Neural Stimulation System Respiratory Feedback Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Neural stimulation therapies, such as vagal nerve stimulation, can unintentionally modulate respiratory functions, leading to adverse effects in patients with respiratory disorders like apnea, hypopnea, or dyspnea, as they treat cardiac conditions, necessitating a system to control and adjust stimulation to mitigate these side effects.

Innovation Solution

A neural stimulation system that synchronizes the delivery of neural stimulation with respiratory cycles and adjusts therapy in response to detected respiratory disorders using a respiratory signal, incorporating a therapy output device, controller, respiratory signal input, and adjustment module to reduce adverse effects and treat respiratory issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If neural stimulation is delivered to treat cardiac conditions, then cardiac function is improved, but respiratory function deteriorates due to unintended modulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecardiac functionVSAvoidrespiratory function

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors respiratory parameters (flow, volume, pressure) and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust neural stimulation delivery. The controller modifies stimulation parameters based on real-time respiratory status, creating a closed-loop system that prevents harmful respiratory effects while maintaining beneficial cardiac effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The neural stimulation system transitions from static, fixed-parameter delivery to dynamic, adaptive delivery. Stimulation parameters such as pulse width, frequency, and amplitude are continuously adjusted based on respiratory phase and status, allowing the system to optimize cardiac benefits while minimizing respiratory harm throughout the respiratory cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If neural stimulation intensity is increased to improve therapy effectiveness, then therapeutic effect is enhanced, but adverse respiratory side effects increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapy effectivenessVSAvoidadverse respiratory side effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic modulation of neural stimulation intensity synchronized with the respiratory cycle. Stimulation parameters are varied in periodic cycles that match respiratory rhythm, delivering higher intensity during phases that benefit cardiac function while reducing intensity during phases that could harm respiratory function, thus maintaining therapeutic effectiveness while minimizing side effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes multiple stimulation parameters including pulse width, frequency, amplitude, and duty cycle based on real-time respiratory status. By coordinating parameter changes with respiratory phase, the system optimizes the balance between therapeutic cardiac effects and harmful respiratory effects, allowing intensity modulation that enhances therapy effectiveness without proportionally increasing adverse side effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of stationary object

If neural stimulation is delivered continuously to maintain therapy, then therapeutic benefit is sustained, but respiratory discomfort increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapy durationVSAvoidrespiratory discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces continuous neural stimulation with periodic, cycle-synchronized stimulation that mirrors natural respiratory rhythm. This periodic delivery pattern maintains therapeutic benefit by providing stimulation during beneficial phases while creating rest periods during potentially harmful phases, thereby reducing respiratory discomfort while sustaining therapy effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system ensures continuous therapeutic benefit through coordinated stimulation cycles that align with respiratory phases. By delivering stimulation continuously but modulating intensity and duration according to respiratory cycle, the system maintains therapy effectiveness without requiring uninterrupted high-intensity stimulation that would cause respiratory discomfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS8050765B2Method and apparatus for controlling neural stimulation during disordered breathing

Publication Date: 2011.11.01 CARDIAC PACEMAKERS INC

AI summary

A neural stimulation system controls the delivery of neural stimulation using a respiratory signal as a therapy feedback input. The respiratory signal is used to increase the effectiveness of the neural stimulation, such as vagal nerve stimulation, while decreasing potentially adverse side effects in respiratory functions. In one embodiment, the neural stimulation system detects apnea and, in response, adjusts the delivery of the neural stimulation pulses and/or delivers a respiratory therapy treating the detected apnea.