Nerve stimulation device

• US 20040044377A1
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maquet Critical Care AB (Getinge AB)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Elema AB
• Inventors: Larsson, Ake
• Granted Patent: US 7,283,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0809 by impedance pneumography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/285 Endotracheal, oesophageal or gastric probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/395 Details of stimulation, e.g. nerve stimulation to elicit EMG response
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3603 Control systems

Abstract

A nerve stimulation device has a pulse generator for generating stimulation pulses and an output for the stimulation pulses from the pulse generator, which is connectable to an electrode arrangement adapted for interaction with a living being to stimulate the phrenic nerve. The nerve stimulation device is made more safe and effective by the provision of an input connectable to an esophageal electrode for the reception of measurement signals. The esophageal electrode is adapted to be inserted in the esophagus of the living being for obtaining measurement signals. A signal analyzer filters myo-electrical signals from the diaphragm out of the measurement signals and a regulating unit regulates the pulse generator dependent on the myo-electrical signals.

Claims

1. A nerve stimulation device comprising:

a pulse generator which generates stimulation pulses;

an electrode arrangement connected to the pulse generator adapted to interact with a living subject to deliver the stimulation pulses to stimulate the phrenic nerve;

an esophageal electrode adapted for insertion in the esophagus of the living subject for obtaining measurement signals;

a signal analyzer connected to the esophageal electrode for filtering myo-electrical signals originating from diaphragm of the living subject out of the measurement signals; and

a regulating unit connected to the signal analyzer and to the pulse generator for regulating the pulse generator dependent on the myo-electrical signals.

2. A nerve stimulation device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a monitoring unit adapted to interact with the living subject for monitoring breathing of the living subject and which generates a monitoring unit output supplied to said regulating unit, said regulating unit regulating the pulse generator dependent on said monitoring unit output as well as dependent on said myo-electrical signals.

3. A nerve stimulation device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said monitoring unit comprising a breathing detector selected from the group consisting of an external ventilator, a spirometer, an impedance measurement arrangement, a thorax circumference measurement arrangement, and a gas analyzer.

4. A nerve stimulation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said signal analyzer also filters electrocardiographic signals out of said measurement signals, and wherein said regulating unit regulates said pulse generator dependent on said electrocardiographic signals as well as dependent on said myo-electrical signals.

5. A nerve stimulation device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a cardiac monitoring device adapted to interact with the living subject to obtain cardiac signals, said regulating unit being connected to said cardiac monitoring unit and regulating said pulse generator dependent on said cardiac signals as well as dependent on said myo-electrical signals.

6. A nerve stimulation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrode arrangement comprises a plurality of electrode leads and wherein said pulse generator is connected to said electrode arrangement via an output interface comprising a plurality of channels, with one channel for each electrode lead, and wherein said regulating unit regulates said pulse generator to individually control delivery of stimulation pulses via the respective electrode leads.