Apparatus and methods for assisted breathing by transvascular nerve stimulation
Inventors
Thakkar, Viral S. • Hoffer, Joaquin Andres • Tran, Bao Dung • Evans, Douglas G. • Nash, John E.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11707619-B2
Publication Date
2023-07-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
A catheter may include electrodes for transvascular nerve stimulation. The electrodes may be positioned within lumens of the catheter and aligned with apertures in the outer wall of the catheter. The electrodes may produce focused electrical fields for stimulation of one or more nerves. In one embodiment, the catheter may include a set of proximal electrodes and a set of distal electrodes, and the proximal electrodes may stimulate a patient's left phrenic nerve and the distal electrodes may stimulate a patient's right phrenic nerve.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an apparatus for assisted breathing using transvascular electrical stimulation of the phrenic nerves. The described catheter includes proximal and distal electrode sets intended for selective stimulation of the left phrenic nerve and the right phrenic nerve for diaphragm stimulation.
The catheter construction uses an outer layer defining a plurality of apertures therethrough, with electrodes positioned radially outward of the lumen and electrically exposed through the apertures. The windows or apertures limit the circumferential extent of the electrical field to a portion of the catheter circumference.
The described system further includes selective activation principles using bipolar electrode pairs and leads electrically connected to the electrodes. Variations include steering mechanisms to position distal electrodes against a vessel wall, optional ECG sensing, different window or aperture arrangements, and pre-shaped or corkscrew catheter designs with elongated openings, slits, or channels.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims. Both independent claims focus on catheter geometry for transvascular electrical stimulation, particularly radially outward electrode exposure through outer-layer apertures and longitudinal proximal and distal electrode sets with circumferential non-alignment constraints.
Outer layer apertures exposing radially outward electrodes
A catheter having an outer layer defining a plurality of apertures therethrough, with a body defining at least one longitudinal lumen, the apertures being radially outward of the lumen; a plurality of electrodes positioned radially outward of the lumen and electrically exposed through an aperture of the plurality of apertures; and a plurality of leads electrically connected to the plurality of electrodes.
Proximal and distal electrode sets with circumferential non-overlap constraints
The plurality of electrodes includes proximal electrodes extending a first length of the outer layer and distal electrodes extending a second length of the outer layer; the proximal electrodes include longitudinally extending rows and the distal electrodes include longitudinally extending rows; the second length does not include an electrode at the same circumferential position as the proximal row, and the first length does not include an electrode at the same circumferential position as the distal row.
Electrodes exposed through apertures in nonconductive material
A catheter with a body defining at least one longitudinal lumen and proximal and distal electrodes positioned radially outward of the lumen and extending along first and second lengths of the catheter; each electrode is exposed through a corresponding aperture in a nonconductive material; and leads are electrically connected to corresponding electrodes.
Across both independent claims, the central claim coverage is a catheter in which radially outward electrodes are electrically exposed through outer-layer apertures, including exposure through apertures in nonconductive material, and arranged as proximal and distal electrode sets extending along different catheter lengths with explicit constraints that prevent electrodes from being at the same circumferential positions.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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