Method and apparatus for creating afferents to prevent obstructive sleep apnea

• US 20020049479A1
• Filed: 09/17/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Walter C. Pitts
• Original Assignee: Walter C. Pitts
• Inventors: Pitts, Walter C.
• Application Number:
  US09/954,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049479A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs

Abstract

A method and device for creating an afferent stimulus for preventing obstructive sleep apnea are disclosed. The device includes at least one implantable electrode and a stimulator, of which at least one electrode is implanted in the genioglossus muscle of a patient having obstructive sleep apnea. The electrode is capable of conducting selected electrical stimulation generated by the stimulator, and the system is capable of delivering the selected electrical stimulation during a selected time of day. The electrical stimulation is selected to maintain sufficient muscle tone of the genioglossus muscle to prevent it from obstructing the airway during sleep, preferably at a stimulus intensity low enough to avoid awakening the patient during sleep.

Claims

1. A method for preventing obstructive sleep apnea events in a patient comprising the steps of:

providing at least one electrode capable of delivering electrical stimulation;

implanting the at least one electrode in or near the patient'"'"'s genioglossus muscle; and

stimulating the at least one electrode at a frequency and intensity, thereby maintaining muscle tone of the upper airway muscle and preventing sleep apnea events from occurring.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing an electrical pulse generator for stimulating the at least one electrode.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the electrical pulse generator is adjustable, the method further comprising the steps of adjusting the electrical pulse generator for frequency and intensity of electrical pulses.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the steps of adjusting the electrical pulse generator are performed remotely after the implanting step.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of starting the electrical pulse generator at a given time.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the given time is a first given time, the method further comprising the step of stopping the electrical pulse generator at a second given time.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step for stimulating the at least one electrode is performed for a given time period.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the given time period is while the patient is sleeping.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the stimulation is a low level stimulation.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrode is implanted near or in contact with a branch of the patient'"'"'s glossopharyngeal nerve.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of electrodes are implanted and stimulated.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrode is implanted sufficiently near the posterior one-third of the genioglossus muscle that at least some fibers of the genioglossus muscle are at least partially depolarized by the stimulation step.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the controller can be adjusted to change the frequency and intensity of electrical pulses.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the controller is a programmable controller.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a device for programming the controller from a location external from the patient.

17. The device of claim 13 comprising a plurality of electrodes.

18. The device of claim 13 further comprising a sensor for monitoring a physiological function of the patient.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of breathing sensors, muscle tone sensors, muscle contraction sensors, blood gas sensors, and blood pH sensors.

13. An apparatus for preventing obstructive sleep apnea events in a patient comprising:

at least one implantable electrode adapted for implantation in or near patient'"'"'s genioglossus muscle;

a stimulator adapted to deliver electrical stimuli to the electrode; and

a controller adapted to control the delivery of the electrical stimuli at a frequency and intensity, wherein the delivery of the electrical stimuli maintains muscle tone of the upper airway muscle to prevent sleep apnea events from occurring.