Patent attributes
Improved methods and devices perform respiratory control of a person due to conditions such as sleep apnea. According to one embodiment, a respiratory control method includes delivering stimulation signals according to one or more stimulation parameters to phrenic nerves of a person. The person's chest activity is monitored, e.g., by sensing signals in a chamber of the person's heart, to determine the person's respiratory cycle. The stimulation cycle and respiratory cycle are compared. In response, the one or more stimulation parameters are adjusted. In subsequent stimulation cycle(s), the method delivers the stimulation signals according to the adjusted stimulation parameters. This feedback mechanism may continue until respiratory control is captured.
