Patent ID: 8200336

Claim:
A system having an electrical stimulation device for treating a subject comprising: an electrode configured to be implanted and electrically coupled to tissue of a subject; a sensing device adapted to measure a respiration of the subject during a respiration cycle; a signal source coupled to the electrode configured to provide an electrical signal to tissue of the subject through the electrode wherein the electrical stimulation device is configured to electrically stimulate phrenic nerve or diaphragm tissue to cause a contraction of at least a portion of a diaphragm and, a control unit in communication with said signal source and sensing device, wherein the signal source is in communication with the sensing device and wherein the control unit is programmed to cause the signal source to generate a first stimulation signal correlated to a respiratory parameter of the subject and which is delivered by the signal source during spontaneous respiration by the subject at a level and a period effective to maintain contraction of the diaphragm to provide a therapeutically significant lung volume change and to modify negative intrapleural pressure around lungs of the subject during at least a portion of an exhalation period of the respiration cycle, said control unit is further programmed to compare sensed respiration parameters before and after delivery of said stimulation, and programmed to adjust a subsequent stimulation signal in amplitude and/or frequency if needed to cause a diaphragm movement.