METHOD FOR IMPROVED CONTROL OF AIRWAY PRESSURE DURING MECHANICAL VENTILATION

摘要

An endotracheal tube for patient ventilation is modified to permit measurement of pressure at the patient trachea by providing a chamber in the end of the ET tube to be located in the patient airway. This chamber has a highly pliant external wall with a degree of redundancy and is connected to a pressure measuring device exterior of the patient by a lumen in the wall of the ET tube. In addition, apparatus for controlling airway pressure during exhalation comprises valve means connected via a first inlet to an exhalation tube from a patient airway, connected to a source of negative pressure through an outlet and having a second inlet with a variable flow control means for controlling the flow of gas therethrough. Gas pressure is controlled within the valve by varying the pressure gradient between the upstream and downstream sides of the second inlet so that it equals the pressure gradient between the patient airway and the downstream side of the second inlet.