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Publication Number
US-9623239-B2
Publication Date
2017-04-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention provides, among other things, apparatus and methods of use for treating a subject in need of assistance with breathing. In some embodiments the subject suffers from airflow obstruction. In some embodiments, the subject suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Core Innovation
The invention addresses treating a subject by sensing an onset of the subject’s expiratory phase of breathing with one or more sensors. In response to the sensing, the invention delivers a stimulus to the subject’s lower anterior thorax or abdomen during at least part of the expiratory phase of breathing. The stimulus is configured to assist ventilation by causing a contraction in the subject’s abdominal muscle, and the stimulus is not delivered while the subject is inhaling.
An apparatus aspect provides one or more sensors suitable for detecting when a subject is exhaling. The apparatus includes a device comprising an inflatable compartment adapted to deliver a stimulus to the subject’s thorax or abdomen by mechanical compression of the inflatable compartment during at least part of an expiratory phase. The delivered stimulus is effective to cause a contraction in the subject’s abdominal muscle, and the apparatus does not include a device adapted to deliver a stimulus during inhalation.
The invention further includes sensor and integration options, including inductive plethysmography, respiratory inductive plethysmography, strain gauge, or piezoelectric sensors. In some implementations, at least one sensor is incorporated into an adhesive patch configured for placement on the subject’s skin, and the invention can support analyzing a subject’s breathing pattern or activity level and adjusting one or more stimulus parameters based at least in part on that analysis, including timing and adjustment using one or more preceding breathing cycles.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides two independent claims, covering both a method and an apparatus. The shared core inventive features include sensing exhalation onset, delivering a mechanical compression stimulus to the lower anterior thorax or abdomen during an expiratory phase using an inflatable compartment, causing abdominal muscle contraction, and excluding stimulus delivery during inhalation.
Sensing expiratory onset and delivering mechanical compression to assist ventilation
A method of treating a subject comprising sensing an onset of the subject’s expiratory phase of breathing with one or more sensors, and delivering a stimulus to the subject’s lower anterior thorax or abdomen during at least part of the expiratory phase in response to the sensing, the stimulus being delivered by mechanical compression using a device comprising an inflatable compartment and effective to cause a contraction in the subject’s abdominal muscle, with the proviso that a stimulus is not delivered while the subject is inhaling.
Apparatus for exhalation detection and inflatable-compartment compression during expiration
An apparatus comprising one or more sensors suitable for detecting when a subject is exhaling, and a device comprising an inflatable compartment adapted to deliver a stimulus to the subject’s thorax or abdomen by mechanical compression of the inflatable compartment during at least part of an expiratory phase in response to a signal generated by the one or more sensors, the stimulus being effective to cause a contraction in the subject’s abdominal muscle, with the proviso that the apparatus does not include a device adapted to deliver a stimulus during inhalation.
Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on closed-loop sensing of exhaling or expiratory onset and delivering an inflatable-compartment mechanical compression stimulus to the lower anterior thorax or abdomen during expiration, effective to induce abdominal muscle contraction, while excluding stimulus delivery during inhalation.
Stated Advantages
Decreases a subject’s end expiratory lung volume (EELV) compared with unassisted conditions.
Mitigates static and dynamic hyperinflation.
Improves ventilation mechanics and expiratory flow.
Provides potential training or biofeedback in a prompting mode.
Documented Applications
Use during treating a subject, including a subject having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Use in ventilator weaning and with ventilatory support.
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