SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCHEDULING PAUSE MANEUVERS USED FOR ESTIMATING ELASTANCE AND/OR RESISTANCE DURING BREATHING

摘要

A method of providing breathing assistance is provided. A plurality of a patient's breaths are assisted using a breathing assistance system. The plurality of breaths may include one or more pause breaths and one or more non-pause breaths, and the occurrence of pause breaths during the plurality of breaths may be randomized. Each pause breath may include a pause maneuver during which one or more valves of the breathing assistance system are closed to create a constant volume defined at least by the patient's lungs and one or more components of the breathing assistance system. One or more measurements may be taken during or proximate the pause maneuver, and one or more patient characteristic values may be determined based at least on the one or more measurements. The one or more patient characteristic values may include values for at least one of an elastance and a compliance associated with the patient.