Device and method for biasing lung volume

• US 20060155341A1
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• 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 7,970,475 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3611 Respiration control stimulating respiratory organs A61N1/3601
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3614 based on impedance measurement

Abstract

A device and method is provided for biasing lung volume by electrically stimulating tissue associated with the diaphragm or phrenic nerve at a low level.

Claims

1. 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

a stimulator in electrical communication with the implantable electrode to supply an electrically stimulating signal to the tissue at a low level.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein stimulator is configured to determine a threshold for causing a breath in a patient and is configured to deliver the electrically stimulating signal below the threshold.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the stimulator is further configured to stimulate at a level above the threshold.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the stimulator is configured to stimulate at the level above the threshold at least in part during an inspiration portion of an intrinsic breath of the patient.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the stimulator is configured to deliver a stimulation signal less than or equal to 8 milliamps.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the stimulator is configured to provide stimulation at least in part during an exhalation cycle.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the stimulator is further configured to stimulate to elicit breaths.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the stimulator is further configured to control a breathing rate.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the stimulator is configured to elicit breaths at a rate greater than an intrinsic rate.

10. A method for treating a breathing related disorder comprising the steps of:

providing;

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

a stimulator in electrical communication with the implantable electrode; and

supplying a low level electrically stimulating signal to the tissue.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of supplying low level stimulation comprises stimulating at a level below a threshold for causing a breath in a patient.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of supplying low level stimulation comprises stimulating using a signal having a current of less than about 8 milliamps.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of supplying low level stimulation comprises stimulating at least in part during an inspiration portion of an intrinsic breath of a patient.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of supplying low level stimulation comprises stimulating at least in part during an exhalation portion of an intrinsic breath of a patient.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of stimulating at least in part during an inspiration portion of an intrinsic breath at a level above a threshold for causing a breath in a patient.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of stimulating to cause stimulated breaths.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of stimulating to cause stimulated breaths comprises controlling a breathing rate.