Method and apparatus for detecting and treating obstructive sleep apnea

A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea in a patient by electrical stimulation of muscles of the upper airway by the steps of:

• (a) detecting an apnea by the steps of:
• (1) monitoring a respiratory effort waveform for a parameter characteristic of the patient's level of respiratory effort;
• (2) averaging a plurality of values of the parameter taken from successive respiratory cycles, said average providing a baseline average for the parameter;
• (3) generating a limit value from the baseline average;
• (4) comparing a value of the parameter with the limit value;
• and
• (b) applying electrical stimulation to the muscles of the upper airway upon detection of the apnea at a level which restores patency in the airway
• wherein the baseline average value is generated as an exponential moving average value.

A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea in a patient by electrical stimulation of muscles of the upper airway by the steps of:

• (a) detecting an apnea by the steps of:
• (1) monitoring a respiratory effort waveform for a parameter characteristic of the patient's level of respiratory effort;
• (2) averaging a plurality of values of the parameter taken from successive respiratory cycles, said average providing a baseline average for the parameter;
• (3) generating a limit value from the baseline average;
• (4) comparing a value of the parameter with the limit value;
• and
• (b) applying electrical stimulation to the muscles of the upper airway upon detection of the apnea at a level which restores patency in the airway
• wherein the limit value is in the range of about 115% to 150% of the baseline average.

A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea in a patient by electrical stimulation of muscles of the upper airway by the steps of:

• (a) detecting an apnea by the steps of:
• (1) monitoring a respiratory effort waveform for a parameter characteristic of the patient's level of respiratory effort;
• (2) averaging a plurality of values of the parameter taken from successive respiratory cycles, said average providing a baseline average for the parameter;
• (3) generating a limit value from the baseline average;
• (4) comparing a value of the parameter with the limit value;
• and
• (b) applying electrical stimulation to the muscles of the upper airway upon detection of the apnea at a level which restores patency in the airway
• wherein detection of apnea requires an increase in the value of the parameter for each of two to five successive respiratory cycles.

A medical device for treating obstructive sleep apnea in a patient by electrical stimulation of muscles of the upper airway comprising:

• (a) apnea detection means for detecting an apnea, said means comprising:
• (1) monitoring means for monitoring a respiratory effort waveform for a parameter characteristic of the patient's level of respiratory effort;
• (2) averaging means associated with said monitoring means for averaging a plurality of values of the parameter taken from successive respiratory cycles, said average providing a baseline average for the parameter;
• (3) limit generating means associated with said averaging means for generating a limit value from the baseline average;
• (4) comparison means associated with said monitoring means and said limit generating means for comparing a value of the parameter with the limit value;
• and
• (b) applying electrical stimulation to the muscles of the upper airway upon detection of the apnea at a level which restores patency in the airway
• wherein the parameter is a peak amplitude of the waveform.

A medical device for treating obstructive sleep apnea in a patient by electrical stimulation of muscles of the upper airway comprising:

• (a) apnea detection means for detecting an apnea, said means comprising:
• (1) monitoring means for monitoring a respiratory effort waveform for a parameter characteristic of the patient's level of respiratory effort;
• (2) averaging means associated with said monitoring means for averaging a plurality of values of the parameter taken from successive respiratory cycles, said average providing a baseline average for the parameter;
• (3) limit generating means associated with said averaging means for generating a limit value from the baseline average;
• (4) comparison means associated with said monitoring means and said limit generating means for comparing a value of the parameter with the limit value;
• and
• (b) stimulation means associated with said apnea detection means for applying electrical stimulation to the muscles of the upper airway upon detection of the apnea at a level which restores patency in the airway
• wherein the average value is generated as an exponential moving average value.

A medical device for treating obstructive sleep apnea in a patient by electrical stimulation of muscles of the upper airway comprising:

• (a) apnea detection means for detecting an apnea, said means comprising:
• (1) monitoring means for monitoring a respiratory effort waveform for a parameter characteristic of the patient's level of respiratory effort;
• (2) averaging means associated with said monitoring means for averaging a plurality of values of the parameter taken from successive respiratory cycles, said average providing a baseline average for the parameter;
• (3) limit generating means associated with said averaging means for generating a limit value from the baseline average;
• (4) comparison means associated with said monitoring means and said limit generating means for comparing a value of the parameter with the limit value;
• and
• (b) stimulation means associated with said apnea detection means for applying electrical stimulation to the muscles of the upper airway upon detection of the apnea at a level which restores patency in the airway
• wherein the limit value is in the range of about 115% to 150% of the baseline average.

A medical device for treating obstructive sleep apnea in a patient by electrical stimulation of muscles of the upper airway comprising:

• (a) apnea detection means for detecting an apnea, said means comprising:
• (1) monitoring means for monitoring a respiratory effort waveform for a parameter characteristic of the patient's level of respiratory effort;
• (2) averaging means associated with said monitoring means for averaging a plurality of values of the parameter taken from successive respiratory cycles, said average providing a baseline average for the parameter;
• (3) limit generating means associated with said averaging means for generating a limit value from the baseline average;
• (4) comparison means associated with said monitoring means and said limit generating means for comparing a value of the parameter with the limit value;
• and
• (b) stimulation means associated with said apnea detection means for applying electrical stimulation to the muscles of the upper airway upon detection of the apnea at a level which restores patency in the airway
• wherein the means for detecting apnea also comprises means associated with said monitoring means and said averaging means for detecting an increase in values of the parameter for each of two to five successive respiratory cycles.