Abstract: A respiration implant system for an implanted patient with impaired breathing includes laryngeal stimulating electrodes that are configured to interface with left and right posterior cricoarytenoid muscles (PCAM) of a patient larynx to deliver respiration pacing signals to the PCAM to promote patient breathing. And a pacing processor is configured to generate the respiration pacing signals to alternatingly stimulate the left and right PCAM one at a time so as to always have one of the left and right PCAM in an unstimulated resting state.

Abstract: A respiration implant system for an implanted patient with impaired breathing includes laryngeal stimulating electrodes that are configured to interface with left and right posterior cricoarytenoid muscles (PCAM) of a patient larynx to deliver respiration pacing signals to the PCAM to promote patient breathing. And a pacing processor is configured to generate the respiration pacing signals to alternatingly stimulate the left and right PCAM one at a time so as to always have one of the left and right PCAM in an unstimulated resting state.

Abstract: An implantable neural tissue electrode assembly includes a cylindrical electrode lead with at least one electrode contact on the outer surface of the electrode lead. An active distal end fixation anchor is located at the distal end of the electrode lead and is adapted to fasten to adjacent tissue by rotation in a fastening direction. A passive rear fixation anchor is located on the outer surface of the electrode lead offset a longitudinal distance back from the distal end and has at least one curved blade with a blade tip directed away from rotation in the fastening direction. The rear fixation anchor is adapted to permanently fasten to adjacent tissue by rotation opposite to the fastening direction so that the blade tip cuts into the adjacent tissue, and the electrode assembly is adapted such that physiological induced strains are distributed along the electrode lead.

Abstract: A respiration implant system for an implanted patient with impaired breathing includes laryngeal stimulating electrodes that are configured to interface with left and right posterior cricoarytenoid muscles (PCAM) of a patient larynx to deliver respiration pacing signals to the PCAM to promote patient breathing. And a pacing processor is configured to generate the respiration pacing signals to alternatingly stimulate the left and right PCAM one at a time so as to always have one of the left and right PCAM in an unstimulated resting state.

Abstract: An implantable neural tissue electrode assembly includes a cylindrical electrode lead with at least one electrode contact on the outer surface of the electrode lead. An active distal end fixation anchor is located at the distal end of the electrode lead and is adapted to fasten to adjacent tissue by rotation in a fastening direction. A passive rear fixation anchor is located on the outer surface of the electrode lead offset a longitudinal distance back from the distal end and has at least one curved blade with a blade tip directed away from rotation in the fastening direction. The rear fixation anchor is adapted to permanently fasten to adjacent tissue by rotation opposite to the fastening direction so that the blade tip cuts into the adjacent tissue, and the electrode assembly is adapted such that physiological induced strains are distributed along the electrode lead.

Abstract: A method of placing a stapedius activity sensor in a stapedius muscle of a patient is described. The stapedius muscle has a tendon end connecting to the stapes bone, and an opposing muscle belly end where the facial nerve innervates the stapedius muscle. A mastoidectomy is performed to create an opening through mastoid bone of the patient. A lead groove is drilled in temporal bone of the patient following a route along the facial nerve to the muscle belly end of the stapedius muscle. The stapedius activity sensor is then introduced along the lead groove to insert a distal end of the stapedius activity sensor into the muscle belly end of the stapedius muscle.

Abstract: A respiration implant system includes a parasternal respiration sensor is configured for intramuscular placement into parasternal muscle of the implanted patient to develop a respiration signal representing respiration activity of the implanted patient. A movement sensor develops a patient movement signal representing movement of the implanted patient. A pacing processor receives the respiration signal from the respiration sensor and the movement signal from the movement sensor to generate a respiration pacing signal synchronized with the respiration activity of the implanted patient. A stimulating electrode delivers the respiration pacing signal from the pacing processor to respiration neural tissue of the implanted patient to promote the breathing effort of the implanted patient.