The history and potential of 'intelligent ventilation' : editorial

I define an 'intelligent ventilator' as a dynamic and responsive machine that provides every patient with safe, efficient, synchronised, comfortable and appropriate ventilatory support through a continuous interactive process utilising four basic elements: on-line non-invasive respiratory function monitoring; initialisation of the most ideal ventilatory pattern for the current lung condition; automated closed-loop controlled adjustment of the ventilatory support in response to any change in the lung condition; and timely weaning from the ventilatory support in a safe and controlled fashion, without inducing any clinical deterioration of lung function.