Systems and methods for relieving dyspnea
AssigneeConcepTx Medical, Inc.
InventorsEdwin J. Hlavka, Lynn S. Elliott, Joyce Wahr
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed generally to systems and methods for relieving dyspnea. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes receiving an input signal from a patient sensor, the input signal corresponding to an indication of the patient's breathing. The method can further include, based at least in part on the input signal, at least reducing the patient's sensation of dyspnea by delivering electrical stimulation to at least one electrode, the at least one electrode being positioned in signal communication with at least one of the patient's inspiratory muscles, expiratory muscles, afferent neural pathways of the inspiratory muscles, and afferent neural pathways of the expiratory muscles.
Claims30
A method for treating a patient, comprising:
- placing at least one electrode in signal communication with at least one of the patient's inspiratory muscles, expiratory muscles, afferent neural pathways of the inspiratory muscles, and afferent neural pathways of the expiratory muscles;
- placing at least one sensor in a position to detect the patient's breathing;
- coupling the at least one electrode and the at least one sensor to a controller;
- and
- activating the controller to at least reduce the patient's sensation of dyspnea by delivering electrical stimulation to the at least one electrode based at least in part on input received from the at least one sensor.
A method for treating a patient, comprising:
- receiving an input signal from a patient sensor, the input signal corresponding to an indication of the patient's breathing;
- and
- based at least in part on the input signal, at least reducing the patient's sensation of dyspnea by delivering electrical stimulation to at least one electrode, the at least one electrode being positioned in signal communication with at least one of the patient's inspiratory muscles, expiratory muscles, afferent neural pathways of the inspiratory muscles, and afferent neural pathways of the expiratory muscles.
A method treating a patient, comprising:
- implanting an electrical stimulator in a subclavicular region of the patient;
- implanting four bilateral parasternal electrodes at the patient's second and third intercostal spaces, and connecting the electrodes to the electrical stimulator;
- implanting one or more strain gages at the patient's chest wall and connecting the one or more strain gages to the electrical stimulator;
- and
- at least reducing the patient's sensation of dyspnea by electrically stimulating the patient's intercostal muscles via the electrodes in response to sensing inspiration.
A system for treating a patient, comprising:
- an electrical signal delivery electrode;
- a feedback sensor positionable to sense a patient's breathing;
- a controller coupled to the delivery electrode and the feedback sensor, the controller being programmed with instructions, that when executed:
- receive an indication of the patient's breathing from the feedback sensor;
- and
- at least reduce the patient's sensation of by directing to the signal delivery electrode an electrical signal that is in phase with the patient's breathing, based at least in part on the indication of the patient's breathing received from the feedback sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.