Method and apparatus for hypoglossal nerve stimulation
First Claim
1. A method of treating sleep disordered breathing in a patient, comprising:
- monitoring the patient for a pre-inspiratory drive signal indicative of the breathing cycle by sensing electroneurogram activity of a hypoglossal nerve of the patient; and
electrically stimulating the hypoglossal nerve of the patient following each detection of the pre-inspiratory drive signal.
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Abstract
A method of treating sleep disordered breathing in a patient includes the steps of monitoring the patient for a pre-inspiratory drive signal indicative of the breathing cycle by sensing electroneurogram activity of a hypoglossal nerve of the patient; and electrically stimulating the hypoglossal nerve of the patient following each detection of the pre-inspiratory drive signal. An implantable apparatus for stimulating a hypoglossal nerve of a patient for the treatment of sleep disordered breathing includes an electrode positioned at least partially around the hypoglossal nerve with a monitoring contact and a stimulation contact and a controller operatively coupled to the monitoring contact and the stimulation contact. The monitoring contact monitors the electroneurogram activity of the hypoglossal nerve for a pre-inspiratory drive signal indicative of the onset of inspiration and sends a signal to the controller which in turn causes the stimulating electrode to electrically stimulate the hypoglossal nerve.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of treating sleep disordered breathing in a patient, comprising:
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monitoring the patient for a pre-inspiratory drive signal indicative of the breathing cycle by sensing electroneurogram activity of a hypoglossal nerve of the patient; and electrically stimulating the hypoglossal nerve of the patient following each detection of the pre-inspiratory drive signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20)
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10. A method of stimulating a hypoglossal nerve of a patient for the treatment of sleep disordered breathing, comprising:
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continuously monitoring the hypoglossal nerve of the patient; detecting a pre-inspiratory drive signal from the hypoglossal nerve indicative of the breathing cycle, the pre-inspiratory drive signal being generated by the central nervous system and propagated to the hypoglossal nerve prior to the onset of inspiration; and electrically stimulating the hypoglossal nerve in response to the detected pre-inspiratory drive signal to prevent occlusion of the patient'"'"'s upper airway. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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21. A method of treating sleep disordered breathing in a patient, comprising:
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detecting a pre-inspiratory drive signal by sensing electroneurogram activity of a hypoglossal nerve of the patient, the pre-inspiratory drive signal comprising a signal generated by the central nervous system and propagated to the hypoglossal nerve prior to the onset of inspiration; and electrically stimulating the hypoglossal nerve of the patient in response to the detection of the pre-inspiratory drive signal.
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Specification