Apparatus and methods for assisted breathing by transvascular nerve stimulation

摘要

A catheter may include electrodes for transvascular nerve stimulation. The electrodes may be positioned within lumens of the catheter and aligned with apertures in the outer wall of the catheter. The electrodes may produce focused electrical fields for stimulation of one or more nerves. In one embodiment, the catheter may include a set of proximal electrodes and a set of distal electrodes, and the proximal electrodes may stimulate a patient's left phrenic nerve and the distal electrodes may stimulate a patient's right phrenic nerve.

主权项

1. A catheter, comprising:
an elongated tubular member having a plurality of lumens; a plurality of proximal apertures in an exterior side wall of the elongated tubular member, wherein each aperture of the plurality of proximal apertures connects an interior of one of the plurality of lumens to an exterior of the elongated tubular member, the plurality of proximal apertures includes a first row of proximal apertures and a second row of proximal apertures, and each of the first and second rows of proximal apertures extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular member; a plurality of distal apertures in the exterior side wall of the elongated tubular member, wherein each aperture of the plurality of distal apertures is positioned distal to each aperture of the plurality of proximal apertures, each aperture of the plurality of distal apertures connects an interior of one of the plurality of lumens to the exterior of the elongated tubular member, the plurality of distal apertures includes a first row of distal apertures and a second row of distal apertures, and each of the first and second rows of distal apertures extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular member; and a plurality of electrodes, wherein each electrode is positioned in one of the plurality of lumens and is aligned with a corresponding aperture of the plurality of proximal apertures or the plurality of distal apertures; wherein the first row of proximal apertures is positioned at a radial position different than a radial position of each of: the second row of proximal apertures, the first row of distal apertures, and the second row of distal apertures; and wherein the second row of proximal apertures is positioned at a radial position different than a radial position of each of: the first row of distal apertures and the second row of distal apertures.