Method and system for treatment of sleep apnea
First Claim
1. A method for treatment of sleep-apnea syndrome in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
- monitoring inspiratory effort;
generating electrical signals in response to the step of monitoring; and
applying said electrical signals to those nerves which activate the patient'"'"'s upper airway muscles to contract in order to maintain upper airway patency.
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Abstract
A method for treatment of sleep-apnea syndrome in a patient is disclosed as including mointoring inspiratory effort and generating electrical signals in response to the step of monitoring in order to stimulate those nerves which activate the patient'"'"'s upper airway muscles to contract in order to maintain upper airway patency. A system (10) for such treatment is disclosed as including a monitor (14) capable of monitoring inspiratory effort, and an elecrtrical signal generating mechanism (16) coupled to the monitor (14) for generating electrical signals, to affect the patient'"'"'s upper airway muscles in order to thereby maintain upper airway patency.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for treatment of sleep-apnea syndrome in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring inspiratory effort; generating electrical signals in response to the step of monitoring; and applying said electrical signals to those nerves which activate the patient'"'"'s upper airway muscles to contract in order to maintain upper airway patency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system (10) for treatment of sleep-apnea syndrome in a patient comprising:
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monitoring means (14) capable of monitoring inspiratory effort; and electrical signal generating means (16) coupled to said monitor (14) for generating electrical signals to effect those nerves which activate the patient'"'"'s upper airway muscles to contract as necessary to thereby maintain upper airway patency. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of the type used to treat sleep-apnea syndrome including monitoring inspiratory effort characterized by generating electrical signals in response to the monitoring to stimulate those nerves which activate the patient'"'"'s upper airway muscles to contract thereby to maintain upper airway patency and sensing upper airway muscle activity and inhibiting the release of electrical signals if normal upper airway activity is detected.
Specification