Device and method for biasing and stimulating respiration
First Claim
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1. A method of stimulating breathing in a subject having intrinsic breathing comprising the steps of:
- sensing for a presence of a disordered breathing event during intrinsic breathing in the subject;
providing a first type of electrical stimulation comprising a first stimulation waveform to phrenic nerve or diaphragm tissue of the subject during a non-inspiratory portion of a respiration cycle to activate a diaphragm such that an upper airway of the subject is stiffened to inhibit collapse of the airway; and
,providing a second type of electrical stimulation comprising a second stimulation waveform to activate the diaphragm such thatan inspiration is elicited.
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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.
198 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of stimulating breathing in a subject having intrinsic breathing comprising the steps of:
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sensing for a presence of a disordered breathing event during intrinsic breathing in the subject; providing a first type of electrical stimulation comprising a first stimulation waveform to phrenic nerve or diaphragm tissue of the subject during a non-inspiratory portion of a respiration cycle to activate a diaphragm such that an upper airway of the subject is stiffened to inhibit collapse of the airway; and
,providing a second type of electrical stimulation comprising a second stimulation waveform to activate the diaphragm such that an inspiration is elicited. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A respiration device comprising:
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at least one electrode in communication with a phrenic nerve or diaphragm tissue of a subject; an electrical stimulator in communication with the at least one electrode wherein the electrical stimulator is actuated to deliver stimulation to the tissue of the subject to thereby activate diaphragm muscle; and
,a responsive device coupled to the electrical stimulator, the responsive device being programmed to actuate the electrical stimulator to deliver the stimulation comprising a first stimulation mode having a first stimulation waveform which biases lung volume such that an upper airway of the subject is stiffened to inhibit collapse of the airway at least during a non-inspiratory portion of a respiration cycle and a second stimulation mode which delivers a second stimulation waveform which elicits an inspiration. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method of stimulating breathing in a subject having intrinsic breathing comprising the steps of:
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sensing for a presence of intrinsic breathing in the subject; providing electrical stimulation to phrenic nerve or diaphragm tissue of the subject to activate a diaphragm, wherein the stimulation comprises a first stimulation waveform of a first type of stimulation and a second stimulation waveform of a second type of stimulation, and wherein the first stimulation signal portion biases lung volume during a non-inspiratory portion of a respiration cycle such that an upper airway of the subject is stiffened to inhibit collapse of the airway and the second stimulation signal augments an intrinsic inspiration. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A respiration device comprising
at least one electrode in communication with a phrenic nerve or diaphragm tissue of a subject; -
an electrical stimulator in communication with the at least one electrode wherein the electrical stimulator is actuated to deliver stimulation to the tissue of the subject to thereby activate diaphragm muscle; and
,a responsive device coupled to the electrical stimulator, the responsive device being programmed to actuate the electrical stimulator to deliver the stimulation comprising a first stimulation mode having a first stimulation waveform which biases lung volume such that an upper airway of the subject is stiffened to inhibit collapse of the airway during a non-inspiratory portion of a respiration cycle and a second stimulation mode which delivers a second stimulation which augments an intrinsic inspiration. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method of treating a breathing disorder in a subject having intrinsic breathing comprising:
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sensing for a presence of intrinsic breathing in the subject; detecting an onset of a disordered breathing event during the intrinsic breathing; and
,providing a first electrical stimulation waveform to phrenic nerve or diaphragm tissue of the subject during a non-inspiratory portion of a respiration cycle to activate at least a portion of the diaphragm such that an upper airway of the subject is stiffened to inhibit collapse of the airway; and
,providing a second electrical stimulation waveform whereby flow in the upper airway is normalized prior to the onset of the disordered breathing event. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of providing electrical stimulation to activate a diaphragm in a manner that avoids airway closure in a subject having intrinsic breathing comprising:
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sensing for a presence of intrinsic breathing in the subject; providing a first electrical stimulation waveform to phrenic nerve or diaphragm tissue of the subject during a non-inspiratory portion of a respiration cycle to activate a diaphragm and maintain patency of an upper airway; and
,providing a second electrical stimulation waveform such that tidal volume is increased, and wherein an inspiration duration is increased while maintaining peak flow at a level sufficient to avoid upper airway closure. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method of treating a breathing disorder in a subject having intrinsic breathing comprising:
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sensing for a presence of intrinsic breathing in the subject; detecting an onset of a disordered breathing event during the intrinsic breathing; providing a first electrical stimulation waveform to phrenic nerve or diaphragm tissue of the subject during a non-inspiratory portion of a respiration cycle to activate at least a portion of the diaphragm such that an upper airway of the subject is stiffened to inhibit collapse of the airway; and
,providing a second electrical stimulation waveform whereby tidal volume is normalized prior to the onset of the disordered breathing event by stimulating the diaphragm to increase tidal volume while maintaining peak flow at or below an intrinsic peak flow level sufficient to avoid airway closure. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification