Device and method for increasing functional residual capacity

• US 20060122662A1
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RMX, LLC (ASHINC Corp.)
• Original Assignee: RMX, LLC (ASHINC Corp.)
• Inventors: Province, Rose, Lee, Chang, Ligon, David, Tehrani, Amir J., Goodman, Amy Michelle
• Granted Patent: US 9,259,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/395 Details of stimulation, e.g. nerve stimulation to elicit EMG response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs

Abstract

A device and method is provided for increasing the functional residual capacity of lungs of a subject by electrically stimulating tissue associated with the diaphragm or phrenic nerve of the subject.

Claims

1. A method of treating a breathing related disorder comprising:

providing a stimulator; and

electrically stimulating tissue associated with the respiratory tract of the patient to increase functional residual capacity in lungs of a patient prior to onset of at least one subsequent respiration cycle subsequent to the stimulation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical stimulation protocol is directed to increasing tidal volume of a breath.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of electrically stimulating comprises electrically stimulating at least in part during at least a portion of an inspiration portion of intrinsic breath of the patient.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the stimulation protocol wherein the step of electrically stimulating comprises electrically stimulating asynchronously with respect to an inspiration portion of an intrinsic breath of the patient.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of stimulating tissue comprises initiating stimulation at an end portion of an inspiration cycle.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of stimulating tissue comprises stimulating for a preset period of time after initiating stimulation.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of stimulating tissue comprises stimulating during an exhalation portion of a respiration cycle.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of stimulating comprises stimulating at an end portion of the exhalation portion of the respiration cycle.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of stimulating comprises providing a low level stimulation for at least a portion of a respiration cycle.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of providing a low level of stimulation comprises providing a stimulation signal below a threshold for causing a breath.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of providing a low level of stimulation comprises providing a stimulation signal less than or equal to 8 milliamps.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of stimulating comprises providing the low level stimulation between during at least a portion of an expiration cycle of a respiration cycle.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of stimulating comprises providing the low level stimulation between during at least a portion of an inspiration cycle of a respiration cycle.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of stimulating comprises providing the low level stimulation for a predetermined period of time.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of stimulating further comprises stimulating to increasing a tidal volume of a breath with respect to a tidal volume of an intrinsic breath of the patient.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of stimulating further comprises normalizing peak flow with respect to an intrinsic peak flow.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of electrically stimulating further comprises providing electrical stimulation at least in part during an inspiration portion of an intrinsic breath of the patient.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of stimulating comprises stimulating to increase the duration of the inspiration portion of a respiration cycle with respect to the duration of the exhalation portion of the respiration cycle.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the rate of breathing.

20. A device for treating a breathing related disorder comprising:

an implantable electrode configured to be implanted to stimulate tissue associated with a respiratory tract of a patient to cause a diaphragm response; and

an electrical stimulator coupled to the implantable electrode and programmed with an electrical stimulation protocol directed to increasing functional residual capacity in the lungs of a patient;

wherein the stimulator is electrical communication with the implantable electrode to thereby supply an electrically stimulating signal to the tissue according to the electrical stimulation protocol.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the protocol is directed to increasing tidal volume of a breath with respect to a tidal volume of an intrinsic breath of the patient.

22. The device of claim 20 further comprising a stimulation timer configured to provide the electrically stimulating signal at least in part during an intrinsic breath of the patient.

23. The device of claim 20 further comprising a stimulation timer configured to provide the electrical stimulation at an end portion of an inspiration cycle of the respiration cycle.

24. The device of claim 20 further comprising a stimulation timer configured to provide the electrical stimulation at least in part during an end portion of a respiration cycle.

25. The device of claim 20 further comprising a stimulation timer configured to provide the electrical stimulation during at least a portion of an exhalation portion of the respiration cycle.

26. The device of claim 20 wherein the protocol is configured to increase the duration of the inspiration portion of a respiration cycle with respect to the duration of the exhalation portion of the respiration cycle.