Process for operating a respirator

1. A process for controlling a respirator with an expiration valve, the process comprising:

providing a respiration flow with a preset starting rate of flow;

providing an alternating pressure amplitude to the respiration flow in the rhythm of a high frequency by control actions including controlling the expiration valve;

reducing a rate of flow step by step from the preset starting rate of flow by a first increment;

determining a load situation of the expiration valve;

monitoring an exceeding of a first threshold value of the load situation of the expiration valve; and when the first threshold value of the load situation is exceeded one of:

increasing the rate of flow by a second increment; and

not reducing the rate of flow further, monitoring an exceeding of a second threshold value of the load situation of the expiration valve and increasing the rate of flow by a second increment when the second threshold value of the load situation of the expiration valve is exceeded.

2. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of the load situation of the expiration valve and the reduction of the rate of flow is carried out synchronously with a continuous sequence of respiration cycles from one respiration cycle to the respective next respiration cycle or synchronously with the further sequence of subsequent respiration cycles.

3. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of the load situation of the expiration valve and the increase in the rate of flow is performed synchronously with a continuous sequence of respiration cycles from one respiration cycle to the respective next respiration cycle or synchronously with the further sequence of subsequent respiration cycles.

4. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of the load situation of the expiration valve and the reduction of the rate of flow is performed asynchronously with a sequence of respiration cycles.

5. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of the load situation of the expiration valve and the increase in the rate of flow is performed asynchronously with a sequence of respiration cycles.

6. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a negative pressure change amplitude is imposed by means of a suction nozzle.

7. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein during monitoring of the load situation the load situation is derived from a desired set point of the expiration valve.

8. A process in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the desired set point of the expiration valve is formed as a current set point.

9. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein during monitoring of the load situation the load situation is derived from an actual value of an actuating current of the expiration valve.

10. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein during monitoring of the load situation the load situation is derived from a change in a resistance of an energized coil of the expiration valve relative to a reference resistance value with the coil of the expiration valve not energized.

11. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein during monitoring of the load situation the load situation is derived from a mutual induction voltage of the expiration valve.

12. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the load situation is derived from a temperature value of the expiration valve relative to a reference temperature point.

13. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a starting flow value is derived from a set of parameters comprising frequency, pressure amplitude, mean airway pressure and inspiratory:expiratory ratio.

14. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first increment is derived from the parameters comprising frequency, pressure amplitude, mean airway pressure and inspiratory:expiratory ratio.

15. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the second increment is derived from the parameters comprising frequency, pressure amplitude, mean airway pressure and inspiratory:expiratory ratio.

16. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the second increment is derived from the first increment.

17. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the second increment is derived from a difference between the load situation of the expiration valve and the first threshold value.

18. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second increment is derived from the load situation of the expiration valve and from a first and/or second threshold value and changed.

19. A process in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the derivation and changing of the first and/or second increment takes place continually and the load situation of the expiration valve is regulated in relation to the first and/or second threshold value.

20. A process in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the regulation and variation of the first and/or second increment takes place continually and the load situation of the expiration valve is regulated into a tolerance range.

21. A process for controlling a respirator with an expiration valve, the process comprising:

providing a patient feed line connected to a valve arrangement of the respirator, wherein the valve arrangement includes the expiration valve;

providing a respiration flow with a preset starting flow value;

providing an alternating pressure amplitude to the respiration flow in the patient feed line in the rhythm of a high frequency by control actions including controlling the valve arrangement;

reducing a flow value, of the respiration flow, step by step from the preset starting flow value;

determining a load situation of the expiration valve during the step of reducing; and

maintaining the load situation of the expiration valve in a tolerance range by controlling the flow value.