of the breathing gas; a processor; an elastic leak estimation module that identifies an elastic leakage in the ventilation system; and a compensation module that generates one or more leak-compensated lung flow estimates based on the elastic leakage and at least one output indicative of a pressure of the breathing gas and the tubing characteristics and flow rates.

In yet another aspect, the disclosure describes a pressure support system that includes: a pressure generating system adapted to generate a flow of breathing gas; a ventilation system including a patient interface device; one or more sensors operatively coupled to the pressure generating system or the ventilation system, in which each sensor capable of generating an output indicative of a pressure of the breathing gas; a processor; a leak estimation module that identifies both elastic and rigid orifice sources of leakage in the ventilation system; and a compensation module that generates a leak-compensated lung flow based on the elastic and inelastic sources of leakage, the tubing characteristics and at least one output indicative of a pressure and/or flow of the breathing gas.

The disclosure also describes a controller for a medical ventilator that includes a microprocessor and a flow triggering and cycling compensation means for adjusting the ventilator net flow based on instantaneous elastic leakage and instantaneous inelastic leakage of breathing gas from a ventilation system. The flow triggering and cycling compensation means may include an inelastic leak estimation module that identifies the instantaneous inelastic leakage in the ventilation system and an elastic leak estimation module that identifies the instantaneous elastic leakage in the ventilation system. The flow trigger triggering and cycling compensation means may also include a compensation module that generates a leak-compensated lung flow for comparison against the set triggering or cycling threshold.

These and various other features as well as advantages which characterize the systems and methods described herein will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. Additional features are set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the technology. The benefits and features of the technology will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawing figures, which form a part of this application, are illustrative of described technology and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as claimed in any manner, which scope shall be based on the claims appended hereto.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a ventilator connected to a human patient.

FIG. 2 schematically depicts exemplary systems and methods of ventilator control.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a method of compensating for leakage and estimate lung flow for determination of patient-initiated flow-based triggering and cycling transitions in a ventilation system during delivery of gas firm a medical ventilator to a patient.

FIG. 4 illustrates a functional block diagram of modules and other components that may be used in an embodiment of ventilator that compensates for leaks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although the techniques introduced above and discussed in detail below may be implemented for a variety of medical devices, the present disclosure will discuss the implementation of these techniques in the context of a medical ventilator for use in providing ventilation support to a human patient. The reader will understand that the technology described in the context of a medical ventilator for human patients could be adapted for use with other systems such as ventilators for non-human patients and general gas transport systems in which leaks may cause a degradation of performance.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a ventilator 20 connected to a human patient 24. Ventilator 20 includes a pneumatic system 22 (also referred to as a pressure generating system 22) for circulating breathing gases to and from patient 24 via the ventilation tubing system 26, which couples the patient to the pneumatic system via physical patient interface 28 and ventilator circuit 30. Ventilator circuit 30 could be a two-limb or one-limb circuit for carrying gas to and from the patient. In a two-limb embodiment as shown, a wye fitting 36 may be provided as shown to couple the patient interface 28 to the inspiratory limb 32 and the expiratory limb 34 of the circuit 30.

The present systems and methods have proved particularly advantageous in noninvasive settings, such as with facial breathing masks, as those settings typically are more susceptible to leaks. However, leaks do occur in a variety of settings, and the present description contemplates that the patient interface may be invasive or non-invasive, and of any configuration suitable for communicating a flow of breathing gas from the patient circuit to an airway of the patient. Examples of suitable patient interface devices include a nasal mask, nasal/oral mask (which is shown in FIG. 1), nasal prong, full-face mask, tracheal tube, endotracheal tube, nasal pillow, etc.

Pneumatic system 22 may be configured in a variety of ways. In the present example, system 22 includes an expiratory module 40 coupled with an expiratory limb 34 and an inspiratory module 42 coupled with an inspiratory limb 32. Compressor 44 or another source(s) of pressurized gas (e.g., air and oxygen) is coupled with inspiratory module 42 to provide a gas source for ventilatory support via inspiratory limb 32.

The pneumatic system may include a variety of other components, including sources for pressurized air and/or oxygen, mixing modules, valves, sensors, tubing, accumulators, filters, etc. Controller 50 is operatively coupled with pneumatic system 22, signal measurement and acquisition systems, and an operator interface 52 may be provided to enable an operator to interact with the ventilator (e.g., change ventilator settings, select operational modes, view monitored parameters, etc.). Controller 50 may include memory 54, one or more processors 56, storage 58, and/or other components of the type commonly found in command and control computing devices.

The memory 54 is computer-readable storage media that stores software that is executed by the processor 56 and which controls the operation of the ventilator 20. In an embodiment, the memory 54 comprises one or more solid-state storage devices such as flash memory chips. In an alternative embodiment, the memory 54 may be mass storage connected to the processor 56 through a mass storage controller (not shown) and a communications bus (not shown). Although the description of computer-readable media contained herein refers to a solid-state storage, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that computer-readable storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by the processor 56. Computer-readable storage media includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer-readable storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solid state memory technology, CD-ROM, DVD, or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the computer.

As described in more detail below, controller 50 issues commands to pneumatic system 22 in order to control the breathing assistance provided to the patient by the ventilator. The specific commands may be based on inputs received from patient 24, pneumatic system 22 and sensors, operator interface 52 and/or other components of the ventilator. In the depicted example, operator interface includes a display 59 that is touch-sensitive, enabling the display to serve both as an input and output device.

FIG. 2 schematically depicts exemplary systems and methods of ventilator control. As shown, controller 50 issues control commands 60 to drive pneumatic system 22 and thereby circulate breathing gas to and from patient 24. The depicted schematic interaction between pneumatic system 22 and patient 24 may be viewed in terms of pressure and/or flow “signals.” For example, signal 62 may be an increased pressure which is applied to the patient via inspiratory limb 32. Control commands 60 are based upon inputs received at controller 50 which may include, among other things, inputs from operator interface 52, and feedback from pneumatic system 22 (e.g., from pressure/flow sensors) and/or sensed from patient 24.

In many cases, it may be desirable to establish a baseline pressure and/or flow trajectory for a given respiratory therapy session. The volume of breathing gas delivered to the patient's lung (L₁) and the volume of the gas exhaled by the patient (L₂) are measured or determined, and the measured or predicted/estimated leaks are accounted for to ensure accurate delivery and data reporting and monitoring. Accordingly, the more accurate the leak estimation, the better the baseline calculation of delivered and exhaled volume as well as event detection (triggering and cycling phase transitions).

When modeling the delivery of gas to and from a patient 24 via a closed-circuit ventilator, one simple assumption is that compliance of the ventilator circuit 30 is fixed and that all gas injected into the ventilator circuit 30 that does not exit the circuit 30 via the expiratory limb 34 fills the circuit as well as the patient's lungs and causes an increase in pressure. As gas is injected (L₁), the lung responds to the increased gas pressure in the circuit 30 by expanding. The amount the lung expands is proportional to the lung compliance and is defined as a function of gas pressure differential (Compliance=volume delivered/pressure difference).

The term circuit compliance is used to refer to the amount the pressure in the ventilator circuit 30 (or ventilator circuit 30 and attached patient interface 28, depending on how the compliance is determined) changes based on changes in volume delivered into the circuit. In an embodiment, the circuit compliance may be estimated by pressurizing the ventilator circuit 30 (or circuit 30 and interface 28 combination) when flow to the patient is blocked and measuring the volume of additional gas introduced to cause the pressure change (compliance=volume delivered/pressure different).

The term circuit resistance is used to refer to the amount the pressure changes between two sites upstream and downstream the ventilator circuit as a function of volumetric flow rate through that circuit. Tubing resistance may be modeled as a two-parameter function of flow:Pressure difference=K₁*Flow+K₂*Flow²=Flow*(K₁+K₂*Flow)In which K₁ and K₂ are empirically derived constants. For example, in an embodiment, the circuit resistance may be estimated by passing several fixed flow rates through the circuit and measuring the pressure difference between certain upstream and downstream sites and finding the best curve fit to the collected data.

Such a method of determining compliance and resistance may be executed by the operator prior to attaching the patient to the ventilator as part of the set tip of the ventilator 20 to provide therapy. Other methods of determining compliance and/or resistance are also possible and could be adapted for use with the disclosed leak-compensation systems and methods described herein.

Errors may be introduced due to leaks in the ventilation tubing system 26. The term ventilation tubing system 26 is used herein to describe the ventilator circuit 30, any equipment attached to or used in the ventilator circuit 30 such as water traps, monitors, drug delivery devices, etc. (not shown), and the patient interface 28. Depending on the embodiment, this may include some equipment contained in the inspiration module 42 and/or the expiration module 40. When referring to leaks in or from the ventilation tubing system 26, such leaks include leaks within the tubing system 26 and leaks where the tubing system 26 connects to the pressure generator 22 or the patient 24. Thus, leaks from the ventilation tubing system 26 include leaks from the ventilator circuit 30, leaks from the patient interface 28 (e.g., masks are often provided with holes or other pressure relief devices through which some leakage may occur), leaks from the point of connection of the patient interface 28 to the patient 24 (e.g., leaks around the edges of a mask due to a poor fit or patient movement), and leaks from the point of connection of the patient interface 28 to the circuit 30 (e.g., due to a poor connection between the patient interface 28 and the circuit 30).

For the purpose of estimating how a leak flow rate changes based on changes in pressure in the ventilation tubing system 26, the instantaneous leak may be modeled as a leak through a single rigid orifice or opening of a fixed size in which that size is determined based on comparing the total flow into the inspiratory limb 32 and out of the expiratory limb 34. However, this leak model does not take into account any elastic component of leak source(s) in the system 26, that is how much of the area of any of the holes or openings in the ventilation tubing system 26 through which leakage occurs may change due to an increase or decrease in pressure.

It has been determined that not accounting for elastic leakage from the ventilation tubing system 26 can cause many problems. First, if only the inelastic/fixed orifice model is used to estimate leak, the subsequent errors caused by ignoring the elastic effects of any actual leaks end up generating inaccurate estimates of flow rates into the lung. This can cause the ventilator 20 to estimate gas volume delivered into the lung inaccurately when, in fact, the elastic leaks in the system 26 have let more gas escape than estimated. Second, if the elasticity of the leak source is ignored, any other calculation, estimate, or action that the ventilator 20 may perform which is affected by the leak estimate will be less accurate.

In the systems and methods described herein, the flow triggering and cycling in ventilation therapy (e.g., the initiation of an inhalation cycle an exhalation cycle or any other action performed by the ventilator based on where in the respiration cycle a patient is) is made more accurate by compensating the lung flow to account for both fixed (rigid) and elastic components of the system leakage. This results in a more accurate and timely triggering or cycling of breath phases by the ventilator 20 and is beneficial to the patient 24 as it reduces the patient 24 work of breathing necessary to initiate the appropriate transition. While the systems and methods are presented in the context of flow-based triggering and cycling mechanisms deployed during an exhalation or inhalation cycle of the patient-ventilator system, the technology described herein could be used to compensate for leakage when using any type of flow-based mechanisms derived from patient respiratory effort to initiate an event in a ventilator.

As described in greater detail below, in an embodiment in every sample period (e.g., 5 ms) during normal ventilation the following tasks are undertaken in conjunction with leak-compensated flow-based triggering and cycling: (1) flow and pressure measurements are acquired from sensors located at specific sites in the ventilation pathway; (2) parameters of the leak model are recalculated and/or checked for validity as applicable; (3) instantaneous total leak flow rate is calculated; (4) instantaneous lung flow is estimated; (5) (a) if in exhalation, estimated lung flow is compared against triggering threshold to determine if the condition(s) for a patient-initiated transition into inhalation has (have) been satisfied, or (b) if in inhalation, peak inspiratory lung flow is updated and the percent ratio of current estimated lung flow over peak inspiratory lung flow is compared against percent flow cycling threshold to determine if the condition(s) for a patient-initiated transition into exhalation has (have) been satisfied; (6) if a phase transition is detected, the ventilator executes a phase change and operates in accordance with specifications for the new phase. If no phase transition was detected, the operations would resume from step #1 in the next sample period. In preparation for performing the tasks described above, tubing characteristics (e.g., compliance and resistance) may be determined by running calibration procedures before a ventilator is connected to a patient and parameters of the leak model to be used may be quantified (e.g., based on data taken during a prior breath).

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a method of compensating for leakage in a ventilation system during delivery of gas from a medical ventilator to a patient. In the method 300 shown, a medical ventilator such as that described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 is used to provide ventilation to a patient.

In the method 300 illustrated, the ventilator circuit compliance and resistance may be estimated in a compliance/resistance estimation operation 302. In an embodiment, this is usually performed prior to connecting the ventilator to the patient (as previously described).

In the method 300 illustrated, the ventilator is connected to the patient and operated for some period of time, e.g., for a breath, and data is obtained in a data collection operation 304. While the data collection operation 304 may be performed prior to connection to the patient, it is also anticipated that the operation should be performed while the patient is receiving therapy from the ventilator so that leaks from the connection of the ventilation system to the patient may be characterized as well as the other leaks in the system. In an embodiment the data collection operation 304 includes operating the ventilator for a period of time and collecting measurements of pressure and/or flow in ventilation system.

The data obtained in the data collection operation 304 is then used to quantify the parameters of the leak model in the parameter quantification operation 306. In an embodiment, the parameter quantification operation 306 uses the data obtained in the data collection operation 304, e.g., the total leak volume during one breath cycle (inhalation and exhalation) and some or all of the pressure and flow data collected during the data collection operation 304. The data may be applied to a preselected mathematical formula in order to solve for parameters in the formula. In an embodiment, the mathematical formula is a leakage model that separates the leak into the sum of two leak components, inelastic leak and elastic leak, in which each component represents a different relationship between the quantity of leakage from the ventilation system and the measured current/instantaneous pressure and/or flow of gas in the ventilation system. As discussed above, the inelastic leak may be modeled as the flow through a rigid orifice of a fixed size while the elastic leak may be modeled as the flow through a different orifice of a size that changes based on the pressure (or flow) of the gas in the ventilation system.

An example of a method and system for modeling leak in a ventilation system as a combination of an elastic leak component and an inelastic leak component can be found in commonly-assigned U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/041,070, filed Mar. 31, 2008, titled VENTILATOR LEAK COMPENSATION, which application is hereby incorporated by reference herein. The VENTILATOR LEAK COMPENSATION represents one way of characterizing the leak from a ventilation system as a combination of elastic and inelastic components. Other methods and models are also possible and may be adapted for use with this technology.

In an embodiment, the result of the parameter quantification operation 306 is a quantitative mathematical model, equation or set of equations of leak that, from one or more measurements of pressure and/or flow in the ventilation system, can be used to calculate an estimate of the resulting leak from the ventilation system. Thus, given the mathematical model, pressure and/or flow data can be monitored during therapy and the instantaneous and total leak from the ventilation system can be calculated. The resulting leak value will take into account both elastic leak and the inelastic leak.

In an embodiment, the data collection operation 304 and the parameter quantification operation 306 may be performed as a single operation or as separate operations. In an embodiment, the operations 304 and 306 may be repeated periodically, based on time or breathing cycles, in order to obtain accurate estimates. Furthermore, the accuracy of the parameters of the leakage model may be periodically checked.

For example, in an embodiment the data collection operation 304 may calculate or estimate the total leak volume for a particular breath of a patient. This estimate may then be used in the parameter quantification operation 306 to generate the leak model for use in calculating the instantaneous leak in a subsequent breath. In an embodiment, the data collection operation 304 and the parameter quantification operation 306 are repeated at the end of each breath so that the instantaneous leak is estimated using a model derived from data taken during the immediately previous breath.

In the embodiment shown, the ventilator begins monitoring for patient-initiated phase transition as illustrated by operation 308. When monitoring for patient-initiated phase transitions, the system obtains current measurements from sensors located at specific sites in the ventilation pathway in an obtain measurements operation 310. The obtain measurements operation 310 may include obtaining pressure and/or flow measurements from one or more locations within the ventilation system. Depending upon how a particular leak model is defined, the operation 310 may also include making one or more calculations using the measurements. For example, the model may require a flow measurement as observed at the patient interface even though the ventilation system may not have a flow sensor at that location in the ventilation system. Thus, a measurement from a sensor or sensors located elsewhere in the system (or data from a different type of sensor at the location) may be mathematically manipulated in order to obtain an estimate of the flow observed at the patient interface in order to calculate the leak using the model.

In the method 300, after the current measurements have been obtained in operation 310, the current leak for the sampling period is calculated in an instantaneous leak calculation operation 312. The operation 312 uses the mathematical model of the leak including the parameters generated in the parameter quantification operation 306 and the current pressure and/or flow measurements to generate an instantaneous leakage value from the ventilation system. As the model characterizes both the elastic and inelastic leak components, the calculated leak represents the total leak due to the combination of both leak components.

The term instantaneous is used herein to describe a determination made for any particular instant or sampling period based on the measured data for that instant. For example, if a pressure measurement is taken every 5 milliseconds (sample period), the pressure measurement and the leak model can be used to determine an instantaneous leak flow rate based on the pressure measurement. With knowledge of the length of the sample period, the instantaneous flow rate may then be used to determine an instantaneous volume of gas flowing through a part of the circuit during that sample period. For longer periods covering multiple sampling periods the instantaneous values for each sampling period may be integrated to obtain a total volume. If a measurement is also the most recent measurement taken, then the instantaneous value may also be referred to as the current value.

After the current leak has been calculated, the method 300 further estimates the instantaneous lung flow to or from the patient in a lung flow estimation operation 314. The estimated lung flow is compensated for the leak calculated in the instantaneous leak calculation operation 312.

As part of the lung flow estimation operation 314, during the inhalation phase the ventilator may compare the instantaneous lung flow to previous values to identify a peak inspiratory lung flow. Depending on the embodiment, the peak inspiratory lung flow may be needed in order to determine if an operator set cycling threshold has been exceeded.

In the embodiment shown, the instantaneous lung flow information is used to identify patient-initiated phase transitions in a comparison operation 316. Depending on the current respiratory phase (exhalation or inhalation) the comparison operation 316 may perform one of two separate operations, each pertaining to one phase determination function, i.e., flow triggering module and percent peak flow cycling module. In an embodiment, the flow trigger threshold and/or peak inspiratory flow cycling threshold may be set by the operator, for example in the form of a fixed flow rate for triggering sensitivity or a fixed percentage of peak flow for cycling sensitivity. The inhalation flow trigger threshold is a threshold selected to determine when the patient has begun to inhale. The flow cycling threshold is a threshold selected to determine when the patient has begun to exhale. However, in the presence of leak conditions, these thresholds (sensitivities) may be derived or fixed by the ventilator to optimize therapy and patient-ventilator synchrony. The instantaneous lung flow information is used by the ventilator to compare against a threshold or calculate the percent ratio of current lung flow over peak inspiratory lung flow and determine when the patient is ready to transition into a new phase (inhalation or exhalation).

In an embodiment, a flow threshold may be characterized as an average flow rate or a total flow volume for a designated period (e.g., a breath). In the absence of any leak, as discussed in greater detail below, when the ventilator detects an occurrence of the net flow into the lung equal to or greater than the flow trigger threshold, the ventilator will treat this condition as indicating that the patient has triggered the appropriate condition (i.e., the patient has begun to inhale). Thus, an inhalation flow trigger threshold represents a leak-free flow increase into the lung caused by the patient's inspiratory effort that the ventilator actively monitors for. Note that by “exceeding” a threshold it is meant that some condition relative to the threshold has been identified. Thus, depending on the algebraic context a flow trigger threshold may be exceeded by either a net flow greater than the flow trigger threshold or a net flow less than the flow trigger threshold in absolute terms noting that net flow may be defined in different algebraic ways.

The percent peak flow cycling threshold is a threshold selected to determine when the patient has completed inspiration and is ready exhale. In the absence of any leak, when the ventilator detects an occurrence of the ratio of the current net flow into the lung (current lung flow) over the measured peak inspiratory lung flow to be equal to or less than the percent peak flow cycling threshold, the ventilator will treat this condition as indicating that the appropriate patient-initiated cycling condition is satisfied (e.g., the patient is ready to exhale). Thus, an inspiratory percent peak flow threshold represents a leak-free indicator that the ventilator actively monitors for.

The comparison operation 316 checks to determine if conditions for a patient-initiated phase transition have been satisfied. If a phase transition is confirmed as shown by the determination operation 318, the ventilator proceeds into the new phase (illustrated in by operation 320) and operates accordingly. If the conditions for a phase change are not met, as shown by the determination operation 318 the ventilator repeats the phase transition detection process in the next sample period (as illustrated by the waiting operation 322).

Under conventional flow triggering modality there may be a base flow delivered by the ventilator during exhalation. Base flow under flow triggering condition is usually defined to be the sum of flow triggering sensitivity (threshold) and a nominal flow constant (e.g., base flow=flow trigger sensitivity+1.5, in liters per minute units). Base flow under flow triggering is intended to provide a source of gas flow to draw from when the patient initiates an inspiration. It also helps in maintaining the desired set PEEP during exhalation. Therefore, in the absence of any leaks, when the patient initiates an inspiratory effort by generating a flow into the lung, the ventilator net flow estimated and/or measured at the patient-wye is close to the lung flow and may serve as a good indicator of the magnitude of the force exerted by the inspiratory muscles. In the presence of leaks, in the first place there is a need for adequate amount of base flow to be delivered by the ventilator to maintain a set PEEP level and prevent false triggering during the exhalation phase. When the patient initiates an inspiratory effort by drawing a portion of the base flow into the lung, the leak-compensated lung flow may then be compared against the set flow trigger threshold (sensitivity) to check for initiation of a new inhalation.

During the inhalation phase, the inspiratory flow normally increases to a peak and then decreases exponentially in accordance with the decreasing inspiratory effort of the patient. Under conventional percent peak flow cycling modality, the percent peak flow cycling threshold is a sensitivity selected to determine when the patient has completed inspiration and is ready exhale. In the absence of any leak, when the ventilator detects an occurrence of the ratio of the current net flow into the lung over the measured peak inspiratory lung flow to be equal to or less than the percent peak flow cycling threshold, the ventilator will treat this condition as indicating that the appropriate patient-initiated cycling condition is satisfied (e.g., the patient is ready to exhale). In the presence of leak conditions, the leak-compensated lung flow may be used to calculate percent ratio of current lung flow over peak measured inspiratory lung flow and compare it against the set cycling threshold (sensitivity) to check for initiation of a new exhalation phase.

In the embodiment shown, the ventilator compares the leak-compensated lung flow and triggering and cycling thresholds in a comparison operation 316 to determine if the transition condition is met (e.g., from exhalation into inhalation). Based on the results of the comparison, a determination operation 318 is performed. If it is determined that the leak-compensated transition condition has not been satisfied, the method 300 waits until the next sampling period (illustrated by the waiting operation 322) and then returns to the obtain measurements operation 310 so that the analysis may be repeated until a phase transition is detected.

If the determination operation 318 determines that a threshold has been exceeded, then the ventilator considers that the corresponding condition (e.g., exhalation, inhalation, etc.) to have begun by the patient as indicated by the phase transition operation 320. Depending on the settings of the ventilator, the phase transition operation 320 may include the cycling into an exhalation cycle or triggering into an inhalation cycle in which pressure and/or flow is changed to follow a desired trajectory during that cycle, e.g., an operator-set positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) or an inhalation assistance pressure with pre-set waveform characteristics. Other actions may also be performed upon detection of exhalation or inhalation such as the logging of different or additional data, displaying advisory patient data, and the opening and/or closing of valves in the ventilation system to modify the flow path of gas.

Although not shown, in an embodiment after inhalation or exhalation has been deemed detected by the method 300, some or all of the method 300 may be repeated for the next breathing cycle. For example, upon further detection of the end of the inhalation cycle of the patient (i.e., detection of a patient's readiness to proceed into exhalation) the parameter quantification operation 306 may be repeated to calculate a revised leak model or update model parameters based on the most recent data. This revised model may then be used to identify the next phase transition initiated by the patient.

In another embodiment, the lung flow estimation operation 314 may be performed for a certain interval or performed continuously during therapy. For example, there may be restricted periods at the beginning of both inhalation as well as exhalation phases during which no transitions are allowed (to ensure a minimum period of inhalation or exhalation). During the restricted periods, the phase detection algorithms for triggering or cycling may or may not be executed. Lung flow may be estimated based on characteristics derived from a single breath or based on a representative parameter derived from an ensemble of several breaths.

A flow threshold may be checked after each new estimation of the lung flow until the start of a new phase is established. In yet another embodiment, the operator may be allowed to disable leak compensation of the flow triggering and/or cycling mechanism. In yet another embodiment, different flow-based criteria may be defined to check for patient-initiated breath phase transitions during leak-compensated ventilation. Examples of such criteria include but are not limited to leak-compensated inspired volume for triggering. The sensitivities (thresholds) for such phase detection mechanisms may be set by the operator, fixed, or appropriately determined during ventilation as feasible.

FIG. 4 illustrates a functional block diagram of modules and other components that may be used in an embodiment of ventilator that compensates for elastic and rigid orifice sources of leaks. In the embodiment shown, the ventilator 400 includes pressure sensors 404 (two are shown placed at different locations in the system), flow sensors (one is shown), and a ventilator control system 402. The ventilator control system 402 controls the operation of the ventilator and includes a plurality of modules described by their function. In the embodiment shown, the ventilator control system 402 includes a processor 408, memory 414 which may include mass storage as described above, a leak estimation module 412 incorporating a parametric leak model accounting for both elastic and rigid orifice leak sources such as that described in U.S. Provisional Application 61/041,070 previously incorporated herein, a leak-compensated flow trigger module 416, a pressure and flow control module 418, a monitoring module 422, a leak model module 420, a leak-compensated cycle detection module 424, and a leak-compensated lung flow estimation module 426. The processor 408 and memory 414 have been discussed above. Each of the other modules will be discussed in turn below.

The main functions of the ventilator such as receiving and interpreting operator inputs and changing pressure and flow of gas in the ventilator circuit are performed by the control module 418. In the context of the methods and systems described herein, the module 418 will perform one or more actions upon the determination that a patient receiving therapy is inhaling or exhaling. The determination of a patient-initiated inspiratory trigger is made by the trigger detection module 416 which passes the determination on to the control module 418 when it occurs. The determination of a patient-initiated cycle is made by the cycle detection module 424 which passes the determination on to the control module 418 when it occurs.

In an embodiment, the cycle detection module 424 uses a leak-compensated lung flow to determine when a cycling event is being initiated by the patient. The conditions of the ventilation system, such as pressure and/or flow, are monitored using the sensors 404, 406 and the conditions are processed and used by the cycle detection module 424. When it is determined that the conditions indicate that the cycling criteria have been met, e.g., by continuously or periodically comparing the percent ratio of current lung flow over peak inspiratory lung flow against the set threshold (cycling sensitivity), the associated cycling event, i.e., exhalation, may be deemed to have been initiated by the patient. Percent peak inspiratory flow may be used for cycling purposes, however, different flow-based criteria may be defined to check for patient-initiated cycling transitions during leak-compensated ventilation.

In an embodiment, a backup leak-compensated pressure triggering mechanism may be incorporated as a precautionary measure to build redundancy for safety reasons. The sensitivity of the backup pressure trigger may be fixed or set by the operator. The estimated instantaneous leak-compensated circuit-wye pressure drop may be compared against the pressure trigger sensitivity (threshold) to determine if an inspiratory event has occurred.

In an embodiment, the phase detection modules 416 and 424 may be independent modules as shown. Alternatively, the triggering and cycling detection modules may be combined into a single breath phase transition module (not shown). Other detection modules may also be included as necessary for other thresholds.

The current conditions in the ventilation system are monitored by the monitoring module 422. This module 422 collects the data generated by the sensors 404, 406 and may also perform certain calculations on the data to make the data more readily usable by other modules or may process the current data and or previously acquired data or operator input to derive auxiliary parameters or attributes of interest. In an embodiment, the monitoring module 422 receives data and provides it to each of the other modules in the ventilator control system 402 that need the current pressure or flow data for the system.

The leak-compensated flow trigger test is performed by the flow trigger leak-compensation module 416. The flow trigger leak-compensation module 416 uses the flow trigger threshold (normally set for no leak conditions) and the estimated or measured lung flow. The ventilator may use pressure and flow measurements and the tubing characteristics such as resistance and compliance to obtain an estimate of the actual flow into the lung caused by the patient's inspiratory effort. This derived leak-compensated lung flow is compared against the flow sensitivity threshold to check for a patient-initiated phase change. For lung flow estimation, the calculated total instantaneous leak (sum of elastic leak and inelastic leak provided by the leak estimation module 412) gas flows delivered by the ventilator, flow rate leaving the ventilator, and flow compression in the circuit may be used. Circuit tubing and airway properties (resistance, compliance, inductance, etc.) are either measured prior to patient setup, or given by the operator, or may be derived on an ongoing basis when deemed required.

In the embodiment shown, a compensated lung flow is calculated by the lung flow module 426. The lung flow module 426 uses a quantitative model for lung flow of the patient during both inhalation and exhalation and from this characterization and pressure and flow measurements generates an estimate for instantaneous lung flow.

The leak model parameters are generated by the leak estimation module 412 which creates one or more quantitative mathematical models, equations or correlations that uses pressure and flow observed in the ventilation system over regular periods of respiratory cycles (inhalation and exhalation) and apply physical and mathematical principles derived from mass balance and characteristic waveform settings of ventilation modalities (regulated pressure or flow trajectories) to derive the parameters of the leak model incorporating both rigid and elastic (variable pressure-dependent) orifices. In an embodiment, the mathematical model may be a model such as:Q_inelastic=R₁*P_i^x Q_elastic=R₂*P_i^y wherein Q_elastic is the instantaneous leak flow due to elastic leaks in the ventilation system, Q_inelastic is the instantaneous leak flow due to inelastic leaks in the ventilation system, R₁ is the inelastic leak constant, R₂ is the elastic leak constant, P_i is the current or instantaneous pressure measurement, x is an exponent for use when determining the inelastic leak and y is an exponent different than x for use when determining the elastic leak. The group R₁*P_i^x represents flow through an orifice of fixed size as a function of instantaneous pressure P_i and the group R₂*P_i^y represents flow through a different orifice that varies in size based on the instantaneous pressure. The equations above presuppose that there will always be an elastic component and an inelastic component of leakage from the ventilation system. In the absence of an elastic component or a leak source of varying size, R₂ would turn out be zero.

In the embodiment shown, the current or instantaneous elastic leak is calculated by the leak estimation module 412. The calculation is made using the elastic leak portion of the leak model developed by the leak estimation module 412 and the pressure data obtained by the monitoring module 422. The leak estimation module 412 may calculate a new instantaneous elastic leak flow or volume for each pressure sample taken (i.e., for each sampling period) by the monitoring module 422. The calculated elastic leak may then be provided to any other module as needed.

In the embodiment shown, the current or instantaneous inelastic leak is also calculated by the leak estimation module 412. The calculation is made using the inelastic leak portion of the leak model and the pressure data obtained by the monitoring module 422. The leak estimation module 412 may calculate a new instantaneous inelastic leak flow or volume for each pressure sample taken (i.e., for each sampling period) by the monitoring module 422. The calculated inelastic leak may then be provided to any other module as needed.

The system 400 illustrated will compensate lung flow for leaks due to elastic and inelastic leaks in the ventilation system. Furthermore, the system performs a dynamic compensation of lung flow based on the changing leak conditions of the ventilation system and the instantaneous pressure and flow measurements. By compensating for the inelastic as well as the elastic components of dynamic leaks, the medical ventilator can more accurately and precisely identify changes in the patient's respiratory cycle determined by flow-based thresholds.

It will be clear that the systems and methods described herein are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the methods and systems within this specification may be implemented in many manners and as such is not to be limited by the foregoing exemplified embodiments and examples. For example, the operations and steps of the embodiments of methods described herein may be combined or the sequence of the operations may be changed while still achieving the goals of the technology. In addition, specific functions and/or actions may also be allocated in such as a way as to be performed by a different module or method step without deviating from the overall disclosure. In other words, functional elements being performed by a single or multiple components, in various combinations of hardware and software, and individual functions can be distributed among software applications. In this regard, any number of the features of the different embodiments described herein may be combined into one single embodiment and alternate embodiments having fewer than or more than all of the features herein described are possible.

While various embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, various changes and modifications may be made which are well within the scope of the present invention. For example, the systems and methods described herein could be adapted for more accurately determining the onset of coughing events or other interruptions in a natural respiration cycle. Numerous other changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed in the spirit of the disclosure and as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of compensating for leakage in a ventilation system during delivery of gas from a medical ventilator to a patient comprising: monitoring an instantaneous flow at a location in the ventilation system based on one or more measurements of pressure and flow in the ventilation system;modeling leakage as a first leakage component through a first orifice of a fixed size and a second leakage component through a second orifice of a varying size, wherein the first and second leakage components are different functions of instantaneous pressure in the ventilation system;estimating a leak-compensated instantaneous lung flow of gas inhaled or exhaled by the patient based on the one or more measurements, the first leakage component and second leakage component; andusing the leak-compensated instantaneous lung flow and a threshold to identify patient-initiated transitions into inhalation or exhalation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the threshold is a leak-free cycle threshold indicative of a patient-initiated transition into exhalation and using comprises: cycling into an exhalation phase of the medical ventilator based on the leak-free cycle threshold and the leak-compensated instantaneous lung flow.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the threshold is a leak-free trigger threshold indicative of a patient-initiated transition into inhalation and using comprises: triggering an inhalation phase of the medical ventilator based on the leak-free trigger threshold and the leak-compensated instantaneous lung flow.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein estimating a leak-compensated instantaneous lung flow further comprises: generating an estimate of instantaneous lung flow at a patient interface based on one or more measurements taken at different locations in the ventilation system.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving the threshold from an operator.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising: estimating current leakage from the ventilation system during delivery of gas to the patient based on the one or more measurements and the first leakage component and second leakage component.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising: measuring leakage from the ventilation system during delivery of gas to the patient based on measurements of at least one of pressure and flow taken from a first breath;generating a leakage equation based on the measurements of at least one of pressure and flow taken from a first breath, the leakage equation including the first leakage component and the second leakage component; andestimating current leakage from the ventilation system in a second breath immediately subsequent to the first breath based on the leakage equation and measurements of at least one of pressure and flow taken from the second breath.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the threshold is a trigger threshold indicative of patient inhalation and using comprises: estimating the leak-compensated instantaneous lung flow of gas inhaled by the patient based on the estimated current leakage in the second breath; andtriggering an inhalation phase of the medical ventilator during the second breath based on the leak-compensated lung flow.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising; estimating leakage from the ventilation system during delivery of gas to the patient based on measurements of at least one of pressure and flow taken over a plurality of previous breaths.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising; estimating one or more tubing characteristics indicative of compliance and resistance of the ventilation system; andgenerating the leak-compensated instantaneous lung flow based on the estimated tubing characteristics, the one or more measurements of pressure and flow, the first leakage component and second leakage component.

11. A method of compensating for leakage in a ventilation tubing system during delivery of gas from a medical ventilator to a patient comprising: identifying an inelastic leakage in the ventilation system as a first function of at least one of a pressure measurement and a flow measurement in the ventilation system;identifying an elastic leakage in the ventilation system as a second function of at least one of the pressure measurement and the flow measurement in the ventilation system;estimating compliance and resistance of the ventilation tubing system; andtransitioning the medical ventilator between inhalation and exhalation based on the inelastic leakage, the elastic leakage, the compliance and resistance and the at least one of the pressure measurement and the flow measurement in the ventilation system.

12. The method of claim 11 transitioning the medical ventilator between inhalation and exhalation further comprises: generating a leak-compensated lung flow based on the elastic leakage and at least one of the pressure measurement and the flow measurement in the ventilation system;comparing the leak-compensated lung flow to a flow trigger threshold indicative of the patient's breathing effort when there is no leakage in the ventilation system; andtriggering an inhalation phase of the medical ventilator based on results of the comparing operation.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein transitioning the medical ventilator between inhalation and exhalation comprises: generating a leak-compensated lung flow based on the elastic leakage and at least one of the pressure measurement and the flow measurement in the ventilation system;comparing the leak-compensated lung flow to a flow cycle threshold indicative of the patient's breathing effort when there is no leakage in the ventilation system; andcycling into an exhalation phase of the medical ventilator based on results of the comparing operation.

14. A pressure support system comprising: a pressure generating system adapted to generate a flow of breathing gas;a ventilation system including a patient interface device;one or more sensors operatively coupled to the pressure generating system or the ventilation system, each sensor capable of generating an output indicative of a pressure of the breathing gas;a processor;an elastic leak estimation module that identifies an elastic leakage in the ventilation system; anda compensation module that generates a leak-compensated lung flow based on the elastic leakage and at least one output indicative of a pressure of the breathing gas.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising: an exhalation detection module that determines when a patient has begun to exhale based on a cycle threshold, the leak-compensated lung flow and an output of at least one sensor.

16. The system of claim 14 further comprising: an inhalation detection module that determines when a patient has begun to inhale based on a trigger threshold, the leak-compensated lung flow and an output of at least one sensor.

17. The system of claim 14 further comprising: an inelastic leak estimation module that identifies an inelastic leakage in the ventilation system; andwherein the compensation module further generates the leak-compensated lung flow based on the inelastic leakage.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising: a pressure monitoring module that monitors at least one output of the one or more sensors and provides data indicative of the pressure of the breathing gas to the elastic leak estimation module.

19. A controller for a medical ventilator comprising: a microprocessor; anda lung flow estimation means that adjusts a ventilator net flow threshold based on: identifying an instantaneous elastic leakage in the ventilation system as a first function of at least one of a pressure measurement and a flow measurement in the ventilation system; andidentifying an instantaneous inelastic leakage in the ventilation system as a second function of at least one of a pressure measurement and a flow measurement in the ventilation system.

20. The controller of claim 19 wherein the lung flow estimation means comprises: an inelastic leak estimation module that identifies the instantaneous inelastic leakage in the ventilation system; andan elastic leak estimation module that identifies the instantaneous elastic leakage in the ventilation system.

21. The controller of claim 19 wherein the lung flow estimation means comprises: a compensation module that generates a leak-compensated lung flow based on the instantaneous elastic leakage and at least one sensor output indicative of the pressure measurement in the ventilation system.