Method and apparatus for treating oropharyngeal respiratory and oral motor neuromuscular disorders with electrical stimulation

A device for treating respiratory disorders using electrical stimulation, comprising:

• a power source;
• a signal generator for providing an output signal, said output signal having an intensity, a frequency, and a pulse duration;
• an output protector circuit for limiting said intensity of said output signal;
• a treatment duration circuit for controlling the duration of operation of said signal generator;
• a ramp control circuit for controlling said intensity of said output signal;
• a monitor for displaying operating parameters of said device;
• and
• at least one electrode for providing said output signal to an intercostal region of a patient;
• wherein said signal generator regulates said intensity, said frequency, and said pulse duration of said output signal in accordance with a procedure for treating respiratory disorders by applying said output signal to the intercostal region of the patient;
• wherein said treatment duration circuit and said ramp control circuit regulate said output signal in accordance with a procedure for treating respiratory disorders by applying said output signal to the intercostal region of the patient;
• and
• wherein said output protector circuit is programmed to limit said intensity of said output signal in accordance with a treatment tolerance level of the patient.

An electrical neuromuscular stimulator for treating respiratory disorders comprising:

• at least one pulse generator for generating a series of electrical pulses;
• a processor coupled to said at least one pulse generator for outputting operation control signals to said at least one pulse generator;
• a switching network coupled to said at least one pulse generator and said processor, said switching network receiving the series of electrical pulses from said at least one pulse generator and outputting, responsive to switching control signals from said processor, the series of electrical pulses;
• and
• an electrode array coupled to said switching network for applying the series of electrical pulses to tissue of an intercostal region of a patient to achieve neuromuscular stimulation of the patient, and for generating electrical feedback signals in response to the neuromuscular stimulation of the patient,
• wherein the electrical feedback signals are provided to said processor via said switching network, and
• wherein, in response to the electrical feedback signals, said processor generates and stores test data and modifies the operation control signals and switching control signals.

A device for treating oral motor neuromuscular disorders using electrical stimulation, comprising:

• a power source;
• a signal generator for providing an output signal, said output signal having an intensity, a frequency, and a pulse duration;
• an output protector circuit for limiting said intensity of said output signal;
• a treatment duration circuit for controlling the duration of operation of said signal generator;
• a ramp control circuit for controlling said intensity of said output signal;
• and
• a monitor for displaying operating parameters of said device;
• wherein said signal generator regulates said intensity, said frequency, and said pulse duration of said output signal in accordance with a procedure for treating oral motor neuromuscular disorders by applying said output signal to an oral motor region of a patient;
• wherein said treatment duration circuit and said ramp control circuit regulate said output signal in accordance with a procedure for treating oral motor neuromuscular disorders by applying said output signal to the oral motor region of the patient;
• and
• wherein said output protector circuit is programmed to limit said intensity of said output signal in accordance with a treatment tolerance level of the patient.

A method of electrical neuromuscular stimulation for treating respiratory disorders, comprising the steps of:

• generating a series of electrical pulses using a pulse generator comprising:
• a frequency controller for modulating an electrical signal generated by the pulse generator at a predetermined frequency to produce the series of electrical pulses output by said pulse generator,
• a duration control circuit for controlling the duration of time for which said pulse generator outputs the series of electrical pulses, and
• an intensity control circuit for regulating the series electrical pulses such that the electrical current does not exceed a predetermined current or voltage value;
• and
• applying the series of electrical pulses to tissue of at least one intercostal region of a patient using an electrode array.

A method of electrical neuromuscular stimulation for treating respiratory disorders, comprising the steps of:

• generating a series of electrical pulses using at least one pulse generator;
• generating operation control signals to control operation of said at least one pulse generator;
• receiving the series of electrical pulses from said at least one pulse generator at a switching network;
• generating switching control signals to control operation of said switching network;
• outputting the series of electrical pulses from said switching network in accordance with said switching control signals;
• applying the series of electrical pulses to tissue of a least one intercostal region of a patient using an electrode array;
• generating electrical feedback signals in response to the application of the series of electrical pulses;
• generating test data in response to the electrical feedback signals;
• and
• modifying the operation control signals and switching control signals in response to the electrical feedback signals.

A method of electrical neuromuscular stimulation for treating oral motor neuromuscular disorders, comprising the steps of:

• generating a series of electrical pulses using a pulse generator comprising:
• a frequency controller for modulating an electrical signal generated by the pulse generator at a predetermined frequency to produce the series of electrical pulses output by said pulse generator,
• a duration control circuit for controlling the duration of time for which said pulse generator outputs the series of electrical pulses, and
• an intensity control circuit for regulating the series electrical pulses such that the electrical current does not exceed a predetermined current or voltage value;
• and
• applying the series of electrical pulses to tissue of an oral motor region of a patient using an electrode array.

A method of electrical neuromuscular stimulation for treating oral motor neuromuscular disorders, comprising the steps of:

• generating a series of electrical pulses using at least one pulse generator;
• generating operation control signals to control operation of said at least one pulse generator;
• receiving the series of electrical pulses from said at least one pulse generator at a switching network;
• generating switching control signals to control operation of said switching network;
• outputting the series of electrical pulses from said switching network in accordance with said switching control signals;
• applying the series of electrical pulses to tissue of an oral motor region of a patient using an electrode array;
• generating electrical feedback signals in response to the application of the series of electrical pulses;
• generating test data in response to the electrical feedback signals;
• and
• modifying the operation control signals and switching control signals in response to the electrical feedback signals.

An electrical neuromuscular stimulator for treating oral motor neuromuscular disorders comprising:

• at least one pulse generator for generating a series of electrical pulses;
• a processor coupled to said at least one pulse generator for outputting operation control signals to said at least one pulse generator;
• a switching network coupled to said at least one pulse generator and said processor, said switching network receiving the series of electrical pulses from said at least one pulse generator and outputting, responsive to switching control signals from said processor, the series of electrical pulses;
• and
• an electrode array coupled to said switching network for applying the series of electrical pulses to tissue of an oral motor region of a patient to achieve neuromuscular stimulation of the patient, and for generating electrical feedback signals in response to the neuromuscular stimulation of the patient,
• wherein the electrical feedback signals are provided to said processor via said switching network, and
• wherein, in response to the electrical feedback signals, said processor generates and stores test data and modifies the operation control signals and switching control signals.

A device for treating oral motor neuromuscular disorders using electrical stimulation, comprising:

• a power source;
• a signal generator for providing an output signal, said output signal having an intensity, a frequency, and a pulse duration;
• an output protector circuit for limiting said intensity of said output signal;
• a treatment duration circuit for controlling the duration of operation of said signal generator;
• a ramp control circuit for controlling said intensity of said output signal;
• a monitor for displaying operating parameters of said device;
• and
• at least one electrode for providing said output signal to an oral motor region of a patient;
• wherein said signal generator regulates said intensity, said frequency, and said pulse duration of said output signal in accordance with a procedure for treating oral motor neuromuscular disorders by applying said output signal to the oral motor region of the patient;
• wherein said treatment duration circuit and said ramp control circuit regulate said output signal in accordance with a procedure for treating oral motor neuromuscular disorders by applying said output signal to the oral motor region of the patient;
• and
• wherein said output protector circuit is programmed to limit said intensity of said output signal in accordance with a treatment tolerance level of the patient.