Computer control of mechanical ventilation.

Computer control of mechanical ventilators includes the operator-ventilator interface and the ventilator-patient interface. New ventilation modes represent the evolution of engineering control schemes. The various ventilation control strategies behind the modes have an underlying organization, and understanding that organization improves the clinician's appreciation of the capabilities of various ventilation modes and gives an idea of what we can and should expect for the future. The operator-ventilator interface has received little attention in the literature, despite the fact that there is a whole science of human-computer interaction. This report suggests a methodology for the study of ventilator interfaces.