Demand electroventilator
First Claim
1. A demand electroventilator for providing electroventilation when needed comprising a plurality of electrodes adapted for placement on the skin of a patient, means for monitoring the respiration of the patient by sensing with the electrodes impedance changes caused by respiration and providing a respiration output signal in response thereto, means for stimulating respiration by stimulating at least one of the respiratory nerves and respiratory muscles of the patient by applying a train of electrical pulses to the patient through the electrodes including means for generating a train of electrical pulses wherein each pulse has a duration of 0.1 msec or less, means for coupling the electrodes both to the stimulating means and to the monitoring means, control means for determining in response to the respiration output signal when it is necessary to stimulate respiration and causing the stimulating means to stimulate respiration in response thereto, means for coupling the control means to the monitoring means, and means for coupling the stimulating means to the control means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A demand electroventilator for monitoring and stimulating the respiration of a patient operates in a manner analogous to the operation of a demand cardiac pacemaker for monitoring and stimultating the heart when needed. The demand electroventilator has a pair of stimulating electrodes for placement on the chest of the patient and a pair of monitoring electrodes for placement on the patient'"'"'s chest. The demand electroventilator also has a monitoring module connected to the monitoring electrodes, a stimulating module connected to the stimulating electrodes and a control module connected to the stimulating and monitoring modules. The monitoring module generates a signal related to the respiration of the patient which the control module interprets and causes the stimulating module to apply a train of electrical pulses having durations of 0.1 msec or less to the patient to stimulate respiration when needed.
441 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A demand electroventilator for providing electroventilation when needed comprising a plurality of electrodes adapted for placement on the skin of a patient, means for monitoring the respiration of the patient by sensing with the electrodes impedance changes caused by respiration and providing a respiration output signal in response thereto, means for stimulating respiration by stimulating at least one of the respiratory nerves and respiratory muscles of the patient by applying a train of electrical pulses to the patient through the electrodes including means for generating a train of electrical pulses wherein each pulse has a duration of 0.1 msec or less, means for coupling the electrodes both to the stimulating means and to the monitoring means, control means for determining in response to the respiration output signal when it is necessary to stimulate respiration and causing the stimulating means to stimulate respiration in response thereto, means for coupling the control means to the monitoring means, and means for coupling the stimulating means to the control means.
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13. A method for monitoring and stimulating respiration of a patient by electroventilation when needed comprising the steps of
monitoring the respiration of the patient by sensing with electrodes placed on the skin of the patient impedance changes caused by respiration; -
determining when the respiration of the patient needs to be effected based upon the monitored respiration; and stimulating the respiration of the patient by stimulating at least one of the respiratory nerves and respiratory muscles of the patient by applying a train of electrical pulses to the skin of the patient through said electrodes wherein each pulse has a duration of 0.1 msec or less in response to the determination that the patient'"'"'s respiration needs to be effected. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for monitoring and stimulating respiration of a patient by electroventilation when needed comprising
a plurality of electrodes adapted for placement on the skin of the patient, an impedance penumograph for monitoring the respiration of the patient by sensing with said electrodes impedance changes caused by the patient'"'"'s respiration and providing an output signal in response thereto, means for stimulating the patient'"'"'s respiration by stimulating at least one of the respiratory nerves and respiratory muscles of the patient including means for generating a train of electrical pulses, means for coupling said electrodes to the stimulating means and to the impedance penumograph, control means for determining in response to the respiration output signal produced by the impedance penumograph when it is necessary to stimulate respiration and causing the stimulating means to stimulate respiration when necessary by generating the train of electrical pulses which are applied to the skin of the patient through said electrodes, means for coupling the control means to the impedance pneunograph and means for coupling the control means to the stimulating means.
Specification