Device and method for improving upper airway functionality
First Claim
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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
an electrical stimulator coupled to the implantable electrode and programmed with an electrical stimulation protocol directed to increasing flow or tidal volume in order to stiffen an upper airway passage 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.
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Abstract
A device and method is provided for improving upper airway functionality by electrically stimulating tissue associated with the diaphragm or phrenic nerve of a subject.
157 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A device for treating a breathing related disorder comprising:
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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 flow or tidal volume in order to stiffen an upper airway passage 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of treating a breathing related disorder comprising:
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providing an electrical stimulator ; and
electrically stimulating tissue associated with the respiratory tract of the patient to cause a diaphragm response to increase in overall air flow of a respiration cycle with respect to an intrinsic over all air flow of an intrinsic respiration cycle, in an upper airway of a patient prior to at least one subsequent inspiration cycle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of treating a breathing related disorder comprising the steps of:
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providing an electrical stimulator configured to stimulate tissue associated with the phrenic nerve or diaphragm of a patient to elicit a diaphragm response;
stimulating the tissue during an inspiration cycle of an intrinsic breath to increase an inspiration duration of above a duration of a normal intrinsic breath. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method of treating a breathing related disorder comprising the steps of:
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providing an electrical stimulator configured to stimulate tissue associated with the phrenic nerve or diaphragm of a patient to elicit a diaphragm response;
stimulating the tissue during an inspiration cycle of an intrinsic breath to increase an tidal of above a tidal of a normal intrinsic breath. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A device for treating a breathing related disorder comprising:
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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 in electrical communication with the implantable electrode to thereby supply an electrically stimulating signal to the tissue and configured to increase an inspiration duration of a breath with respect to an inspiration duration of an intrinsic breath. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification