A method and apparatus for providing ventilatory assistance to a spontaneously breathing patient an error signal (56) is computed that is the difference between a function of respiratory airflow (54) over a period of time and a target value (52). Using a servo loop, air is delivered to the patient at a pressure that is a function of the error signal, the phase of the current breathing cycle, and a loop gain that varies depending on the magnitude of the error signal. The loop gain increases with the magnitude of the error signal, and the gain is greater for error signals below a ventilation target than for error signals above the ventilation target value. The target value (52) is an alveolar ventilation that takes into account the patient's physiologic dead space.

A ventilation apparatus has a breathing gas delivery system for delivering breathing gas to a user of the apparatus as ventilation therapy, with a controllable pressure and flow. The breathing pressure and flow are monitored to derive a respiration variability. A state of relaxation of the user is derived during provision of breathing assistance based on at least the respiration variability. Settings of the ventilation apparatus are then adapted dependence on the estimated state of relaxation for assisting the user in habituating to the breathing assistance, and hence habituating to breathing therapy.

A ventilation apparatus has a breathing gas delivery system for delivering breathing gas to a user of the apparatus as ventilation therapy, with a controllable pressure and flow. The breathing pressure and flow are monitored to derive a respiration variability. A state of relaxation of the user is derived during provision of breathing assistance based on at least the respiration variability. Settings of the ventilation apparatus are then adapted dependence on the estimated state of relaxation for assisting the user in habituating to the breathing assistance, and hence habituating to breathing therapy.

A method for characterizing an olfactory stimulation, including visual stimulation steps each associated with a theme and first steps of recording physiological variables carried out continuously during a first visual stimulation step, so as to obtain first physiological recordings, each first physiological recording being associated with the theme associated with the first visual stimulation step, a second olfactory stimulation step, a second step of recording values of physiological variables carried out continuously during and after the second olfactory stimulation step to obtain a second physiological recording, a step of comparing the first physiological recordings with the second physiological recording to isolate a first physiological recording close to the second physiological recording, and a step of determining a theme associated with the first physiological recording which is isolated during the comparing step.

A user interface of a respiratory therapy system includes a strap assembly, a frame, a connector, and a sensor. The strap assembly is positioned about a head of a user when the user wears the user interface. The frame is physically and electrically connected to the strap assembly, and defines an aperture. The connector has a first end portion and second end portion. The first end portion of the connector can be positioned within the aperture of the frame such that the connector is physically and electrically connected to the frame. The sensor is coupled to the strap assembly or the frame such that the sensor abuts a target area of the user when the user wears the user interface.

A method and apparatus deliver a variable flow of oxygen to a patient. The apparatus may include a flow control valve, a pressure sensor to detect a patient's breathing pressure and ambient pressure, an oxygen flow analyzer to measure oxygen flow to the patient, and a processor to analyze the breathing pressure values, ambient pressure value, and oxygen flow rate values and to determine when a patient is inhaling. When the processor determines the patient is inhaling, the processor calculates an optimal oxygen flow rate to deliver to a patient, which may depend on a pre-selected flow rate and an oxygen backlog, and the processor sends a signal to the flow control valve to deliver the optimal oxygen flow rate to the patient.

A processing system includes methods to promote sleep. The system may include a monitor such as a non-contact motion sensor from which sleep information may be determined. User sleep information, such as sleep stages, hypnograms, sleep scores, mind recharge scores and body scores, may be recorded, evaluated and/or displayed for a user. The system may further monitor ambient and/or environmental conditions corresponding to sleep sessions. Sleep advice may be generated based on the sleep information, user queries and/or environmental conditions from one or more sleep sessions. Communicated sleep advice may include content to promote good sleep habits and/or detect risky sleep conditions. In some versions of the system, any one or more of a bedside unit 3000 sensor module, a smart processing device, such as a smart phone or smart device 3002, and network servers may be implemented to perform the methodologies of the system.

A ventilator system for a patient includes: an intubation tube configured to flow oxygen-enriched humidified air (OHA) toward patient lungs and to evacuate exhaust air exhaled from the lungs, the intubation tube includes: a distal end, configured to be inserted into patient trachea, and a proximal end, configured to be connected to tubes for receiving the OHA and evacuating the exhaust air; a first microgravity sensor, coupled to the intubation tube at a first position, and configured to produce a first signal indicative of a first micro-acceleration of the intubation tube at the first position; a second microgravity sensor, coupled to the intubation tube at a second different position, and configured to produce a second signal indicative of a second micro-acceleration of the intubation tube at the second position; and a processor, configured to control the ventilation system to apply a ventilation scheme responsively to the first and second signals.

A method and system of sleep maintenance includes configuring a stimulation device comprising a transducer to emit a transcutaneous vibratory output to a body part of a subject, receiving physiological data of the subject from at least one sensor at a processor, providing a stimulation pattern for the transcutaneous vibratory output to be emitted by the transducer, the stimulation pattern comprising a perceived pitch, a perceived beat, and an intensity of the transcutaneous vibratory output, causing the transducer to emit the transcutaneous vibratory output in the stimulation pattern, determining a sleep state of the subject based on the physiological data, and altering the stimulation pattern based on the sleep state, wherein altering comprises at least one of (i) reducing a frequency of the perceived pitch, (ii) increasing an interval of the perceived beat, or (iii) reducing the intensity.

A method and system of sleep maintenance includes configuring a stimulation device comprising a transducer to emit a transcutaneous vibratory output to a body part of a subject, receiving physiological data of the subject from at least one sensor at a processor, providing a stimulation pattern for the transcutaneous vibratory output to be emitted by the transducer, the stimulation pattern comprising a perceived pitch, a perceived beat, and an intensity of the transcutaneous vibratory output, causing the transducer to emit the transcutaneous vibratory output in the stimulation pattern, determining a sleep state of the subject based on the physiological data, and altering the stimulation pattern based on the sleep state, wherein altering comprises at least one of (i) reducing a frequency of the perceived pitch, (ii) increasing an interval of the perceived beat, or (iii) reducing the intensity.