Method of improving sleep disordered breathing

A method of improving sleep in a patient with a centrally mediated sleep disorder by using a system comprising an external stimulator and one or more electrodes configured for implantation in a diaphragm for stimulation of the diaphragm, the method comprising:

• adapting stimulation parameters to support respiration during sleep,
• stimulating the diaphragm in a therapeutic regimen with the one or more electrodes to support respiration after the onset of sleep, the regimen including the adapted stimulation parameters, the stimulation operating independently of any intrinsic respiratory effort of the patient, the stimulation comprising one or more stimulation pulses configured to initiate a breath and support the breath to completion;
• and
• in the event of a finding of continued presence of sleep-disordered breathing, revising the adapted stimulation parameters, and implementing a revised therapeutic regimen for the patient based on the revised parameters, the regimen comprising stimulating the diaphragm with the one or more electrodes to support respiration.

A method of improving sleep in a patient with a centrally mediated sleep disorder by using a system comprising an external stimulator and one or more electrodes configured for implantation in a diaphragm for stimulation of the diaphragm, the method comprising:

• adapting stimulation parameters to support respiration during sleep,
• stimulating the diaphragm in a therapeutic regimen with the one or more electrodes to support respiration after the onset of sleep, the regimen including the adapted stimulation parameters, the stimulation operating independently of any intrinsic respiratory effort of the patient, the stimulation comprising one or more stimulation pulses configured to initiate a breath and support the breath to completion;
• and
• wherein the stimulating the diaphragm after onset of sleep comprises determining the onset of sleep by monitoring a level of one or more physiological parameters and determining when they fall below a threshold value, the parameters including any of a diaphragm EMG, an EEG, or body movement.

A method of improving sleep in a patient with a centrally mediated sleep disorder by using a system comprising an external stimulator and one or more electrodes configured for implantation in a diaphragm for stimulation of the diaphragm, the method comprising:

• adapting stimulation parameters to support respiration during sleep,
• stimulating the diaphragm in a therapeutic regimen with the one or more electrodes to support respiration after the onset of sleep, the regimen including the adapted stimulation parameters, the stimulation operating independently of any intrinsic respiratory effort of the patient, the stimulation comprising one or more stimulation pulses configured to initiate a breath and support the breath to completion;
• and
• detecting the onset of sleep and adapting the stimulation parameters in response to the detection of the onset of sleep.