Importance

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Abstract

A positive airway pressure assist breathing apparatus or ventilator system has a gas delivery unit, an inspiration line connected to the output of the gas delivery unit for connecting the gas delivery unit to a, patient during an inspiratory phase of each breath, and an expiratory unit for controlling exhausting of gases from the patient during an expiratory phase of each breath. A pressure sensor senses gas pressure in the system, and a control unit controls pressure of gas supplied to a patient in each inspiratory phase based on a pre-set target pressure. The control unit is arranged to calculate a boost pressure level periodically according to a determined patient breathlessness level, and to boost the pressure of gas supplied to the patient at the start of each inspiratory phase to the calculated boost pressure level higher than the pre-set target pressure, and to reduce the pressure back to the pre-set target pressure at a predetermined time after the start of the inspiratory phase and prior to the end of the inspiratory phase. Boost pressure is adjusted periodically based on each new determination of the patient breathlessness level.

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First Claim