Advanced mechanical ventilation modes: design and computer simulations

In this paper, three different advanced mechanical ventilation modes, pressure regulated volume control ventilation (PRVC), proportional assist ventilation (PAV), and adaptive support ventilation (ASV) are designed and simulated on the computer via MATLAB/Simulink. In the algorithms of advanced ventilation modes, a closed-loop control structure is used and recursive least squares method is considered for the estimation of respiratory mechanics. The designed algorithms are then applied to the human respiratory system model for the active and/or passive patient cases. Simulation results show that such algorithms can be designed and simulated on the computer successfully. In addition, the simulation environment helps us to understand the working principles of the advanced modes and to see the results such as ventilator waveforms, the effect of the parameter changes. Moreover, it also allows us to improve and test the algorithms and strategies quickly and efficiently.