Correlating a condition of a subject with a degree of sleep apnea being experienced by the subject

A system, comprising:

• a first sensor configured to sense a degree to which an airway of a subject is open;
• a second sensor configured to sense a condition that is related to the degree to which the airway is open;
• and
• a processor coupled to the first and second sensors and configured to monitor the degree to which the airway is open,
• to monitor the condition,
• to correlate the condition to the degree to which the airway is open, and
• to generate a data structure that represents the correlation between the condition and the degree to which the airway is open.

A system for treating sleep apnea, the system comprising:

• a collar having a vacuum surface and having a sealing surface that is configured to form a seal with a region of a neck of a subject having an airway and a throat;
• a sensor configured to monitor a quantity that is related the airway and to generate, in response to the quantity, a feedback signal that indicates a degree to which the airway is open;
• and
• a pump configured to maintain the airway open by drawing a vacuum between the vacuum surface and a region of the throat, and configured to adjust a level of the vacuum in response to the feedback signal.

A method for treating sleep apnea, the method comprising:

• opening a subject's airway by generating a negative pressure between a vacuum surface of a collar and the subject's throat;
• monitoring the subject's airway or a condition related to the subject's airway;
• and
• adjusting the negative pressure in response to the monitoring to maintain a level of opening of the subject's airway within a predetermined range.

A method for treating sleep apnea, the method comprising:

• opening a subject's airway by pulling a vacuum between a vacuum surface of a collar and the subject's throat;
• monitoring a level of the vacuum;
• and
• adjusting the vacuum in response to the monitoring to maintain a level of opening of the subject's airway within a predetermined range.

A system for treating sleep apnea, comprising:

• means for opening a subject's airway by generating a negative pressure between a vacuum surface of a collar and the subject's throat;
• means for monitoring the subject's airway;
• and
• means for adjusting the negative pressure in response to the monitoring to maintain a level of opening of the subject's airway within a predetermined range.

A collar, comprising:

• a vacuum surface that is locatable over a region of a throat of a subject;
• a sealing surface disposed around the vacuum surface;
• and
• an apparatus configured to form a seal between the sealing surface and a region of a neck of the subject by providing a sealing material.