Abstract: The computer gated positive expiratory pressure method alters pressure in a patient breathing pathway in a respiratory ventilator during specified periods of a patient's heart cycle. Heartbeats of a patient are detected in patient cardiac cycles, and an electrical heartbeat signal is generated in response to the heartbeats. In a presently preferred embodiment, the electrical heartbeat signal is squared to amplify the signal. A variable moment following a detected heartbeat is determined, and positive ventilation pressure in the patient breathing pathway is altered commencing at the variable moment following a detected heartbeat, for a variable time interval during selected cardiac cycles.

Abstract: A gating system is provided for controlling a ventilator means, which, in turn, generates a positive pressure breath. The systems including a sensing means for sensing sequential heart beats of a patient, together with a computing means, which is connected to the sensing means, for computing a period between the sequential heart beats. In addition to the above, a valve means is connected electrically to the computing means and pneumatically to the ventilator means for controlling the ventilator means, with the valve means being positioned to cease positive pressure breaths in response to the computer period.