SUMMARY
UCLA researchers in the Department of Neurobiology have developed a non-invasive, non-electrical neuromodulatory system that uses vibratory stimulation of cranial and cervical nerves of the auditory canal to abolish breathing disorders while maintaining blood pressure.
BACKGROUND
Sleep disturbed breathing and related cardiovascular disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) need to facilitate breathing and support blood pressure to maintain cardiovascular integrity. The current “gold-standard” for sleep-disordered breathing intervention and disrupted breathing in heart failure is to use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP, however, is poorly tolerated, and inadequately manages blood pressure, with significant limitations in patient comfort and oxygen delivery. The positive pressure of CPAP may also be dangerous if used to treat periodic or Cheyne-Stokes breathing in OSA or heart failure; such use can shorten life. There is a need for a safe, inexpensive, non-invasive ventilation system for groups with sleep-disturbed breathing.
INNOVATION
UCLA researchers in the Department of Neurobiology have developed a non-invasive neuromodulation system that mechanically stimulates cranial and cervical nerves. The system abolishes obstructive and central (periodic breathing) events, and creates a slow, deep, minimally-variant breathing pattern. The system concurrently normalizes extremes of blood pressure, which is often inadequately managed with CPAP. Patients that previously demonstrated dramatic loss of blood pressure during sleep with modest support of breathing while using CPAP, had blood pressure restored and oxygen saturations return to near 100% with use of the ear canal device alone without CPAP.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
- Spinal cord injury
- Generalized clonic-tonic epilepsy seizures
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) or acquired hypoventilation (late onset)
- Multiple system atrophy
- Muscular dystrophy (MD)
- Heart failure, especially with periodic or Cheyne-Stokes breathing
ADVANTAGES
- Abolishes all periodic breathing without use of CPAP
- Major benefit for heart failure and other patients during sleep, where excessive positive pressure is dangerous
- Maintains blood pressure
- Non-invasive, non-electrical vibratory stimulation
DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE
Prototyped successfully tested in 37 patients with: obstructive, central apnea or no breathing disturbance in an induced sleep, and abolished obstructive and periodic breathing in all subjects.