Abstract: For the purpose of carrying out an MMV-treatment (Mandatory Minute Volume) by means of a lung ventilator which includes a breathing-gas source from which a patient connected to the ventilator is able to breath spontaneously through an inspiratory line, and a ventilator unit which can be activated by means of a control signal so as to deliver to the patient through the inspiratory line a mandatory breath of determinable tidal volume from the breathing-gas source, the flow of breathing gas through the inspiratory line is continuously sensed by means of a flow meter. In a control unit there is generated a signal which is representative of the continuous integral of the difference between a reference signal and the flow signal from the flow meter. The value of the integrated difference signal is compared with a given limit value. Each time the value of the integrated difference signal reaches the limit value, the ventilator unit is activated to deliver to the patient a mandatory breath of given tidal volume.