Apparatus and method for mitigating sleep and other disorders through electromuscular stimulation
First Claim
1. An electromuscular stimulator for providing electrical stimulation to tissues within the mouth of a user, comprising:
- a first electrode for making electrical contact with a first intraoral anatomical structure selected from the group consisting of a hard palate, a soft palate and a pharynx;
a second electrode for making electrical contact with a second intraoral anatomical structure;
a control unit operably connected to the first and second electrodes, the control unit comprising an electrical signal generator and further comprising a sensor for detecting the presence of a physiological condition; and
an intraoral member for positioning the first and second electrodes intraorally relative to the first and second anatomical structures, respectively.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electromuscular stimulator that effects a beneficial medical purpose selected from the group consisting of mitigating snoring, mitigating obstructive sleep apnea, mitigating hypertension, dental analgesia, general analgesia, monitoring physiological conditions and facilitating the intraoral delivery of medication is disclosed. The electromuscular stimulator includes a first electrode for making electrical contact with a first anatomical structure selected from the group consisting of a hard palate, a soft palate and a pharynx; a second electrode for making electrical contact with a second anatomical structure; a control unit operably connected to the first and second electrodes; and a means for positioning the first and second electrodes relative to the first and second anatomical structures, respectively.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. An electromuscular stimulator for providing electrical stimulation to tissues within the mouth of a user, comprising:
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a first electrode for making electrical contact with a first intraoral anatomical structure selected from the group consisting of a hard palate, a soft palate and a pharynx; a second electrode for making electrical contact with a second intraoral anatomical structure; a control unit operably connected to the first and second electrodes, the control unit comprising an electrical signal generator and further comprising a sensor for detecting the presence of a physiological condition; and an intraoral member for positioning the first and second electrodes intraorally relative to the first and second anatomical structures, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. An electromuscular stimulator for providing electrical stimulation to tissues within the mouth of a user, comprising:
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a first electrode for making electrical contact with a first intraoral anatomical structure selected from the group consisting of a hard palate, a soft palate and a pharynx; a second electrode for making electrical contact with a second intraoral anatomical structure; a control unit operably connected to the first and second electrodes; an intraoral member adapted to position the first and second electrodes intraorally relative to the first and second anatomical structures, respectively; and an air channel operably connected to said intraoral member and having an intraoral end and an extraoral end, said extraoral end comprising a tube adapted for location outside the user'"'"'s mouth when in use to provide a free flow of air between the user and ambient atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (52)
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53. An electromuscular stimulator for providing electrical stimulation to tissues within the mouth of a user, comprising:
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a first electrode for making electrical contact with a first intraoral anatomical structure selected from the group consisting of a hard palate, a soft palate and a pharynx; a second electrode for making electrical contact with a second intraoral anatomical structure; an intraoral member adapted to position the first and second electrodes intraorally relative to the first and second anatomical structures, respectively; an intraoral control unit operably connected to the first and second electrodes; and an extraoral control unit in operable communication with the intraoral control unit through an electromagnetic signal; wherein each of the intraoral control unit and the extraoral control unit further comprises an electromagnetic signal communication device selected from the group consisting of a transmitter, a receiver and a transceiver for communicating the electromagnetic signal between the intraoral control unit and the extraoral control unit. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55)
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56. An electromuscular stimulator for providing electrical stimulation to tissues within the mouth of a user, comprising:
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a first electrode for making electrical contact with a first intraoral anatomical structure selected from the group consisting of a hard palate, a soft palate and a pharynx; a second electrode for making electrical contact with a second intraoral anatomical structure; a control unit operably connected to the first and second electrodes, the control unit comprising an electrical signal generator and further comprising a controller operatively connected to the electrical signal generator for activating the electrical signal generator; and an intraoral member for positioning the first and second electrodes intraorally relative to the first and second anatomical structures, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (57)
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Specification