How does the minimally invasive procedure work?
Surgeons create four dime-size holes in the abdominal region, inserting tools (including a laparoscope) that allow them to visualize the diaphragm muscle and place tiny electrodes in areas near the phrenic nerves that control diaphragm contractions. A procedure called “mapping” allows doctors to find specific areas where electrodes will be most effective in stimulating the nerves. The electrodes are delivered safely to those areas through a patented laparoscopic tool and implanted in the muscle.
