-
-
Notifications
You must be signed in to change notification settings - Fork 39
Ventilator Glossary
For a deeper understanding of how ventilators work, see Recommended reading. E.g. this textbook and this ventilator manual both contain a glossary section.
Below is a subset of some particularly common terms used in our project.
- If you see a definition that is wrong/incomplete, edit it.
- If you don't know something but figure it out, add it here.
- If you don't know something and can't figure it out, add it here with a TODO and someone else will fill it in.
Command Pressure mode - TODO fill in what this means. This is the only mode we're supporting in Alpha. Parameters: PEEP, PIP, RR, I:E, Rise time.
Pressure Control mode - same as Command Pressure.
Pressure Assist (Pressure Trig) mode - TODO fill this in.
Pressure Support Ventilation (PSV) mode - TODO fill this in.
Pressure-Regulated Volume Control (PRVC) mode - TODO fill this in.
Patient pressure sensor - reads the absolute pressure value at the patient.
Inspiratory/Expiratory flow differential - read the pressure differential across a venturi flow meter for measuring respectively the rate of air flowing into and out of the patient.
PEEP - Positive End Expiratory Pressure, pressure in the lungs above atmospheric pressure that exists at the end of expiration.
PIP - Peak Inspiratory Pressure, highest level of pressure applied to the lungs during inhalation.
RR - Respiratory Rate, the number of breaths completed per minute. The typical respiratory rate for a healthy adult at rest is 12–18 breaths per minute.
I:E - The ratio of inspiration time vs exhalation time.
Rise time - TODO fill this in
TV - Tidal Volume, volume of air moved into or out of the lungs during breathing. See this diagram.
Flow - amount of gas delivered to the lungs per minute.
Inspiratory sensitivity - level of negative pressure (breathing effort) the patient has to apply to trigger a breath.