System and method for activating inspiratory and expiratory muscle function
OwnerAnthony F. DIMARCOinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for restoring inspiratory muscle function to restore breathing and expiratory muscle function to restore an effective cough in the same individual, wherein the systems that selectively activate the inspiratory or expiratory muscle function are separately ground to limit or prevent the flow of electrical current to both the expiratory and inspiratory muscles at the same time and to avoid damaging either neuromuscular system. Also described is the method by which the inspiratory or expiratory muscles are activated selectively to optimize the action of the inspiratory muscles to restore breathing and to optimize the action of the expiratory muscles to restore cough.
Claims31
A method for producing coordinated contraction of the inspiratory muscles to restore breathing and coordinated contraction of the expiratory muscles to restore cough in the same subject comprising:
- positioning one or more first electrical stimulators at any one of the following:
- (i) on one or both phrenic nerves in the cervical region, (ii) in the thorax, (iii) within the muscular body of the diaphragm near the motor point of the phrenic nerve, (iv) at one or more levels of the upper thoracic spinal cord, or (v) combinations thereof of the subject;
- operating the one or more first electrical stimulators to deliver an electrical stimulation to the upper thoracic spinal cord and/or the phrenic nerve to activate the inspiratory muscles;
- positioning one or more second electrical stimulators at one or more levels of the lower thoracic spinal cord, upper lumbar spinal cord or combinations thereof of the subject;
- operating the one or more second electrical stimulators to deliver an electrical stimulation to the lower thoracic spinal cord and/or upper lumbar spinal cord to activate the expiratory muscles;
- wherein the one or more first and second stimulators are electrically connected to one or more electrical signal generators;
- wherein the one or more first and second stimulators selectively deliver an electrical stimulation to the inspiratory or expiratory muscle motor neurons of the subject;
- and
- wherein the one or more first electrical stimulators and one or more second electrical stimulators are separately ground to limit or prevent the flow of electrical current to both the expiratory and inspiratory muscles at the same time.
A method of preserving function of inspiratory and expiratory motorneurons in a subject comprising:
- selectively operating one or more first stimulators positioned on or near the phrenic nerve and/or at one or more levels of the upper thoracic spinal cord and one or more second stimulators positioned at one or more levels of the lower thoracic and/or upper lumbar spinal cord of the subject, and
- wherein the one or more first electrical stimulators and one or more second electrical stimulators are separately ground to limit or prevent the flow of electrical current to both the expiratory and inspiratory muscles at the same time
A system for selectively activating inspiratory or expiratory muscles in a subject comprising:
- one or more electrical signal generators electrically coupled to one or more first electrical stimulators and one or more second electrical stimulators;
- the one or more first stimulators are positioned on or near the phrenic nerve and/or at one or more levels of the upper thoracic spinal cord of the subject;
- the one or more second stimulators are positioned at one or more levels of the lower thoracic and/or upper lumbar spinal cord, wherein said one or more first electrical stimulators and one or more second electrical stimulators selectively deliver electrical stimulation from the one or more electrical signal generators, and
- wherein the one or more first electrical stimulators and one or more second electrical stimulators are separately ground to limit or prevent the flow of electrical current to both the expiratory and inspiratory muscles at the same time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.