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US 6,587,726 B2Granted
Stimulatory device and methods to electrically stimulate the phrenic nerve
AssigneeCPRx LLC
InventorsKeith G. Lurie, Todd M. Zielinski, Wolfgang Voelckel, Robert Patterson, Nemer Samniah, Scott McKnite, Karl Lindner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides exemplary devices and methods electrically stimulating the phrenic nerve. In one embodiment, electrodes are placed posterior and anterior in the region of the cervical vertebrae. Electrical current having a multi-phasic waveform is periodically applied to the electrodes to stimulate the phrenic nerve, thereby causing the diaphragm to contract.
Claims5
A method for treating a patient suffering from shock, the method comprising:
- coupling a flow control system to the patient's airway, wherein the flow control system is configured to limit or prevent the flow of respiratory gases into the patient's lungs for at least some time;
- and
- permitting the patient to gasp or inspire air, with the flow control system limiting or preventing the flow of respiratory gases into the lungs for at least some time during the gasp or breath to decrease the patient's intrathoracic pressure and to increase venous return to the right chambers of the heart from the peripheral venous vasculature to improve hemodynamic parameters of the patient and thereby treat the patient for shock.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.