Methods of leaks detection under therapy with continuous positive airway pressure

To assess the performance of continuous positive airway pressure devices in treatment of sleep breathing disorders during polysomnographic studies, analysis are based essentially on the patient airflow signal measured by a pneumotachograph and the mask pressure. These signals used either by the softwares or the physicians provide powerful information on respiratory events occurring during the night. However, sometimes signals are artifacted by airflow leaks at the mask or the mouth. These artifacts are causes of information loss and then of possible wrong interpretations. We studied the relationship between airflow and mask pressure at the occurrence of leaks. We used analogy with electrical models and Kirchoff laws to estimate mask leaks and to detect mouth breathing. A Starling model connected to a flow generator simulated respiratory movements. A positive pressure was maintained in the model and artificial leaks comparable to mask leaks were provoked. Then, we replaced the Starling model and the flow generator by two healthy volunteers. We computed mask leaks in both conditions and found no contradiction between the simulated model and the subjects. Equations of the analog circuit were helpful to assess mask leaks and to detect mouth breathing. Such equations could be included in polysomnographs or in pressure generator algorithms either for detecting leaks or adjusting airway pressure.