Method and system to control respiration by means of simulated action potential signals

• US 20060064137A1
• Filed: 11/01/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neurosignal Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Neurosignal Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Stone, Robert T.
• Application Number:
  US11/264,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20060064137A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/388 Nerve conduction study, e.g. detecting action potential of peripheral nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3611 Respiration control stimulating respiratory organs A61N1/3601

Abstract

A method to control respiration generally comprising generating and transmitting at least one simulated action potential signal to the body that is recognizable by the respiratory system as a modulation signal.

Claims

1. A method for controlling respiration in a subject, comprising the steps of:

generating a first simulated action potential signal that is recognizable by the subject'"'"'s respiratory system as a modulation signal; and

transmitting at least the first simulated action potential signal to the subject'"'"'s body, whereby control of the subject'"'"'s respiratory system is effectuated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first simulated action potential signal includes a positive voltage region having a first positive voltage for a first period of time and a first negative region having a first negative voltage for a second period of time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said first positive voltage is in the range of approximately 100-1500 mV.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said first positive voltage is in the range of approximately 700-900 mV.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said first positive voltage is approximately 800 mV.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said first period of time is in the range of approximately 100-400 μ

sec.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein said first period of time is in the range of approximately 150-300 μ

sec.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said first period of time is approximately 200 μ

sec.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein said first negative voltage is in the range of approximately −

50 mV to −

750 mV.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said first negative voltage is in the range of approximately −

350 mV to −

450 mV.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein said first negative voltage is approximately −

400 mV.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein said second period of time is in the range of approximately 200-800 μ

sec.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein said second period of time is in the range of approximately 300-600 μ

sec.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein said second period of time is approximately 400 μ

sec.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said simulated action potential signal is transmitted to the subject'"'"'s nervous system.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject comprises a human.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject comprises an animal.

19. A method for controlling respiration, comprising the steps of:

monitoring the respiration status of a subject and providing at least one respiratory system status signal indicative of the status of the subject'"'"'s respiratory system;

generating a first simulated action potential signal that is recognizable by the subject'"'"'s respiratory system as a modulation signal; and

transmitting said first square wave signal to said subject in response to said respiratory system status signal.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said first simulated action potential signal includes a positive voltage region having a first positive voltage for a first period of time and a first negative region having a first negative voltage for a second period of time.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said first positive voltage is in the range of approximately 100-1500 mV.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said first positive voltage is in the range of approximately 700-900 mV.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said first positive voltage is approximately 800 mV.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said first period of time is in the range of approximately 100-400 μ

sec.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein said first period of time is in the range of approximately 150-300 μ

sec.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein said first period of time is approximately 200 μ

sec.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein said first voltage is in the range of approximately −

50 mV to −

750 mV.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein said first negative voltage is in the range of approximately −

350 mV to −

450 mV.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein said first negative voltage is approximately −

400 mV.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein said second period of time is in the range of approximately 200-800 μ

sec.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein said second period of time is in the range of approximately 300-600 μ

sec.

32. The method of claim 20, wherein said second period of time is approximately 400 μ

sec.

33. The method of claim 19, wherein said first simulated action potential signal is transmitted to said subject'"'"'s nervous system.

34. The method of claim 19, wherein said first simulated action potential signal is transmitted to a target zone on said subject, said target zone being selected from the neck, head and thorax.

35. The method of claim 19, wherein said subject comprises a human.

36. The method of claim 19, wherein said subject comprises an animal.