# US 10,765,862 B2 · Systems and methods for treating sleep disordered breathing

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- Number: US 10,765,862 B2
- Document ID: US10765862B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/137,865
- Filed: 2018-09-21
- Published: 2019-04-25
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-10-24
- Assignees: Vanderbilt University
- Applicants: Vanderbilt University
- Inventors: David T. Kent
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765862B2

## CPC

- A61N 1/3601: {of respiratory organs}
- A61B 5/0826: {Detecting or evaluating apnoea events (sleep apnoea A61B5/4818)}
- A61B 5/4818: {Sleep apnoea}
- A61N 1/36003: {of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance}
- A61N 1/3611: {Respiration control (stimulating respiratory organs A61N1/3601)}
- A61N 1/36139: {with automatic adjustment}
- A61B 5/0816: {Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency (measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00)}
- A61B 5/113: occurring during breathing
- A61B 5/4815: {Sleep quality}
- A61B 5/4836: {Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods (A61B5/0036 takes precedence)}
- A61F 5/56: Devices for preventing snoring
- A61N 1/0548: {Oral electrodes}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

Methods and systems for treating sleep disordered breathing by stimulating nerves that innervate the palatoglossus and/or the palatopharyngeus muscle are provided. Such therapy can be used in conjunction with hypoglossal nerve stimulation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for improving obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a patient suffering therefrom comprising:
placing an electrode into electrical communication with a target site of a nerve that is a branch of a pharyngeal nerve plexus that innervates a palatoglossus muscle, a palatopharyngeus muscle, or both of the patient, the target site of the nerve not being a cranial root of an accessory nerve of the patient; and
activating the electrode to deliver an electrical signal to the target site of the nerve to improve the patient's OSA.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein placing an electrode comprises placing an electrode into electrical communication with the target site of the nerve that innervates the palatoglossus muscle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein placing an electrode comprises placing an electrode into electrical communication with the target site of the nerve that innervates the palatopharyngeus muscle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein placing an electrode comprises placing an electrode into electrical communication with the target site of the nerve that innervates the palatoglossus muscle and the target site of the nerve that innervates the palatopharyngeus muscle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising delivering an electrical signal to a target site of a hypoglossal nerve of the patient.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering an electrical signal to a target site of a hypoglossal nerve of the patient.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein activating the electrode to deliver an electrical signal to the target site of the nerve that is a branch of the pharyngeal nerve plexus that innervates the palatoglossus muscle and/or palatopharyngeus muscle comprises stimulating motor fibers of the pharyngeal nerve plexus that innervate the patient's soft palate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
sensing a physiological parameter associated with the sleep disordered breathing;
generating a sensor signal based on the physiological parameter; and
activating the electrode to adjust application of the electrical signal to the target site in response to the sensor signal to improve the patient's sleep OSA.