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Abstract

A method and device for triggering ventilatory support to assist the patient's respiration. Myoelectrical activity of a patient's respiratory-related muscle is sensed to detect respiratory effort, and to produce a myoelectrical signal representative of the sensed muscle myoelectrical activity. Respiratory flow and pressure can also be measured to produce respective respiratory pressure and respiratory flow signals. A logic trigger circuit triggers ventilatory support in relation to the myoelectrical signal, respiratory flow signal and/or respiratory pressure signal to assist respiration of the patient. The amplitude of the myolectrical signal is compared to a given threshold, and ventilatory support is triggered when the amplitude of the myoelectrical signal is higher than this threshold. Increment of myoelectrical signal amplitude can also be detected to trigger ventilatory support, while decrement of the myoelectrical signal amplitude can be detected to request non-triggering of the ventilatory support.

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First Claim