Pacemaker for bilateral vocal cord autoparalysis
AssigneeMed-El Elektromedizinische GeräTe GmbH
InventorWerner Lindenthaler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pacemaker system for a human subject having bilateral vocal cord paralysis includes a sensing electrode for detecting inspiratory activity of a vocalizing muscle of the subject and generating a first signal, and a processor for receiving the first signal from the sensing electrode and generating a second signal. The second signal is substantially synchronous with the first signal. A stimulating electrode receives the second signal from the pulse generator and stimulating a vocalizing nerve of the subject.
Claims62
A pacemaker system for a human subject having bilateral vocal cord autoparalysis, the system comprising:
- a sensing electrode for detecting inspiratory activity of a vocalizing muscle of the subject and generating a first signal;
- a processor for receiving the first signal from the sensing electrode and generating a second signal, the second signal being substantially synchronous with the first signal;
- and
- a stimulating electrode for receiving the second signal from the processor and stimulating a synkinetically reinnervated vocalizing nerve of the subject, the stimulating electrode being adapted to directly contact the vocalizing nerve.
A pacemaker for a human subject having bilateral vocal cord autoparalysis, the pacemaker comprising:
- a sensing electrode for detecting inspiratory activity of a vocalizing muscle of the subject and generating a first signal;
- a processor for receiving the first signal from the sensing electrode and generating a second signal, the second signal being substantially synchronous with the first signal;
- and
- a stimulating electrode for receiving the second signal from the processor and stimulating a synkinetically reinnervated vocalizing nerve of the subject to open the vocal cord and permit inspiration, the stimulating electrode being adapted to directly contact the vocalizing nerve.
A method for stimulating a vocalizing nerve in a in a human subject having bilateral vocal cord autoparalysis, the method comprising:
- detecting inspiratory activity of a vocalizing muscle of the subject with a first electrode and generating a first signal;
- transmitting the first signal to a processor, the processor generating a second signal, the second signal being substantially synchronous with the first signal;
- and
- receiving the second signal at a second electrode, the second electrode being in direct contact with a synkinetically reinnervated vocalizing nerve of the subject and stimulating the vocalizing nerve of the subject in accordance with the second signal.
A method for pacing laryngeal activity of a human subject, the method comprising:
- sensing electrical activity of a vocalizing muscle of the subject;
- and
- artificially stimulating a synkinetically reinnervated vocalizing nerve of the subject with an electrode that directly contacts the vocalizing nerve that generates an electrical signal in synchronism with the sensed electrical activity.
A method for pacing laryngeal activity of a human subject, the method comprising
- sensing electrical activity of a vocalizing muscle of the subject;
- and
- artificially stimulating a synkinetically reinnervated vocalizing nerve of the subject in synchronism with the sensed electrical activity during inspiration with an electrode that directly contacts the vocalizing nerve such that the subject's vocal folds passively relax backwards to the midline.
A pacemaker for a human subject having bilateral vocal cord paralysis, the pacemaker comprising:
- an electrode for detecting inspiratory activity of a vocalizing muscle of the subject and generating a first signal;
- a processor for receiving the first signal from the sensing electrode and generating a second signal, the second signal being substantially synchronous with the first signal;
- and
- an electrode for receiving the second signal from the processor, directly contacting a synkinetically reinnervated vocalizing nerve of the subject and stimulating the vocalizing nerve.
A pacemaker for a human subject having bilateral vocal cord autoparalysis, the pacemaker comprising:
- an electrode for detecting inspiratory activity of a vocalizing muscle of the subject and generating a first signal;
- a processor for receiving the first signal from the sensing electrode and generating a second signal;
- and
- an electrode for receiving the second signal from the processor, directly contacting a synkinetically reinnervated vocalizing nerve of the subject and stimulating the vocalizing nerve.
A method for stimulating a vocalizing nerve in a in a human subject having bilateral vocal cord autoparalysis, the method comprising:
- detecting inspiratory activity of a vocalizing muscle of the subject with a sensing electrode and generating a first signal;
- transmitting the first signal to a processor, the processor generating a second signal, the second signal being substantially synchronous with the first signal;
- and
- receiving the second signal at a stimulating electrode, the stimulating electrode being in direct contact with a synkinetically reinnervated vocalizing nerve of the subject.
A method for pacing laryngeal activity of a human subject, the method comprising:
- sensing electrical activity of a vocalizing muscle of the subject;
- and
- stimulating a vocalizing nerve of the subject with an electrode in direct contact with a synkinetically reinnervated vocalizing nerve that generates an electrical signal in synchronism with the sensed electrical activity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.