Breathing disorder detection and therapy device for providing intrinsic breathing

Abstract

A device and method are provided for managing the treatment of a patient with respiratory disorders or symptoms. Respiratory parameters are sensed and recorded and communicated to an external device to provide information to a patient and/or provider for further treatment or diagnosis. Also respiratory disorders such as apnea or hypoventilation may be treated by electrically stimulating the diaphragm muscle or phrenic nerve in response to a sensed respiratory parameter or characteristic.

1 - 99 . (canceled)  
     
     
         100 . A device for controlling respiration of a patient comprising: 
 at least one electrode configured to be coupled to tissue of a patient's body wherein the at least one electrode is configured to deliver electrical stimulation to the tissue to thereby manipulate a diaphragm respiratory response;    a sensor element configured to sense information corresponding to the patient's respiration;    a breathing related disorder detector element coupled to the sensor element and configured to detect information corresponding to a breathing related disorder;    an intrinsic breathing detector element coupled to the sensor element configured to detect intrinsic breathing prior to onset of a breathing related disorder and resumption of intrinsic breathing after electrical stimulation delivered to the tissue; and    a responsive element coupled to the breathing related disorder detector element and the intrinsic breathing detector element, wherein the responsive element is configured to control electrical stimulation delivered to the tissue through the at least one electrode in response to breathing related disorder detector element detecting information corresponding to a breathing related disorder, and to modify electrical stimulation in response to the intrinsic breathing detector element detecting resumption of intrinsic breathing.    
     
     
         101 . The device for controlling respiration of a patient of  claim 100  wherein the breathing related disorder detector element is an apnea detector.  
     
     
         102 . The device for controlling respiration of a patient of  claim 100  wherein the breathing related disorder detector element is a hyperventilation detector.  
     
     
         103 . The device for controlling respiration of a patient of  claim 100  wherein the breathing related disorder detector element is a hyponea detector.  
     
     
         104 . The device for controlling respiration of a patient of  claim 100  further comprising a memory element coupled to the sensor element and configured to store information sensed by the sensor corresponding to intrinsic breathing of a patient.  
     
     
         105 . The device for controlling respiration of a patient of  claim 104  wherein the intrinsic breathing detector element is configured to compare sensed information corresponding to respiration of a patient to information stored in the memory corresponding to intrinsic breathing of a patient, to determine when intrinsic breathing has resumed.  
     
     
         106 . The device for controlling respiration of a patient of  claim 105  wherein the responsive element is configured to cease electrical stimulation in response to the intrinsic breathing detector element detecting resumption of intrinsic breathing  
     
     
         107 . A method of controlling the respiration of a patient comprising the steps of: 
 sensing information corresponding to intrinsic breathing of the patient;    monitoring subsequent breathing of the patient to detect information corresponding to a breathing related disorder;    determining whether to electrically stimulate the tissue to elicit a diaphragm response in the patient, by detecting the information corresponding to a breathing related disorder;    electrically stimulating the tissue to control diaphragm movement in response to detecting apnea;    determining resumption of the intrinsic breathing in a patient after electrically stimulating the tissue to elicit the diaphragm response; and modifying electrical stimulation after determining resumption of the intrinsic breathing.    
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 107  wherein the step of modifying electrical stimulation comprises ceasing electrical stimulation after determining resumption of the intrinsic breathing.  
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 107  wherein the step of determining whether to stimulate comprises determining the presence of apnea.  
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 107  wherein the step of determining whether to stimulate comprises determining the presence of hyperventilation.  
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 107  wherein the step of determining whether to stimulate comprises determining the presence of hypopnea.