APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR DETECTING A LEAK DURING ARTIFICIAL VENTILATION

A device and a process detect a leak during artificial ventilation of a patient. A measurement system with a sensor arrangement and a sensor fluid guide unit is monitored. A fluid connection is established between a patient-side coupling unit and a medical device with a patient fluid guide unit. A gas sample is branched off from the patient fluid guide unit and guided through the sensor fluid guide unit to the sensor arrangement. A thermal conductivity time course of the gas sample reaching the sensor arrangement is determined with sensor arrangement measured values. Depending on a temporal change in the determined thermal conductivity, a decision is made as to whether there is an indication of a leak between the patient's fluid-guiding unit and the sensor arrangement. The leak establishes a fluid connection between the sensor fluid guide unit and/or the sensor arrangement and the environment.