System and method for ensuring airway patency when asleep
AssigneeCase Western Reserve University
InventorKingman P. Strohl
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Abstract
One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system that provides an alternative to traditional treatments for sleep apnea. The system allows to apply an electrical stimulus through an electrode to stimulate an afferent nerve fiber while a patient is sleeping. The system also includes activating an endogenous central nervous system (CNS)-regulated reflex response to coordinate upper airway muscles based on the stimulation of the afferent nerve fiber. Based on the endogenous CNS-regulated reflex response, an airway patency in the sleeping patient can be regulated.
Claims16
A method comprising:
- applying an electrical stimulus through an electrode to stimulate an afferent nerve fiber within a sciatic nerve or a vagus nerve while a patient is sleeping;
- activating an endogenous central nervous system (CNS)-regulated reflex response that modulates respiratory bursting in the sleeping patient based on the stimulation of the afferent nerve fiber;
- and
- regulating airway patency in the sleeping patient based on an endogenous CNS-regulated reflex response.
A system comprising:
- a signal generator programmed to generate an electrical therapy signal comprising a strength parameter, a frequency parameter, and a duration parameter sufficient to activate an endogenous CNS-regulated reflex response;
- and
- an electrode, coupled to the signal generator, to apply the electrical therapy signal to an afferent nerve fiber of a peripheral nerve of a sleeping patient to activate the endogenous CNS-regulated reflex response to regulate airway patency in the sleeping patient, wherein the peripheral nerve is a sciatic nerve or a vagus nerve, and wherein a response to the endogenous CNS-regulated reflex modulates respiratory bursting in the sleeping patient.
A method comprising:
- applying a temporary electrode configuration to a patient before sleep, wherein the temporary electrode configuration is coupled to a stimulator;
- during sleep, delivering an electrical stimulus through the temporary electrode configuration to stimulate an afferent nerve fiber of a sciatic nerve or a vagus nerve;
- and
- based on the electrical stimulus, activating an endogenous brainstem-regulated reflex to ensure that the patient's airway remains open during sleep;
- wherein a response to the endogenous CNS-regulated reflex modulates respiratory bursting in the sleeping patient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.