Method and system for regulating respiration by means of simulated action potential signals
A method to regulate respiration generally comprising generating and transmitting at least one simulated action potential signal to the body that is recognizable by the respiratory system as a modulation signal. In a preferred embodiment, the simulated action potential signal includes a positive voltage region having positive voltage (V 1 ) for a first period of time (T 1 ) and a negative region having negative voltage (V 2 ) for a second period of time (T 2 ).
1 . A method for regulating respiration in a subject, comprising the steps of:
generating a simulated action potential signal that is recognizable by the subject's respiratory system as a modulation signal, said simulated action potential signal including a positive voltage region having positive voltage less than approximately 100000 mV for a first period of time less than approximately 6500 μsec and a negative voltage region having negative voltage less than approximately −50000 mV for a second period of time less than approximately 13000 μsec; and
transmitting said simulated action potential signal to the subject's body, whereby regulation of multiple respiratory parameters associated with the subject's respiratory system is effectuated.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said positive voltage is less than approximately 10000 mV.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said positive voltage is in the range of approximately 100-10000 mV.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said positive voltage is in the range of approximately 100-5000 mV.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said first period of time is less than approximately 1333 μsec.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said first period of time is less than approximately 400 μsec.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said first period of time is less than approximately 83 μsec.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said negative voltage is less than approximately −5000 mV.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said negative voltage is in the range of approximately −50 mV to −5000 mV.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said negative voltage is in the range of approximately −50 mV to −2500 mV.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said second period of time is less than approximately 2666 μsec.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said second period of time is less than approximately 800 μsec.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said second period of time is less than approximately 166 μsec.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said simulated action potential signal has a frequency greater than approximately 51 Hz.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said simulated action potential signal has a frequency greater than approximately 250 Hz.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said simulated action potential signal has a frequency greater than approximately 833 Hz.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said simulated action potential signal has a frequency greater than approximately 4000 Hz.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said simulated action potential signals is transmitted to the subject's body.
19 . A method for regulating respiration of a subject, comprising the steps of:
monitoring the respiration status of the subject and providing at least one respiratory system status signal representing the status of the subject's respiratory system;
generating a simulated action potential signal that is recognizable by the respiration system as a modulation signal, said simulated action potential signal including a positive voltage region having positive voltage less than approximately 100000 mV for a first period of time less than approximately 6500 μsec and a negative voltage region having negative voltage less than approximately −50000 mV for a second period of time less than approximately 13000 μsec; and
transmitting the simulated action potential signal to the subject's body in response to a respiratory system status signal, whereby regulation of multiple respiratory parameters associated with the subject's respiratory system is effectuated.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein a plurality of said simulated action potential signals is transmitted to the subject's body.