The present disclosure relates to a method and a system for quantifying timing discrepancies between inspiratory effort and ventilatory assist. A trigger error is determined by comparing a start time of neural inspiration with a start time of the ventilatory assist. A cycling-off error is determined by comparing an end time of the neural inspiration with an end time of the ventilatory assist. The ventilatory assist is synchronized when the trigger error is lower than a first threshold and the cycling-off error is lower than a second threshold. The ventilatory assist may also be characterized in terms of early or late trigger and of early or late cycling-off. A trigger of a ventilator may be adjusted according to the trigger error and a cycling-off of a ventilator may be adjusted according to the cycling-off error.

A device, a process and a computer program, pertaining to a determination of situations during breathing or during a ventilation are described. Concepts for obtaining, detecting or determining information are described. The information, for example, is information concerning the respiratory muscles of the patient, concerning a load-bearing capacity of a patient, concerning a need for breathing assistance and also concerning the possibilities of adequately assisting the breathing by stimulation are very valuable in the treatment and therapy of living beings or patients.

A system and method are presented that electrically stimulates the phrenic nerve whereby said stimulation results in muscle activation of the diaphragm as observed by a measurement of work or power of breathing associated with the inspiratory portion of a stimulated breath.

A system and method are presented that electrically stimulates the phrenic nerve whereby said stimulation results in muscle activation of the diaphragm as observed by a measurement of work or power of breathing associated with the inspiratory portion of a stimulated breath.

There is provided system for monitoring spontaneous breathing of a mechanically ventilated target individual, comprising: a feeding tube for insertion into a distal end of an esophagus of the individual, sensor(s) disposed on the feeding tube at a location such that the sensor(s) is located at the distal end of the esophagus of the individual when the feeding tube is in use, wherein the sensor(s) is positioned for sensing values by contact with the tissue of the esophagus including a lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and/or tissue in proximity to the LES, and code for computing an indication of a frequency band of diaphragm movement of the individual according to an analysis of values sensed by the sensor(s), and for adjustment of parameter(s) of a mechanical ventilator for mechanically ventilating the individual, wherein the instructions for adjustment are computed while the feeding tube is in use.

An apparatus for reducing ventilation induced diaphragm disuse in a patient receiving ventilation support from a mechanical ventilator (MV), including: an electrode array of first and second types and comprising a plurality of electrodes configured to stimulate a phrenic nerve of the patient; and at least one controller configured to: identify a type of electrode array from at least two different types, generate a stimulus signal for stimulating a phrenic nerve of the patient based upon the identity of the electrode type.

The hiccup relieving apparatus includes a body with a first end having a mouthpiece, a second end having a restriction in the body between the first end and the second end. The restriction makes it difficult to draw fluid through the body to the user's mouth. The fluid can be air or the body can be immersed in water or other potable liquid in a container. The restriction requires an adult user, using the mouthpiece, to produce a threshold suction of for example water before water can flow from the water in the water container, through the body, through the mouthpiece, and to the user.

An apparatus, for assisted ventilation (1), includes at least one ventilatory device (2) connected to and controlled by a driver (3), and at least one sensor device (4) connected to the driver (3) and adapted to provide it with a signal of electrical activity produced by the diaphragm. The apparatus further includes at least one calculation device (5) connected to the driver (3), to the sensor device (4) and to the ventilatory device (2), the calculation device (5) receiving from the sensor device (4) a signal of diaphragmatic activity (Eadi) and from the ventilatory device (2) a ventilatory pressure signal (Paw) and providing the driver (3) with calibration parameters (Cal) calculated on the basis of a signal of diaphragmatic electrical activity (Eadi*) and a ventilatory pressure signal (Paw*) upon switching-off said ventilatory device (2) so as to cause an expiratory pause.

A ventilatory assist system and method are disclosed. The system comprises a tube for connection to a patient's airway, inspiratory and expiratory tube lumens connected to the tube, an inspiratory air source connected to the inspiration tube lumen, and a controller of air pressure in the expiratory tube lumen. The pressure controller is responsive to a physiological breathing signal representative of patient's inspiratory effort to allow air flow through the expiratory tube lumen during a patient's expiration phase, partially restricting the air flow through the expiratory tube lumen to a so minimum air flow during a patient's inspiration phase. During both respiratory phases, a unidirectional air flow is produced through the inspiratory and expiratory tube lumens to prevent air expired by the patient from being breathed again. The physiological breathing signal allows synchronization of the ventilatory assist with breathing efforts of the patient.

A ventilation machine is disclosed that includes a conduit interface configured to be connected to a respiratory system of a human or animal patient, an air flow generator configured to deliver air through the conduit interface into the respiratory system of the patient, a processing unit in communication with the air flow generator and configured to control the airflow generator to deliver air into the respiratory system of the patient according to a breathing scheme, and an induction device for activating a diaphragm of the patient. The induction device is in communication with the processing unit. The processing unit is configured to control the induction device to activate the diaphragm in coordination with the breathing scheme.