Device and method for manipulating exhalation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of treating a sleep breathing disorder in a subject comprising:
- providing an electrical stimulator;
determining one or more respiratory parameters obtained from sensing respiration and identifying a portion of a respiratory cycle; and
electrically stimulating a diaphragm or phrenic nerve tissue of the subject to directly control diaphragm muscle contractions by applying electrical stimulation within the exhalation cycle to maintain the diaphragm contracted relative to a non-stimulated diaphragm during the exhalation cycle such that residual air is held in the lungs where the residual air is increased beyond a volume present in the lungs of a non-stimulated exhalation, and wherein the electrical stimulation is adjusted in response to the one or more respiratory parameters.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method is provided for increasing the functional residual capacity of lungs of a subject by electrically stimulating tissue associated with the diaphragm or phrenic nerve of the subject.
188 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of treating a sleep breathing disorder in a subject comprising:
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providing an electrical stimulator; determining one or more respiratory parameters obtained from sensing respiration and identifying a portion of a respiratory cycle; and electrically stimulating a diaphragm or phrenic nerve tissue of the subject to directly control diaphragm muscle contractions by applying electrical stimulation within the exhalation cycle to maintain the diaphragm contracted relative to a non-stimulated diaphragm during the exhalation cycle such that residual air is held in the lungs where the residual air is increased beyond a volume present in the lungs of a non-stimulated exhalation, and wherein the electrical stimulation is adjusted in response to the one or more respiratory parameters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for treating a breathing disorder comprising:
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determining one or more respiratory parameters obtained from sensing respiration identifying a portion of a respiratory cycle; applying electrical stimulation to diaphragm or phrenic nerve tissue which directly affects a respiratory response of a subject; and
,directly manipulating exhalation by controlling the electrical stimulation to the tissue such that the electrical stimulation is applied within the exhalation cycle to maintain the diaphragm contracted relative to a non-stimulated diaphragm during the exhalation cycle such that residual air is held in the lungs to treat a breathing disorder where the residual air is increased beyond a volume present in the lungs of a non-stimulated exhalation, and where the electrical stimulation for controlling exhalation is adjusted in response to the one or more respiratory parameters. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A respiration control device for treating a subject comprising:
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an electrical stimulator comprising a stimulation protocol programmed to deliver an electrically stimulating signal to phrenic nerve or diaphragm tissue of a subject to activate diaphragm contraction of the subject, wherein the stimulator is programmed to apply the stimulating signal within the exhalation cycle to maintain the diaphragm contracted relative to a non-stimulated diaphragm during the exhalation cycle such that residual air is held in the lungs where the residual air is increased beyond a volume present in the lung of a non-stimulated exhalation; and
,a sensor in communication with the stimulator and which is configured to sense respiratory information whereby the electrical stimulator receives the respiration information via the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification