Donna,



Well, the way I understand it. With people who have spinal cord injuries,
their muscles work fine, their muscles aren't receiving proper signals
from the brain. Now, for us, its our muscles that don't work. So, a
diaphragm pacemaker wouldn't work.



Ok, found it.

Click here

http://www.averylabs.com/bp/indications.html





Excerpt here..

A breathing pacemaker can provide ventilatory support for patients with
chronic respiratory insufficiency whose diaphragm, lungs, and phrenic nerves
have residual function. Typically, these patients have high spinal cord
injuries, central sleep apnea or other central neurological disorders, or a
paralyzed diaphragm.

Breathing pacemakers are not indicated for patients:

. whose phrenic nerves have degenerated, or been demyelinated by a
progressive disease,
. whose diaphragms will not respond to any electrical stimulation, such as
those with muscular dystrophy or eventrated diaphragm(s), or
. whose primary diagnosis involves compromised lung function, such as COPD.





Take care,

Cody Namesnik

_____

From: dmdpioneers@yahoogroups.com [mailto:dmdpioneers@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Donna
Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 3:39 PM
To: dmdpioneers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [DMD Pioneers] diaphram pacemaker



I have read many articles on diaphram pacemakers. It seems like it is
mostly for spinal cord injuries although recently I have read some ALS
patients and trying it. I have been told in the past that it won't work
for Muscular dystrophy but that was a few years ago. Does anyone know
if it will be a possibility now or in the future for us with MD to use
this device? I would sure go for it if its possible. Would anyone else
here try it? Donna



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