System and method to modulate phrenic nerve to prevent sleep apnea

1. A medical device for use in patients comprising:

a transvenous stimulation lead, said lead having at least one stimulation electrode placed in a vein adjacent to at least one phrenic nerve of the patient;

an implanted medical device (IMD) implanted in the body of the patient, said IMD being electrically connected said stimulation electrode;

a respiration sensor implanted in the patient, said respiration sensor being in communication with said IMD; and

a control logic incorporated within said IMD, said control logic capable of reading said respiration sensor, analyzing said respiration signal and delivering stimulation pulses to maintain activation of at least a portion of a diaphragm to said stimulation electrode at a time proximate the transition from an inhalation phase to an exhalation phase of a respiration, retaining air in at least one lung and preventing exhalation of the retained air for a period of time, and then after the period of time has lapsed, allowing a delayed exhalation outflow of the retained air.

2. The medical device of claim 1 further characterized by said control logic being capable of analyzing breath and delivering stimulation signal at the end of natural inspiration for a duration that exceeds natural exhalation.

3. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising: at least one sensing electrode in electrical communication with said IMD, said sensing electrode being capable of sensing cardiac electrical activity and transthoracic impedance.

4. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising: an implanted motion sensor capable of sensing motion of the patient; and said control logic being capable of sensing and analyzing motion signals.

5. The medical device of claim 4 further characterized by said control logic delivering phrenic nerve stimulation based on said respiratory sensor and disabling phrenic nerve stimulation based on said motion sensor.

6. The medical device of claim 4 further characterized by said motion sensor being an accelerometer for use in cardiac pacing.

7. The medical device of claim 1 further characterized by said control logic being capable of rejecting respiratory signals that appear during a refractory period.

8. The medical device of claim 4 further characterized by said control logic being capable of rejecting respiratory signals indicative of cough, arousal and movement.

9. The medical device of claim 1 further characterized by said lead having a plurality of stimulation electrodes.

10. The medical device of claim 1 further characterized by said stimulation electrode being bipolar.

11. The medical device of claim 1 further characterized by said stimulation electrode being monopolar.

12. The medical device of claim 1 further characterized by said lead having at least one anchoring mechanism.

13. The medical device of claim 1 further characterized by said stimulation electrode being coated with medication.

14. The medical device of claim 1 further characterized by the shape of said stimulation pulses being selected from the group consisting of consistent amplitudes, progressively increasing amplitudes, progressively decreasing amplitudes, and a combination of progressively increasing amplitudes following by consistent amplitude followed by progressively decreasing amplitude.

15. A medical device for use in patients comprising:

a transvenous stimulation lead, said lead having at least one stimulation electrode placed in a vein adjacent to at least one phrenic nerve of the patient;

an implanted medical device (IMD) implanted in the body of the patient, said IMD being electrically connected said stimulation electrode;

a respiration sensor external to the patient's body, said respiration sensor being in communication with said IMD; and

a control logic incorporated within said IMD, said control logic capable of reading said respiration sensor, analyzing said respiration signal and delivering stimulation pulses to maintain activation of at least a portion of a diaphragm to said stimulation electrode at a time proximate the transition from an inhalation phase to an exhalation phase of a respiration, retaining air in at least one lung and preventing exhalation of the retained air for a period of time, and then after the period of time has lapsed, allowing a delayed exhalation outflow of the retained air.

16. The medical device of claim 15 further characterized by said respiration sensor being selected from the group consisting of an airflow sensor, a respiratory belt, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a CO2 sensor, and a transthoracic impedance electrodes.

17. A medical device for use in patients comprising:

a transvenous stimulation lead, said lead having at least one stimulation electrode configured to be placed in a vein adjacent to at least one phrenic nerve of a patient;

an implantable medical device (IMD) configured to be implanted in the body of the patient, said IMD capable of being electrically connected to said stimulation electrode; and

a control logic incorporated within said IMD, said control logic capable of delivering stimulation pulses to said stimulation electrode configured to stimulate the phrenic nerve resulting in contraction of at least part of a diaphragm, the contraction trapping air in at least one lung and preventing exhalation of the trapped air for a period of time while maintaining the capacity of the patient's body to regulate respiration, and then after the period of time has lapsed, allowing a delayed exhalation outflow of the trapped air.

18. The medical device of claim 17 , further comprising a respiration sensor implanted in the patient, said respiration sensor communicating data to said IMD.

19. The medical device of claim 18 , wherein the control logic calculates an observed breathing rate based on data from the respiration sensor and delivers stimulation pulses at a fixed stimulation rate that is less than the observed breathing rate.

20. A medical device for use in patients comprising:

a stimulation lead, said lead having at least one stimulation electrode configured to be placed proximate one of two phrenic nerves of a patient;

an implantable medical device (IMD) configured to be implanted in the body of the patient, said IMD capable of being electrically connected to said stimulation electrode; and

a control logic incorporated within said IMD, said control logic capable of delivering stimulation pulses to the stimulation electrode to stimulate the single phrenic nerve resulting in contraction of at least part of a diaphragm, the contraction trapping air in at least one lung and preventing exhalation of the trapped air for a period of time while maintaining the capacity of the patient's body to regulate respiration, and then after the period of time has lapsed, allowing a delayed exhalation outflow of the trapped air.

21. The medical device of claim 20 , wherein the stimulation lead is configured to be placed in a vein proximate the phrenic nerve.

22. The medical device of claim 20 , further comprising: an implanted motion and position sensor capable of sensing motion or position of the patient; and said control logic being capable of sensing and analyzing sensor signals.

23. The medical device of claim 22 , wherein the control logic adjusts the stimulation intensity based on motion or position of the patient.

24. The medical device of claim 20 , further comprising a respiration sensor implanted in the patient, said respiration sensor communicating data to said IMD.

25. The medical device of claim 24 , wherein the control logic calculates an observed breathing rate based on data from the respiration sensor and delivers stimulation pulses at a fixed stimulation rate that is less than the observed breathing rate.

26. The medical device of claim 20 , wherein the stimulation lead is configured to be retained in a pericardiophrenic vein.

27. The medical device of claim 20 , wherein the stimulation lead is configured to be retained in a brachiocephalic vein.

28. The medical device of claim 20 , wherein the stimulation lead is configured to be retained in a superior vena cava.

29. The medical device of claim 20 , wherein the stimulation lead is configured to be retained in an internal jugular vein.

30. The medical device of claim 1 , further characterized by said control logic being capable of analyzing breath and delivering stimulation signal stimulating the phrenic nerve via the stimulation electrode after the beginning of the inspiration phase, said stimulation magnitude being sufficient to still the diaphragm resulting in a substantial amount of air trapped in at least one lung.

31. An implantable device for treating a breathing disorder in a patient having a lung, a diaphragm innervated by a phrenic nerve and a vein near the phrenic nerve, the device comprising:

a lead having a stimulation electrode adapted for implantation in a vein of the patient proximate the phrenic nerve;

a respiration measuring device for monitoring the respiration of the patient, to find the inspiration phase of a breath; and

a stimulator for stimulating the phrenic nerve with the stimulation electrode at a time beginning after the beginning of the inspiration phase, and the duration and magnitude of the stimuli sufficient to still the diaphragm of the patient resulting in a substantial amount of air trapped in at least one lung and preventing exhalation of the trapped air for a long enough period of time to inhibit the beginning of the next breath, and then after the period of time has lapsed, allowing a delayed exhalation outflow of the trapped air thereby reducing the breathing rate of the patient.