Method and apparatus for treating cheyne-stokes respiration

Abstract

A system and method for delivering a flow of breathing gas to an airway of a patient. The system monitors a characteristic that varies based on variations of the flow of the breathing gas and determines a Target Flow for the gas to be delivered to the patient based on the monitored characteristic. The Target Flow is set to a level sufficient to treat Cheyne-Stokes respiration or a sleep disordered breathing event. The system also alters the Target Flow based on a determination that the patient is experiencing a sleep disordered breathing event. The system further determines a pressure relief component and controls the flow of gas delivered to the patient based on the Target Flow and the pressure relief component.

1 . A system for delivering a flow of gas to an airway of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 a gas flow/pressure generating system that generates a flow of gas;   a patient circuit coupled to the gas flow/pressure generating system and adapted to communicate the flow of gas to an airway of a patient;   monitoring means for monitoring a characteristic that varies based on variations of the flow of the breathing gas; and   a controller that determines a Target Flow to be delivered to the patient based on the monitored characteristic, wherein the controller determines whether such a patient is experiencing a sleep disordered breathing event, wherein the controller alters the Target Flow based on a determination that such a patient is experiencing a sleep disordered breathing event, wherein the controller determines a pressure relief component, and wherein the controller controls the gas flow/pressure generating system based on the Target Flow and the pressure relief component.