Patent ID: 8588919

Claim:
A neuromuscular electrical stimulation device for breathing-controlled electrical stimulation, comprising: a. a respiratory signal collector adapted to receive and collect a respiratory signal that is used for a timing purpose to trigger and deliver said electrical stimulation; b. a respiratory signal monitor adapted to interpret the respiratory signal to detect the value of at least one respiratory parameter useful for differentiating voluntary breathing from autonomic breathing; c. a control circuit adapted to compare the detected value of the at least one respiratory parameter value to a preset threshold value to differentiate voluntary breathing from autonomic breathing, wherein the control circuit sends a trigger command when the detected value reaches the threshold value; and d. an electrical stimulation delivery controller adapted to generate electrical stimulation upon receipt of the trigger command from the control circuit, wherein said electrical stimulation is delivered to a patient's non-respiratory target skeletal muscle when voluntary breathing is detected, and wherein said electrical stimulation is delivered only when forced inspiration is detected.