Lung ventilator device

Ventilation to a patient is provided in response to patient effort. The free flow of gas from a piston, or similar air source, in response to patient inhalation is detected, the instantaneous rate and volume of flow are measured and the measurements are used as control signals to a drive motor for the piston to move the piston to generate a pressure which is proportional to the sum of measured and suitably amplified rate and volume of flow signals. Since the command signal to the pressure generator only changes subsequent to, and not in advance of, a change in flow and volume, the ventilator is subservient to the patient and provides a proportional assist to patient ongoing breathing effort during inspiration (Proportional Assist Ventilation, PAV).