Method and system to control respiration by means of confounding neuro-electrical signals

1 . A method for suppressing a reflex action in a mammalian body, comprising the steps of:

generating a confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to suppress at least one interneuron that induces the reflex action in the body; and

transmitting said confounding neuro-electrical signal to the body.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the nervous system in the body.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the vagus nerve.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is adapted to suppress at least one parasympathetic action potential that induces said reflex action.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said reflex action comprises bronchial constriction.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal includes a plurality of simulated action potential signals, each of said plurality of simulated action potential signals having a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100-2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μsec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −50 mV to −1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μsec.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

8 . A method for controlling respiration in a subject, comprising the steps of:

generating a confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to suppress at least one interneuron that induces a respiratory reflex action in the subject's body; and

transmitting said confounding neuro-electrical signal to the nervous system of the subject.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the vagus nerve.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is adapted to suppress at least one parasympathetic action potential that induces said respiratory reflex action.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said respiratory reflex action comprises bronchial constriction.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal includes a plurality of simulated action potential signals, each of said plurality of simulated action potential signals having a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100-2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μsec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −50 mV to −1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μsec.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

14 . A method for treating a pathophysiology of asthma in a subject, comprising the steps of:

generating a confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to suppress at least one abnormal respiratory signal that induces a pathophysiology of asthma; and

transmitting said confounding neuro-electrical signal to the nervous system of the subject.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the vagus nerve.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said pathophysiology of asthma comprises a pathophysiology selected from the group consisting of bronchial hyper-responsiveness, smooth muscle hypertrophy, mucus hyper-secretion and hyper-secretion of a proinflammatory cytokine.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal has a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100-2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μsec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −50 mV to −1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μsec.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

19 . A method for treating bronchial constriction of a subject, comprising the steps of:

generating a confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to suppress at least one group of reflex mediating interneurons that induces bronchial constriction; and

transmitting said confounding neuro-electrical signal to the nervous system of the subject, whereby said bronchial constriction is abated.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the vagus nerve.

21 . The method of claim 21 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal includes a plurality of simulated action potential signals, each of said simulated action potential signals having a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100-2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μsec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −50 mV to −1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μsec.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

23 . A method for controlling respiration in a subject, comprising the steps of:

generating a simulated action potential signal that is recognizable by the respiration system as a modulation signal, said simulated action potential having a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100 to 2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μsec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −50 mV to −1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μsec;

generating a confounding neuro-electrical signal, said confounding neuro-electrical signal including a plurality of said simulated action potential signals; and

transmitting said confounding neuro-electrical signal to the nervous system of the subject.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the subject's vagus nerve.

25 . The method of claim 23 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

26 . A method for controlling respiration in a subject, comprising the steps of:

generating a random confounding neuro-electrical signal, said random confounding neuro-electrical including a plurality of random simulated action potential signals, each of said random simulated action potential signals having a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100 to 2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μsec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −50 mV to −1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μsec; and

transmitting said random confounding neuro-electrical signal to the nervous system of the subject.

27 . The method of claim 29 , wherein said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the subject's vagus nerve.

28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein said random confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein said frequency is randomly varied.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein said frequency is randomly varied between approximately 40-4000 Hz.

31 . The method of claim 26 , wherein said first region of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied.

32 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the normalized positive amplitude of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied between approximately 0.95-1.05 times the average positive amplitude.

33 . The method of claim 26 , wherein said second region of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied.

34 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the normalized negative amplitude of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied between approximately 0.95-1.05 times the average negative amplitude.

35 . The method of claim 26 , wherein said first period of time of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied.

36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein said first period of time is randomly varied between approximately 0.25-5.0 milliseconds.

37 . The method of claim 26 , wherein said second period of time of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied.

38 . The method of claim 37 , wherein said second period of time is randomly varied between approximately 0.25-5.0 milliseconds.

39 . The method of claim 26 , wherein said random confounding neuro-electrical signal comprises a signal train having a plurality of said random confounding neuro-electrical signals with randomly varied intervals therebetween.

40 . The method of claim 39 , wherein said intervals between said random confounding neuro-electrical signals is randomly varied between approximately 0.5-1.0 millisecond.

41 . A method for controlling respiration in a subject, comprising the steps of:

generating a random confounding neuro-electrical signal, said random confounding neuro-electrical including a plurality of random simulated action potential signals, each of said random simulated action potential signals having a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100 to 2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μsec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −50 mV to −1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μsec;

monitoring the respiration status of the subject and providing at least one respiratory system status signal in response to an abnormal function of the respiratory system; and

transmitting said random confounding neuro-electrical signal to the nervous system of the subject in response to a respiratory status signal that is indicative of a respiratory abnormality.

42 . The method of claim 41 , wherein said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the subject's vagus nerve.

43 . The method of claim 41 , wherein said random confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

44 . The method of claim 43 , wherein said frequency is randomly varied.

45 . The method of claim 44 , wherein said frequency is randomly varied between approximately 40-4000 Hz.

46 . The method of claim 41 , wherein said positive amplitude of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied.

47 . The method of claim 41 , wherein said negative amplitude of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied.

48 . The method of claim 41 , wherein said first period of time of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied.

49 . The method of claim 41 , wherein said second period of time of said random confounding neuro-electrical signal is randomly varied.

50 . A method for controlling respiration in a subject, comprising the steps of:

generating a pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal, said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical including a plurality of pseudo-random simulated action potential signals, each of said pseudo-random simulated action potential signals having a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100 to 2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μsec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −50 mV to −1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μsec; and

transmitting said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal to the nervous system of the subject.

51 . The method of claim 50 , wherein said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the subject's vagus nerve.

52 . The method of claim 50 , wherein said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

53 . The method of claim 52 , wherein said frequency is pseudo-randomly varied.

54 . The method of claim 53 , wherein said frequency is pseudo-randomly varied between approximately 40-4000 Hz.

55 . The method of claim 50 , wherein said first region of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied.

56 . The method of claim 50 , wherein the normalized positive amplitude of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied between approximately 0.95-1.05 times the average positive amplitude.

57 . The method of claim 50 , wherein said second region of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied.

58 . The method of claim 50 , wherein the normalized negative amplitude of said first pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied between approximately 0.95-1.05 times the average negative amplitude.

59 . The method of claim 50 , wherein said first period of time of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied.

60 . The method of claim 59 , wherein said first period of time is pseudo-randomly varied between approximately 0.25-5.0 milliseconds.

61 . The method of claim 50 , wherein said second period of time of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied.

62 . The method of claim 61 , wherein said second period of time is pseudo-randomly varied between approximately 0.25-5.0 milliseconds.

63 . The method of claim 50 , wherein said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal comprises a signal train having a plurality of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signals with pseudo-randomly varied intervals therebetween.

64 . The method of claim 63 , wherein said intervals between said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signals is pseudo-randomly varied between approximately 0.5 -1 millisecond.

65 . A method for controlling respiration in a subject, comprising the steps of:

generating a pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal, said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical including a plurality of pseudo-random simulated action potential signals, each of said pseudo-random simulated action potential signals having a first region having a positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100 to 2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μsec and a second region having a negative amplitude in the range of approximately −50 mV to −1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μsec;

monitoring the respiration status of the subject and providing at least one respiratory system status signal in response to an abnormal function of the respiratory system; and

transmitting said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal to the nervous system of the subject in response to a respiratory status signal that is indicative of a respiratory abnormality.

66 . The method of claim 65 , wherein said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to the subject's vagus nerve.

67 . The method of claim 65 , wherein said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal has a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz.

68 . The method of claim 67 , wherein said frequency is pseudo-randomly varied.

69 . The method of claim 68 , wherein said frequency is pseudo-randomly varied between approximately 40-4000 Hz.

70 . The method of claim 65 , wherein said positive amplitude of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical, signal is pseudo-randomly varied.

71 . The method of claim 65 , wherein said negative amplitude of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied.

72 . The method of claim 65 , wherein said first period of time of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied.

73 . The method of claim 65 , wherein said second period of time of said pseudo-random confounding neuro-electrical signal is pseudo-randomly varied.

74 . A confounding neuro-electrical signal having a plurality of simulated action potential signals, each of said simulated action potential signals having a first region having a first positive amplitude in the range of approximately 100-2000 mV for a first period of time in the range of approximately 100-400 μsec, a second region having a first negative amplitude in the range of approximately −50 mV to −1000 mV for a second period of time in the range of approximately 200-800 μsec and a frequency in the range of approximately 1-2 KHz, said confounding neuro-electrical signal being adapted to suppress at least one interneuron that induces a reflex action in the body when transmitted thereto.

75 . The confounding neuro-electrical signal of claim 74 , wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is adapted to confound at least one parasympathetic action potential that induces said reflex action.

76 . The method of claim 74 , wherein said reflex action comprises a respiratory reflex action.

77 . The method of claim 76 , wherein said respiratory reflex action comprises bronchial constriction.