Patent ID: 9421378
Filing Date: 2016-08-23
CPC Classification: A61N

Claim Text:
1. A spinal cord stimulation device comprising: a stimulation unit for generation and delivery of stimulation pulses; a control unit for controlling the stimulation unit with respect to stimulation intensity; and an autonomic nervous system (“ANS”) sensing unit that is configured to generate ANS indicating signals representing an increased sympathetic tone or an increased parasympathetic tone, respectively, said control unit being configured to control the intensity of respective stimulation pulses depending on a respective ANS indicating signal as generated by said ANS sensing unit, wherein the ANS sensing unit is configured to generate said ANS indicating signals from respiration signals that represent respiration activity, and wherein the ANS sensing unit is further configured to determine from the respiration signals inspiration and expiration phases and to generate respiration phase indicating signals accordingly, wherein the control unit is configured to dynamically adjust the stimulation intensity by means of varying stimulation frequency, pulse width or pulse amplitude, or a combination thereof, in synchronization with received respiration phase indicating signals, such that high intensity stimulation pulses are delivered at increased sympathetic tone whereas lower intensity stimulation pulses are delivered at increased parasympathetic tone.