SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT SYSTEM
First Claim
1. Apparatus for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:
- an external device comprising;
a breathing sensor configured for placement outside of a body of a subject and to sense activity associated with breathing of the subject; and
a control unit, coupled to the breathing sensor, configured to generate a signal in response to the sensed activity associated with breathing; and
a sublingual implant, comprising;
a wireless receiver for receiving the signal;
two or more electrodes; and
circuitry coupled to the electrodes, the circuitry configured to drive the electrodes to apply current to a sublingual muscle site of the subject in response to the signal, in a plurality of successive periods of inspiration of the subject, even in the absence of a detection of apnea by the control unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for treating obstructive sleep apnea. The apparatus has an external device containing a breathing sensor to sense activity associated with breathing of a subject, and also containing a control unit, coupled to the breathing sensor, for generating a signal in response to anatomical activity associated with breathing. The apparatus also has a sublingual implant, containing a receiver, electrodes and circuitry, which wirelessly receives a signal from the external device and applies current to a sublingual muscle site in response to the signal, in a plurality of successive periods of inspiration, even in the absence of a detection of apnea by the external device.
80 Citations
14 Claims
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1. Apparatus for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:
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an external device comprising; a breathing sensor configured for placement outside of a body of a subject and to sense activity associated with breathing of the subject; and a control unit, coupled to the breathing sensor, configured to generate a signal in response to the sensed activity associated with breathing; and a sublingual implant, comprising; a wireless receiver for receiving the signal; two or more electrodes; and circuitry coupled to the electrodes, the circuitry configured to drive the electrodes to apply current to a sublingual muscle site of the subject in response to the signal, in a plurality of successive periods of inspiration of the subject, even in the absence of a detection of apnea by the control unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:
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identifying a subject as suffering from obstructive sleep apnea; and in response, implanting, in a sublingual muscle of the subject, a sublingual implant that is configured to; directly stimulate the muscle in a plurality of successive periods of inspiration of the subject, even in the absence of a detection of apnea; and wirelessly receive energy from an external device to power the sublingual implant. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:
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sublingually implanting a sublingual implant into a subject; and configuring an external device to; sense breathing of the subject; provide a signal to the implant to cause the implant to directly stimulate a muscle in response to the sensing of the breathing by the external device, even in the absence of a detection of apnea, during respective inspiratory phases of at least 30% of respiratory periods in a ten-minute period; and wirelessly transmit energy from the external device to the sublingual implant to power the sublingual implant.
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12. A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:
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sublingually implanting a sublingual implant into a subject; configuring the sublingual implant to provide feedback regarding breathing of the subject to an external device; and configuring the external device to provide a signal to the implant to cause the implant to stimulate a muscle in response to the feedback provided by the sublingual implant. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification