Accessing spinal network to enable respiratory function

1 . A method of improving, and/or regulating, and/or restoring respiration in a subject with a respiratory deficiency, said method comprising:

administering, via at least one electrode placed on a dorsal spinal cord of the subject, epidural stimulation to the dorsal spinal cord using a stimulation selected to cause neuromodulation of interneurons of the dorsal spinal cord to generate a respiratory rhythm caused by a firing pattern of a respiratory central pattern generation (CPG), wherein the respiratory rhythm is caused by an activated respiratory drive of the subject;

receiving at least one of an O 2 saturation, an end tidal CO 2 , a heart rate, and a tidal volume of the subject using one or more sensors; and

adjusting at least one of a pulse amplitude, a pulse-width, a pulse frequency, and a duty cycle of said epidural stimulation based on the at least one of the O 2 saturation, the end tidal CO 2 , the heart rate, and the tidal volume to provide a desired tidal volume, O 2 saturation, and end tidal CO 2 .

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

a stimulation pattern is altered in response to respiration rate and/or tidal volume; and/or

said stimulation pattern is altered in response to heart rate.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said respiratory deficiency is due to a spinal cord injury.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said spinal cord injury is clinically classified as motor complete.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said spinal cord injury is clinically classified as motor incomplete.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

said respiratory deficiency is due to a neurodegenerative disorder; or

said respiratory deficiency is due to an ischemic brain injury; or

said subject is at risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS); or

said subject is in intensive care unit patient with decreased respiratory drive; or

said respiratory deficiency is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), or acute respiratory failure; or

said respiratory deficiency is due to alcohol intoxication and/or a drug overdose; or

said respiratory deficiency is due to a drug overdose.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises administering at least one monoaminergic agonist to said subject.

8 . A stimulator configured to induce epidural in a cervical region of a subject according to claim 1 .

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said neuromodulating utilizes:

a stimulator configured to induce epidural stimulation in a cervical region of a subject at a frequency and amplitude that improves, and/or regulates, and/or restores respiration in a subject with a respiratory deficiency; and

one or more sensor selected from the group consisting of a sensor that detects chest wall movement and/or expansion.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein:

said stimulator is configured to induce epidural stimulation of a cervical spinal cord.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein:

said stimulator is coupled to a sensor that detects chest wall movement and/or expansion.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein feedback is provided to the stimulator from sensors assessing chest wall movement, and/or O 2 saturation, and/or end tidal CO 2 and uses this information to adjust stimulation parameters.

13 . A method of removing a subject from a respirator, said method comprising:

inducing or maintaining respiration is a subject using a method of claim 1 while said subject is removed from the respirator (ventilator) and/or after said subject is removed from said respirator.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein there is no tonic respiratory muscle contraction during inspiration and expiration phases of breathing in said subject during neuromodulation of a cervical spinal cord.