Auto-titration bi-level pressure support system and method of using same

Abstract

A bi-level pressure support system and method of treating disordered breathing that optimizes the pressure delivered to the patient during inspiration and expiration to treat the disordered breathing while minimizing the delivered pressure for patient comfort. The pressure generating system generates a flow of breathing gas at an inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) during inspiration and at an expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) during expirations. A controller monitor at least one of the following conditions: (1) snoring, (2) apneas, (3) hypopneas, or (4) a big leak in the pressure support system and adjusts the IPAP and the EPAP based on the occurrence of any one of these conditions.

1 . An auto-titration pressure support system comprising:
 a pressure generating system adapted to generate a flow of breathing gas at a selectable pressure level;   a patient circuit having a first end adapted to be coupled to the pressure generating system and a second end adapted to be coupled to an airway of a patient;   a monitoring system associated with the patient circuit or the pressure generating system and adapted to measure a parameter indicative of a flow of gas in such a patient's airway and to output a flow signal indicative thereof; and   a controller coupled to the monitoring system and the pressure generating system, for controlling the pressure generating system based on the output of the monitoring system, wherein the controller performs a trend analysis on the output of the monitoring system.