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US 8,571,662 B2Granted
Transvascular nerve stimulation apparatus and methods
AssigneeSimon Fraser University
InventorJoaquin Andres Hoffer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Electrode structures for transvascular nerve stimulation combine electrodes with an electrically-insulating backing layer. The backing layer increases the electrical impedance of electrical paths through blood in a lumen of a blood vessel and consequently increases the flow of electrical current through surrounding tissues. The electrode structures may be applied to stimulate nerves such as the phrenic, vagus, trigeminal, obturator or other nerves.
Claims5
A method for regulating breathing of a person, the method comprising:
- implanting at least one of:
- a first electrode structure at a position along a lumen of the left subclavian vein that is proximate to the left phrenic nerve;
- a second electrode structure at a position along a lumen of the superior vena cava that is proximate to the right phrenic nerve;
- a third electrode structure at a position along a lumen of the left interior jugular vein that is proximate to the left phrenic nerve;
- and a fourth electrode structure at a position along a lumen of the right interior jugular vein that is proximate to the right phrenic nerve;
- stimulating at least one of the left- and right-phrenic nerves by applying stimulation signals to electrodes of the first and second electrode structures.
3 more elements
A method for regulating breathing of a person, the method comprising:
- implanting a first electrode structure at a position along a lumen of the left subclavian vein that is proximate to the left phrenic nerve;
- implanting a second electrode structure at a position along a lumen of the superior vena cava that is proximate to the right phrenic nerve;
- stimulating the left- and right-phrenic nerves by applying stimulation signals to electrodes of the first and second electrode structures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.