Breathing therapy device and method

Abstract

A device and method is provided for electrically stimulating the diaphragm to control breathing while inhibiting respiratory drive. A stimulation phase is identified. The stimulation phase is it period of time within the breathing cycle in which stimulation will inhibit respiratory drive. The respiratory drive inhibition may be used in a number of applications including but not limited to: improving or remodeling the heart in heart failure patients, treating apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and hypertension.

1 . A medical device for use in patients comprising:
 a stimulation lead, said lead having at least one stimulation electrode placed adjacent to at least one phrenic nerve of the patient;   a control unit implanted in the body of the patient, said control unit being electrically connected said stimulation electrode;   a respiration sensor implanted in the patient, said respiration sensor being in communication with said control unit; and   a control logic incorporated within said control unit, said control logic capable of reading said respiration sensor, analyzing said respiration signal and delivering stimulation pulses to maintain activation of at least a portion of a diaphragm to said stimulation electrode at a time proximate the transition from an inhalation phase to an exhalation phase of a respiration, retaining air in at least one lung and preventing exhalation of the retained air for a period of time, and Men after the period of time has lapsed, allowing a delayed exhalation outflow of the retained air.   
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1  further characterized by said control logic being capable of analyzing breath and delivering stimulation signal at the end of natural inspiration for a duration that exceeds natural exhalation. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 1  further comprising: at least one sensing electrode in electrical communication with said control unit, said sensing electrode being capable of sensing cardiac electrical activity and transthoracic impedance. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device of  claim 1  further comprising: an implanted motion sensor capable of sensing motion of the patient; and said control logic being capable of sensing and analyzing motion signals. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 4  further characterized by said control logic delivering phrenic nerve stimulation based on said respiratory sensor and disabling phrenic nerve stimulation based on said motion sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device of  claim 4  wherein said motion sensor is correlated with EMG information. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device of  claim 1  further characterized by said control logic being capable of rejecting respiratory signals that appear during a refractory period. 
     
     
         8 . The medical device of  claim 4  further characterized by said control logic being capable of rejecting respiratory signals indicative of cough, arousal and movement. 
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 1  further characterized by said lead having a plurality of stimulation electrodes. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 1  further comprising a flow sensor in communication with the control unit. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 1  further comprising an EMG sensor in communication with the control unit. 
     
     
         12 . The medical device of  claim 1  further characterized by said lead having at least one anchoring mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The medical device of  claim 1  further comprising an external communications device in communication with the control unit. 
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 1  further characterized by the shape of said stimulation pulses being selected from the group consisting of consistent amplitudes, progressively increasing amplitudes, progressively decreasing amplitudes, and a combination of progressively increasing amplitudes following by consistent amplitude followed by progressively decreasing amplitude. 
     
     
         15 .- 31 . (canceled)