Airway pressure (Paw) and flow rate shown for constant, decelerating, and sinusoidal inspiratory flow waveforms. Inspiratory time and tidal volume were held constant. Peak inspiratory airway pressures are similar with all waveforms, but mean airway pressure is highest with the decelerating inspiratory flow wave.
Redrawn from Banner, MJ, Lanpontang, S, In: Current Respiratory Care, Kacmarek, RM, Stoller, JK (Eds), BC Decker, Philadelphia, 1988.