Method for ventilation

Abstract

The disclosure describes a method for automatically initiating ventilation, controlling ventilation, transitioning a ventilator to subject controlled ventilation, and weaning a subject from ventilation. The disclosure describes that the method for automatically initiating ventilation includes inputting a physical characteristic of the subject into a ventilator. The physical characteristic may be ideal body weight, height, or age. Based on the inputted physical characteristic, one or more ventilation parameters are calculated. The disclosure describes initiating ventilation based on the calculated parameters. During ventilation at least one physiological parameter of the subject is monitored. At least one ventilation parameter may be adjusted based on the monitoring of the physiological parameters and the inputted physical characteristic.

1 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method of automatically transitioning a ventilator to subject control, comprising: (a) determining whether the subject is attempting to initiate breaths; (b) if the subject is not attempting to initiate breaths, measuring E T CO 2  and comparing the measured value with a pre-defined range; (c) if the measured E T CO 2  is within the range, reducing the breath frequency; and (d) repeating step (a). 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein if the subject is attempting to initiate breaths for at least a predetermined percentage of delivered breaths, switching the ventilator to assist mode whereby ventilator initiated breaths are suspended as long as the subject continues to initiate breaths or until the measured E T CO 2  is below a pre-determined level. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein if measured E T CO 2  is within the target range for a predetermined period of time, transitioning the ventilator to volume support ventilation utilizing the most recent end-inspiration pressure level as the starting point for volume support ventilation. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said transitioning is achieved by calculating the pressure required to deliver the current breath volume and utilizing the calculated pressure as the starting pressure for volume support ventilation. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising adjusting T RISE  to a predetermined value. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said value is 50%. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising adjusting T INSP  based upon flow deceleration such that the inspiration phase may be terminated once the lung flow drops to a predetermined percentage of the peak flow. 
     
     
         35 .- 42 . (canceled)