Method and apparatus of artifically stimulating cough reflex
OwnerRobert J. Jaeger, Elliot J. Rothinventors
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for eliciting a physiologically significant cough reflex, such as in a quadriplegic patient. The apparatus preferably at least one pair of electrodes which are positioned about or near the abdominal muscles. A pushbutton switch is preferably used to generate an input signal. An oscillator is preferably used to generate a stimulus pulse signal. The input signal and the stimulus pulse signal are computed into an output signal. The output signal is transformed into a pulse electrical voltage which is delivered across each pair of electrodes. Such pulse electrical voltage activates the lower motor neurons and thereby contracts the abdominal muscles to elicit a physiologically significant cough reflex.
Claims19
An artificial cough reflex apparatus comprising:
- at least one pair of electrodes, stimulator means for electronically receiving an input signal and computing an output signal corresponding to a stimulus time period, input means for generating said input signal as a representation of a volitional decision of a user to initiate a cough, signal means for alerting said user of an upcoming said cough, said stimulator means emitting said output signal after an adjustable time delay during which said user coordinates a volitional activity, transformer means for transforming said output signal into a pulse electrical voltage across each said pair of electrodes that activates lower motor neurons and contracts a plurality of expiratory muscles, and said signal means for signalling said user to engage said volitional activity and complete said cough.
A method for artificially inducing a cough, including the steps of:
- (a) positioning at least one pair of electrodes about a plurality of a dominal muscles;
- (b) generating an input signal representing a volitional decision of a user to initiate the cough;
- (c) generating a stimulus pulse signal to alert said user of an upcoming said cough;
- (d) emitting a computed output signal after an adjustable time delay during which said user coordinates a volitional activity;
- (e) transforming said output signal into a pulse electrical voltage across each said pair of electrodes;
- (f) activating lower motor neurons and thereby contracting said abdominal muscles;
- and
- (g) signalling said user to engage said volitional activity and complete said cough.
A method according to claim 17 wherein said stimulus pulse signal is generated with an oscillator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.