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US 11,027,130 B2Granted
Transvascular nerve stimulation apparatus and methods
AssigneeLungpacer Medical Inc.
InventorJoaquin Andres Hoffer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Electrode structures for transvascular nerve stimulation combine electrodes with an electrically-insulating backing layer. The backing layer increases the electrical impedance of electrical paths through blood in a lumen of a blood vessel and consequently increases the flow of electrical current through surrounding tissues. The electrode structures may be applied to stimulate nerves such as the phrenic, vagus, trigeminal, obturator or other nerves.
Claims28
A method for treating a subject, the method comprising:
- sensing an onset of the subject's breathing;
- and
- in response to the sensing, delivering a stimulus to the subject's thorax or abdomen during the subject's breathing;
- wherein the stimulus causes a contraction of a breathing muscle of the subject, assisting the subject with ventilation;
- and
- wherein at least one of the sensing and delivering is carried out by one or more electrodes supported on a flexible insulating sheet, positioned within a blood vessel, and configured to deliver a stimulus.
3 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- one or more sensors suitable for detecting when a subject is breathing;
- a device configured to deliver a stimulus to the subject's thorax or abdomen during at least part of a phase of the subject's breathing in response to a signal generated by the one or more sensors;
- and
- a flexible insulating sheet including one or more electrodes;
- wherein the stimulus is delivered via the one or more electrodes positioned within a blood vessel, and is effective to cause a contraction in a muscle of the subject.
2 more elements
A method for treating a subject, the method comprising:
- sensing a subject's breathing;
- and
- in response to the sensing, delivering a stimulus to the subject's thorax or abdomen during the subject's breathing, wherein:
- the stimulus causes a contraction of a breathing muscle of the subject, assisting the subject with ventilation;
- the delivering is carried out by at least one pair of electrodes supported on at least one flexible insulating sheet, wherein the at least one pair of electrodes is positioned within a blood vessel and configured to emit an electrical field that extends from only a portion of the circumference of the at least one flexible insulating sheet;
- the at least one flexible insulating sheet includes a lead connecting the at least one pair of electrodes to a stimulation source;
- and
- while the stimulus is being delivered, the one or more electrodes do not contact the breathing muscle.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.