Patent ID: 8160711

Claim:
A device for manipulating breathing of a subject comprising: a phrenic nerve and/or diaphragm tissue stimulation element comprising at least a first electrode; an upper airway stimulation element comprising at least a second electrode; a controller in communication with the first and second electrodes and programmed to supply a first stimulation signal through the first electrode during at least one existing breath to a phrenic nerve and/or diaphragm tissue to elicit a diaphragm response without initiating a new breath during a respiratory cycle of the subject having intrinsic respiration and to further supply a second stimulation signal through the second electrode during at least one existing breath to tissue associated with an upper airway of the subject during said respiratory cycle to elicit a response of an upper airway musculature; and, a sensor in communication with the controller, wherein the sensor is configured to detect at least one parameter of the respiratory cycle, wherein the controller is further programmed to coordinate the first and second stimulation signals provided by the phrenic nerve and/or diaphragm tissue stimulation element and upper airway stimulation element with respect to each other to supply diaphragm stimulation and upper airway stimulation such that the breath is supplemented, and wherein the controller is also programmed to adjust a waveform of the first stimulation signal in response to the sensed parameter of the respiratory cycle.