A diaphragm pacemaker supports breathing by sending electrical impulses directly to the diaphragm and thus triggering its contraction. This medical device is particularly helpful for patients with a severe spinal cord injury, where the respiratory center of the brain no longer transmits signals to the respiratory muscles.

Instead, the diaphragm pacemaker takes over this function and controls breathing using targeted electrical impulses. This creates a breath that is very similar to natural breathing.

Patients with other severe breathing disorders also benefit from a diaphragmatic pacemaker. These includes people with a damaged diaphragmatic nerve (phrenic nerve), for example after major surgery or as side-effect of certain neurological diseases that severely impair or prevent independent breathing.