Method and system to control respiration by means of confounding neuro-electrical signals

• US 20060287679A1
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• 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:
  US11/509,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287679A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• 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

Abstract

A method to control respiration generally comprising generating a confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to confound or (suppress) at least one interneuron that induces a reflex action and transmitting the confounding neuro-electrical signal to the subject, whereby the reflex action is abated. In one embodiment, the confounding neuro-electrical signal is adapted to confound at least one parasympathetic action potential that is associated with the target reflex action, e.g., bronchial constriction.

Claims

1. A method for suppressing a reflex action in a mammalian body, comprising the steps of:

generating a confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to suppress at least one interneuron that induces the reflex action in the body; and

transmitting said confounding neuro-electrical signal to the body.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the nervous system in the body.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the vagus nerve.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is adapted to suppress at least one parasympathetic action potential that induces said reflex action.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said reflex action comprises bronchial constriction.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal includes a plurality of simulated action potential signals, each of said plurality of simulated action potential signals having a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100-2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μ

sec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −

50 mV to −

1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μ

sec.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

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

generating a confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to suppress at least one interneuron that induces a respiratory reflex action in the subject'"'"'s body; and

transmitting said confounding neuro-electrical signal to the nervous system of the subject.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the vagus nerve.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is adapted to suppress at least one parasympathetic action potential that induces said respiratory reflex action.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said respiratory reflex action comprises bronchial constriction.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal includes a plurality of simulated action potential signals, each of said plurality of simulated action potential signals having a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100-2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μ

sec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −

50 mV to −

1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μ

sec.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

14. A method for treating a pathophysiology of asthma in a subject, comprising the steps of:

generating a confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to suppress at least one abnormal respiratory signal that induces a pathophysiology of asthma; and

transmitting said confounding neuro-electrical signal to the nervous system of the subject.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the vagus nerve.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said pathophysiology of asthma comprises a pathophysiology selected from the group consisting of bronchial hyper-responsiveness, smooth muscle hypertrophy, mucus hyper-secretion and hyper-secretion of a proinflammatory cytokine.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal has a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100-2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μ

sec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −

50 mV to −

1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μ

sec.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

19. A method for treating bronchial constriction of a subject, comprising the steps of:

generating a confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to suppress at least one group of reflex mediating interneurons that induces bronchial constriction; and

transmitting said confounding neuro-electrical signal to the nervous system of the subject, whereby said bronchial constriction is abated.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the vagus nerve.

21. The method of claim 21, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal includes a plurality of simulated action potential signals, each of said simulated action potential signals having a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100-2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μ

sec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −

50 mV to −

1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μ

sec.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

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

generating a simulated action potential signal that is recognizable by the respiration system as a modulation signal, said simulated action potential having a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100 to 2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μ

sec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −

50 mV to −

1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μ

sec;

generating a confounding neuro-electrical signal, said confounding neuro-electrical signal including a plurality of said simulated action potential signals; and

transmitting said confounding neuro-electrical signal to the nervous system of the subject.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the subject'"'"'s vagus nerve.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

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

generating a random confounding neuro-electrical signal, said random confounding neuro-electrical including a plurality of random simulated action potential signals, each of said random simulated action potential signals having a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100 to 2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μ

sec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −

50 mV to −

1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μ

sec; and

transmitting said random confounding neuro-electrical signal to the nervous system of the subject.

27. The method of claim 29, wherein said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the subject'"'"'s vagus nerve.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said random confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said frequency is randomly varied.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said frequency is randomly varied between approximately 40-4000 Hz.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein said first region of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the normalized positive amplitude of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied between approximately 0.95-1.05 times the average positive amplitude.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein said second region of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the normalized negative amplitude of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied between approximately 0.95-1.05 times the average negative amplitude.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein said first period of time of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said first period of time is randomly varied between approximately 0.25-5.0 milliseconds.

37. The method of claim 26, wherein said second period of time of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said second period of time is randomly varied between approximately 0.25-5.0 milliseconds.

39. The method of claim 26, wherein said random confounding neuro-electrical signal comprises a signal train having a plurality of said random confounding neuro-electrical signals with randomly varied intervals therebetween.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said intervals between said random confounding neuro-electrical signals is randomly varied between approximately 0.5-1.0 millisecond.

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

generating a random confounding neuro-electrical signal, said random confounding neuro-electrical including a plurality of random simulated action potential signals, each of said random simulated action potential signals having a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100 to 2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μ

sec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −

50 mV to −

1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μ

sec;

monitoring the respiration status of the subject and providing at least one respiratory system status signal in response to an abnormal function of the respiratory system; and

transmitting said random confounding neuro-electrical signal to the nervous system of the subject in response to a respiratory status signal that is indicative of a respiratory abnormality.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the subject'"'"'s vagus nerve.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein said random confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said frequency is randomly varied.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said frequency is randomly varied between approximately 40-4000 Hz.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein said positive amplitude of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein said negative amplitude of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied.

48. The method of claim 41, wherein said first period of time of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied.

49. The method of claim 41, wherein said second period of time of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied.

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

generating a pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal, said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical including a plurality of pseudo-random simulated action potential signals, each of said pseudo-random simulated action potential signals having a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100 to 2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μ

sec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −

50 mV to −

1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μ

sec; and

transmitting said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal to the nervous system of the subject.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the subject'"'"'s vagus nerve.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein said frequency is pseudo-randomly varied.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said frequency is pseudo-randomly varied between approximately 40-4000 Hz.

55. The method of claim 50, wherein said first region of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied.

56. The method of claim 50, wherein the normalized positive amplitude of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied between approximately 0.95-1.05 times the average positive amplitude.

57. The method of claim 50, wherein said second region of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied.

58. The method of claim 50, wherein the normalized negative amplitude of said first pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied between approximately 0.95-1.05 times the average negative amplitude.

59. The method of claim 50, wherein said first period of time of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein said first period of time is pseudo-randomly varied between approximately 0.25-5.0 milliseconds.

61. The method of claim 50, wherein said second period of time of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein said second period of time is pseudo-randomly varied between approximately 0.25-5.0 milliseconds.

63. The method of claim 50, wherein said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal comprises a signal train having a plurality of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signals with pseudo-randomly varied intervals therebetween.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein said intervals between said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signals is pseudo-randomly varied between approximately 0.5 -1 millisecond.

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

generating a pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal, said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical including a plurality of pseudo-random simulated action potential signals, each of said pseudo-random simulated action potential signals having a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100 to 2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μ

sec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −

50 mV to −

1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μ

sec;

monitoring the respiration status of the subject and providing at least one respiratory system status signal in response to an abnormal function of the respiratory system; and

transmitting said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal to the nervous system of the subject in response to a respiratory status signal that is indicative of a respiratory abnormality.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the subject'"'"'s vagus nerve.

67. The method of claim 65, wherein said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein said frequency is pseudo-randomly varied.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein said frequency is pseudo-randomly varied between approximately 40-4000 Hz.

70. The method of claim 65, wherein said positive amplitude of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical, signal is pseudo-randomly varied.

71. The method of claim 65, wherein said negative amplitude of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied.

72. The method of claim 65, wherein said first period of time of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied.

73. The method of claim 65, wherein said second period of time of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied.

74. A confounding neuro-electrical signal having a plurality of simulated action potential signals, each of said simulated action potential signals having a first region having a first positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100-2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μ

sec, a second region having a first negative amplitude in the range of approximately −

50 mV to −

1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μ

sec and a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz, said confounding neuro-electrical signal being adapted to suppress at least one interneuron that induces a reflex action in the body when transmitted thereto.

75. The confounding neuro-electrical signal of claim 74, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is adapted to confound at least one parasympathetic action potential that induces said reflex action.

76. The method of claim 74, wherein said reflex action comprises a respiratory reflex action.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein said respiratory reflex action comprises bronchial constriction.