Device for controlling the enrichment of nitric oxide levels and a control method
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorsJoachim Kahlert, Maria Estrella Mena Benito
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Abstract
A device is provided for controlling the nitric oxide levels within the lungs of a subject. The device comprises a detector for detecting the respiration cycle of the subject and a stimulator for applying an acoustic or vibratory stimulus to the subject. The stimulator is controlled in dependence on the detected respiration cycle. In particular, acoustic stimulation may be provided at the onset of inspiration. In this way, the nitric oxide flow can be controlled in a way to ensure that the paranasal nitric oxide is nearly fully inspired. This provides a higher nitric oxide concentration in the lung/alveoli.
Claims19
A device for controlling enrichment of nitric oxide levels within lungs of a subject, the device comprising:
- a detector for detecting a timing of a respiration cycle of the subject, wherein said respiration cycle comprises an alternating occurrence of an inspiration event and an expiration event;
- a stimulator for applying an acoustic or vibratory stimulus to a sinus of the subject;
- and
- a controller in communication with the detector and adapted to control the stimulator in dependence on the detected timing of the respiration cycle and/or an event of the respiration cycle,
- wherein the controller is further adapted to interpret an output signal of the detector to provide a prediction of the timing of the beginning of a next inspiration event of the respiration cycle, and
- wherein the controller is adapted to actuate the stimulator only for a length of time beginning a predetermined period of time before the beginning of each inspiration event of the respiration cycle and ending at or before the end of each inspiration event of the respiration cycle.
A method of controlling an acoustic or vibratory stimulator, comprising:
- detecting a timing of the respiration cycle of a subject, wherein said respiration cycle comprises an alternating occurrence of an inspiration event and an expiration event;
- applying a vibratory or acoustic stimulus to a sinus of the subject,
- controlling the stimulus in dependence on the detected timing of the respiration cycle and/or an event of the respiration cycle;
- and
- providing the stimulus only for a length of time beginning at a predetermined period of time before a predicted beginning of each inspiration event of the respiration cycle and ending at or before the end of each inspiration event of the respiration cycle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.