System and method for treating obstructive sleep apnea
AssigneesThe Cleveland Clinic Foundation, XII Medical, Inc.
InventorsFrancis A. Papay, Anthony V. Caparso
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Abstract
One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for treating obstructive sleep apnea in a subject. The system can include a power source and a neuromuscular stimulator in electrical communications with the power source. The neuromuscular stimulator can include a controller and at least one electrode. The controller can be configured to receive certain power and stimulation parameters associated with a therapy signal from the power source. The at least one electrode can be configured to deliver the therapy signal to a target tissue associated with control of a posterior base of the tongue of the subject.
Claims25
A method for treating disordered breathing that occurs during sleep in a subject comprising:
- positioning a neurostimulator in a head of the subject, the neurostimulator comprising a stimulating electrode and an electromyogram (EMG) sensor, wherein the neurostimulator is positioned such that the stimulating electrode and the EMG sensor are both in electrical communication with a muscle that controls a tongue of the subject and/or both in electrical communication with a nerve that controls the muscle of the tongue;
- for a given respiratory cycle that includes an inspiration phase and an expiration phase, the expiration phase occurring subsequent to the inspiration phase and the inspiration phase following an expiration phase of a respiratory cycle preceding the given respiratory cycle:
- after the expiration phase of the respiratory cycle immediately preceding the given respiratory cycle but prior to the onset of the inspiration phase of the given respiratory cycle, sensing EMG activity of the muscle of the tongue with the implanted EMG sensor and detecting an EMG signal indicative of an upcoming onset of the inspiration phase of the given respiratory cycle;
- and
- activating the neurostimulator to provide an electrical signal to the muscle of the tongue or nerve at the onset of or during the inspiration phase of the given respiratory cycle in response to the EMG signal to decrease the subject's airway resistance and treat the disordered breathing.
A method for treating disordered breathing that occurs during sleep in a subject, the subject having a first respiratory cycle and a second respiratory cycle subsequent to the first respiratory cycle and each of the first and second respiratory cycles having an inspiration phase followed by an expiration phase, the method comprising:
- positioning a neurostimulator in a head of the subject, the neurostimulator comprising a stimulating electrode and an electromyogram (EMG) sensor, wherein the neurostimulator is positioned such that the stimulating electrode and the EMG sensor are both in electrical communication with a muscle that controls a tongue of the subject and/or both in electrical communication with a nerve that controls the muscle of the tongue;
- after the expiration phase of the first respiratory cycle but prior to the onset of the inspiration phase of the second respiratory cycle, sensing EMG activity of the muscle of the tongue with the implanted EMG sensor and detecting an EMG signal indicative of an upcoming onset of the inspiration phase of the second respiratory cycle, wherein the EMG signal comprises an increase in EMG activity compared to a baseline level of the EMG activity, the increase in EMG activity occurring prior to the onset of the inspiration phase of the second respiratory cycle;
- and
- activating the neurostimulator to provide an electrical signal to the muscle of the tongue or nerve at or just prior to the onset of the inspiration phase of the second respiratory cycle in response to the EMG signal to decrease the subject's airway resistance and treat the disordered breathing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.