Abstract: A monitor-patient connector used with a lung inflection point monitor for measuring critical opening pressure, over distention pressure, and critical closing of lungs. The monitored-patient connector apparatus is used in conjunction with a lung inflection point monitor, and may be connected to a ventilator breathing circuit. The connector includes a proximal opening for connecting to a patient; a distal end that may be connected to the ventilator breathing circuit, a gas injection port for connecting the connector to a lung inflection point monitor; an isolation valve to prevent gas from entering and escaping during a lung inflection point maneuver; and an exhalation valve for regulating the evacuation of gas from the patient.

Abstract: A monitoring device and method for finding the critical opening pressure, the critical closing pressure and the over distention pressure of the lungs by first, delivering pulses of gas to the lungs without allowing the gas to escape, and then, allowing the gas to escape, all the while, monitoring the resulting pressure change. By looking at a simple pressure-over-time depiction of these pressure changes, the critical opening pressure, the critical closing pressure and the over distention pressure can be determined by observing the overall pressure change and the incremental pressure changes.