IMPLANTABLE RESPIRATION THERAPY DEVICE

• US 20090107511A1
• Filed: 05/10/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rainbow Medical Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Yossi Gross
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi
• Granted Patent: US 8,196,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.150
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/046 Tracheae
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0488 Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02

Abstract

Apparatus (10) is provided, including a housing (26) configured to be implanted in a trachea (20) of a patient and a propeller (22), coupled to the housing. The propeller is configured to generate a positive pressure in the trachea while the propeller is in the trachea. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a housing configured to be implanted in a trachea of a patient; and

a propeller, coupled to the housing, and configured to generate a positive pressure in the trachea, using a ventilation mode selected from the group consisting of bi-level positive airway pressure, inspiratory positive airway pressure, and continuous positive airway pressure, while the propeller is in the trachea.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising circuitry configured to:

drive the propeller to generate the positive pressure, and

regulate the positive pressure generated by the propeller by setting a rate of rotation of the propeller.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the propeller comprises one or more blades, and wherein the apparatus comprises circuitry configured to:

drive the propeller to generate the positive pressure, and

regulate the positive pressure generated by the propeller by setting an angle of inclination of the blades.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the propeller comprises one or more blades, and wherein the apparatus comprises a tube that surrounds at least one element of the apparatus selected from the group consisting of:

the housing, and the blades.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the propeller comprises one or more blades, wherein the housing is shaped so as to define an inlet and outlet that together define a flow path, and wherein the blades are positioned within the housing in the flow path.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to treat a condition of the patient selected from the group consisting of:

congestive heart failure, a pulmonary condition, pulmonary edema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, and emphysema.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising circuitry configured to drive the propeller to generate the positive pressure in accordance with a schedule.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising circuitry configured to:

drive the propeller to generate the positive pressure, and

drive the propeller to reduce a level of operation when the patient is sleeping.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an anchoring mechanism, which is configured to couple the housing to an inner surface of the trachea.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the housing is releasably coupled to the anchoring mechanism.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the anchoring mechanism comprises a stent, which is sized to adhere to the inner surface of the trachea.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the anchoring mechanism comprises a plurality of wire springs, which are configured, upon expansion, to come in contact with the inner surface of the trachea.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the springs are generally spiral-shaped.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the propeller is configured to generate the positive pressure at a low level that provides a constant state of expansion of alveoli of the patient.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured to treat emphysema of the patient.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising circuitry configured to drive the propeller to generate a controllable level of positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP).

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a sensor configured to sense at least one parameter of respiration of the patient, and circuitry configured to drive the propeller responsively to the at least one parameter.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to detect pressure fluctuations between 0.05 and 1 Hz.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the circuitry is configured to detect pressure fluctuations between 0.05 and 1 Hz.

23. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

an activity sensor; and

circuitry, which is configured to modulate a parameter of operation of the propeller responsively to a sensed level of activity of the patient.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the activity sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

an accelerometer, a respiration rate monitor, and a heart rate monitor.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the circuitry is configured to increase a speed of the propeller in response to an increase in the sensed level of activity.

26. The apparatus according to claim 1, for administering a drug, wherein the housing is shaped so as to define a drug reservoir configured to hold the drug, and wherein the apparatus comprises an application mechanism, coupled to the housing, and configured to release the drug from the reservoir into the trachea.

16-17. -17. (canceled)

27-28. -28. (canceled)

31-35. -35. (canceled)

36. A method comprising:

implanting a propeller in a trachea of a patient; and

rotating the propeller to generate a positive pressure in the trachea, using a ventilation mode selected from the group consisting of bi-level positive airway pressure, inspiratory positive airway pressure, and continuous positive airway pressure.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein rotating the propeller comprises regulating the positive pressure generated by the propeller by setting a rate of rotation of the propeller.

38. The method according to claim 36, wherein the propeller includes one or more blades, and wherein rotating the propeller comprises regulating the positive pressure generated by the propeller by setting an angle of inclination of the blades.

39. The method according to claim 36, wherein implanting the propeller comprises selecting the patient for implantation of the propeller because the patient suffers from a condition selected from the group consisting of:

congestive heart failure, a pulmonary condition, pulmonary edema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, and emphysema.

40. The method according to claim 36, wherein rotating the propeller comprises rotating the propeller to generate the positive pressure in accordance with a schedule.

41. The method according to claim 36, wherein rotating the propeller comprises reducing a level of rotating of the propeller when the patient is sleeping.

42. The method according to claim 36, comprising providing supplemental oxygen in conjunction with rotating the propeller.

43. The method according to claim 36, wherein rotating the propeller comprises rotating the propeller to generate the positive pressure at a low level that provides a constant state of expansion of alveoli of the patient.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein rotating the propeller comprises selecting the patient for implantation of the propeller because the patient suffers from emphysema.

47. The method according to claim 36, rotating the propeller comprises rotating the propeller to generate a controllable level of positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP).

48. The method according to claim 36, wherein rotating the propeller comprises sensing at least one parameter of respiration of the patient, and rotating the propeller responsively to the at least one parameter.

49. The method according to claim 48, wherein sensing the at least one parameter comprises sensing a pressure.

50. The method according to claim 49, wherein sensing the pressure comprises detecting pressure fluctuations between 0.05 and 1 Hz.

51. The method according to claim 36, wherein rotating the propeller comprises sensing activity of the patient, and modulating a parameter of operation of the propeller responsively to a sensed level of activity of the patient.

52. The method according to claim 51, wherein sensing the activity comprises sensing activity of the patient selected from the group consisting of:

motion of the patient, a respiration rate of the patient, and a heart rate of the patient.

53. The method according to claim 51, wherein rotating the propeller comprises increase a rate of rotation of the propeller in response to an increase in the sensed level of activity.

54. The method according to claim 36, comprising:

implanting, in the trachea, a drug reservoir configured to hold a drug; and

releasing the drug from the reservoir into the trachea.

45-46. -46. (canceled)

55-56. -56. (canceled)

59-63. -63. (canceled)