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US 9,174,046 B2Granted
Apparatus and methods for assisting breathing
OwnerCedric Francois, Angus McLachlaninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides, among other things, apparatus and methods of use for treating a subject in need of assistance with breathing. In some embodiments the subject suffers from airflow obstruction. In some embodiments, the subject suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Claims15
A method of assisting breathing of a subject who is intubated or has recently been extubated, the method comprising treating the subject with an apparatus comprising:
- (a) a sensor suitable for detecting when a subject is exhaling;
- and (b) a device adapted to deliver an electrical stimulus to at least some of the subject's muscles of expiration during at least part of the expiratory phase of the subject's breathing in response to a signal generated by said sensor, wherein the stimulus is effective to cause or increase contraction of said muscle(s) during at least part of the expiratory phase of the subject's breathing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.