System and method for bronchial dilation
First Claim
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1. A system, comprising:
- an implantable signal generator configured to generate a cough inhibiting blocking signal to be delivered to at least a portion of nerve tissue positioned along a bronchus or trachea of a subject, wherein the cough inhibiting blocking signal is configured to inhibit at least one of nerve traffic to or from a lung of the subject to relieve bronchial smooth muscle contraction and to inhibit cough;
an electrode operatively coupled to the signal generator and configured to be coupled to tissue proximate the bronchus or trachea to deliver energy from the implantable signal generator directly to a pulmonary nerve near the bronchus or trachea; and
a processor, communicatively coupled to the implantable signal generator, the processor configured to receive information about an indication of cough and, using the received information about the indication of cough, to cause the implantable signal generator to deliver the cough inhibiting blocking signal through the electrode to the pulmonary nerve to inhibit cough.
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Abstract
An implantable signal generator can be configured to generate a blocking signal to be delivered to at least a portion of a bronchus. The blocking signal can be configured to inhibit nerve traffic both to and from the lungs, to relieve bronchial smooth muscle contraction, and to inhibit cough. The implantable signal generator can be communicatively coupled to a processor configured to control delivery of the blocking signal, using received information about an indication of cough, to inhibit cough.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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an implantable signal generator configured to generate a cough inhibiting blocking signal to be delivered to at least a portion of nerve tissue positioned along a bronchus or trachea of a subject, wherein the cough inhibiting blocking signal is configured to inhibit at least one of nerve traffic to or from a lung of the subject to relieve bronchial smooth muscle contraction and to inhibit cough; an electrode operatively coupled to the signal generator and configured to be coupled to tissue proximate the bronchus or trachea to deliver energy from the implantable signal generator directly to a pulmonary nerve near the bronchus or trachea; and a processor, communicatively coupled to the implantable signal generator, the processor configured to receive information about an indication of cough and, using the received information about the indication of cough, to cause the implantable signal generator to deliver the cough inhibiting blocking signal through the electrode to the pulmonary nerve to inhibit cough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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32. A method, comprising:
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delivering a blocking signal to at least a portion of nerve tissue positioned along a bronchus or trachea of a subject using an implantable signal generator, the blocking signal configured to inhibit nerve traffic to at least one of to or from a lung of the subject to inhibit, to block, or to reduce the ability of the subject to cough; receiving information about an indication of cough; and controlling delivery of the blocking signal, using the received information about the indication of cough, to inhibit, to block, or to reduce the ability of the subject to cough. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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58. A system, comprising:
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at least one internal electrode configured to deliver cough inhibiting energy to nerve tissue positioned along a bronchus or trachea; and a signal generator configured to generate a cough inhibiting blocking signal to be delivered to the at least one electrode to cause the at least one electrode to deliver the cough inhibiting energy to the nerve tissue, the blocking signal configured to inhibit nerve traffic along one or more of the bronchi to block, inhibit, or reduce the ability of the subject to cough. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60)
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Specification