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US 7,734,351 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for assisting deglutition
AssigneeMedtronic Xomed, Inc.
InventorsRoy L. Testerman, Jon P. Davis, Nathan Andrew Torgerson, Robyn Lee Jagler, James Britton Hissong, Christy Ludlow, Pamela Reed Kearney
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems for artificially stimulating user deglutition without substantial aspiration are provided. Methods and systems include artificially stimulating user deglutition according to various specialized programs, including passive user secretion maintenance programs, active feeding programs, proprioceptive feedback programs, and others.
Claims8
A system for assisting user deglutition without substantial aspiration, the system comprising:
- an electrode array adapted to be subcutaneously positioned in stimulating communication with deglutition musculature;
- a sensor array adapted to be subcutaneously positioned for providing deglutition information;
- a signal generator electronically connected to the electrode array for providing a stimulating signal to the electrode array;
- and
- a controller electronically connected to the sensor array for receiving the deglutition information and electronically connected to the signal generator to prompt operation of the signal generator in delivering the stimulating signal to cause a component of deglutition to occur, wherein the controller is programmed to store a plurality of specialized deglutition programs, each specialized deglutition program including at least one deglutition muscle stimulation pattern, receive an indication of a characteristic of a bolus to be consumed by a user and select a desired deglutition program from the plurality of specialized deglutition programs based upon the characteristic, wherein the controller is further adapted to actively modify the stimulating signal delivered by the signal generator based upon the desired deglutition program.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.