Systems and methods for treating dyspnea, including via electrical afferent signal blocking

Abstract

Systems and methods for treating a patient with dyspnea are disclosed. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes identifying the patient as suffering from dyspnea, and, based at least in part on identifying the patient as suffering from dyspnea, implanting an electrical signal delivery element within the patient in signal communication with an afferent neural pathway of a carotid body chemoreceptor. The method can further include at least reducing dyspneic sensations in the patient by directing an electrical signal from the electrical signal delivery element to the neural pathway to at least partially block afferent signals from the chemoreceptor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of assessing a subject's suitability for a treatment, comprising:
 temporarily blocking an afferent signal from a carotid body;   assessing if there is a positive outcome of the temporary blocking step; and   determining that the subject is a suitable candidate for a subsequent and different procedure to block the afferent signal from the carotid body.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein temporarily blocking an afferent signal from a carotid body comprises changing oxygen levels in the subject. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein temporarily blocking an afferent signal from a carotid body comprises injecting anesthetic. 
     
     
         4 . A method for treating a patient comprising directing an electrical signal from an electrical signal delivery device to a carotid body in a human patient to block afferent signals from the carotid body;
 further comprising positioning the electrical signal delivery device with respect to the carotid body such that blocking the afferent signals from the carotid body with the electrical signal does not interfere with afferent signals transmitted by baroreceptor neurons in the patient;   wherein the blocking of the afferent signals achieves a therapeutic effect by disabling a function of the carotid body in sensing hypoxia or hypercapnia.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein directing an electrical signal from an electrical signal delivery device to a carotid body comprises directing an electrical signal in bipolar mode. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising, prior to directing the electrical signal, simulating carotid body inhibition. 
     
     
         7 . A method for treating a patient comprising:
 delivering an electrical signal from a controller to a signal delivery device;   directing a neural blocking signal from the signal delivery device to a carotid body in a human patient to block afferent signals from the carotid body, wherein directing the neural blocking signal to the carotid body does not direct the neural blocking signal to a carotid baroreceptor neuron; and   wherein blocking the afferent signals achieves a therapeutic effect by disabling a function of the carotid body in sensing hypoxia or hypercapnia.   
     
     
         8 . A method of treating a patient comprising:
 delivering an electrical signal from a controller to a signal delivery device;   directing a neural blocking signal from the signal delivery device to a carotid body or a carotid body afferent neuron to modulate an afferent signal from the carotid body; and   shielding a baroreceptor neuron from the neural blocking signal.