Method and apparatus for assisting deglutition
First Claim
1. A method of controlling deglutition of a user without substantial aspiration comprising:
- subcutaneously positioning a first electrode array at a first location along a first nerve comprising a first fascicle controlling a first deglutition muscle and a second fascicle controlling a second deglutition muscle,wherein the electrode array comprises at least one electrode, and further wherein the first nerve is associated with the first deglutition muscle and the second deglutition muscle such that stimulation of the first nerve causes movement of at least one of the first deglutition muscle and the second deglutition muscle; and
selectively stimulating the first fascicle with the first electrode array to artificially activate the first deglutition muscle independent of activation of the second deglutition muscle;
wherein the first deglutition muscle is selected from the group consisting of tongue, hyoglossus, genioglossus, constrictor pharyngis, cricopharyngeous, digastricus, cricoarytenoid laterlis, geniohyoid, levator veli palatini, mylohyoid, omohyoid, palatoglossus, palatopharyngeus, sternohyoid, sternothyroid, styoglossus, stylohoid, stylopharyngeus, and tensor veli palatine muscles;
selectively stimulating the second fascicle with the first electrode array to artificially activate the second deglutition muscle independent of activation of the first deglutition muscle; and
wherein only fascicles of the first nerve are artificially stimulated throughout user deglutition.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Artificially stimulated deglutition methods and systems including providing a portable system born by a user for controlling a component of a complete swallowing act without substantial aspiration. The system includes a controller, a signal generator, and a subcutaneously positioned electrode array with at least one electrode. The electrode array is subcutaneously positioned and is operated to stimulate a single deglutition muscle where the single deglutition muscle is the only deglutition muscle directly artificially stimulated via the electrode array during the complete swallowing act. Systems and methods of nerve stimulation and selective nerve stimulation are also provided to artificially stimulate deglutition.
52 Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling deglutition of a user without substantial aspiration comprising:
-
subcutaneously positioning a first electrode array at a first location along a first nerve comprising a first fascicle controlling a first deglutition muscle and a second fascicle controlling a second deglutition muscle, wherein the electrode array comprises at least one electrode, and further wherein the first nerve is associated with the first deglutition muscle and the second deglutition muscle such that stimulation of the first nerve causes movement of at least one of the first deglutition muscle and the second deglutition muscle; and selectively stimulating the first fascicle with the first electrode array to artificially activate the first deglutition muscle independent of activation of the second deglutition muscle; wherein the first deglutition muscle is selected from the group consisting of tongue, hyoglossus, genioglossus, constrictor pharyngis, cricopharyngeous, digastricus, cricoarytenoid laterlis, geniohyoid, levator veli palatini, mylohyoid, omohyoid, palatoglossus, palatopharyngeus, sternohyoid, sternothyroid, styoglossus, stylohoid, stylopharyngeus, and tensor veli palatine muscles; selectively stimulating the second fascicle with the first electrode array to artificially activate the second deglutition muscle independent of activation of the first deglutition muscle; and wherein only fascicles of the first nerve are artificially stimulated throughout user deglutition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A system for assisting user deglutition comprising:
-
an electrode array adapted to be subcutaneously implanted to stimulate a first nerve comprising a first fascicle and a second fascicle, the first fascicle causing activation of a first deglutition muscle and the second fascicle causing activation of a second deglutition muscle, the electrode array including a plurality of electrode contacts; a signal generator adapted to communicate with the electrode array to stimulate the first nerve; and a controller for operating the signal generator, wherein the controller is programmed to operate the signal generator to selectively stimulate the first fascicle with the electrode array to cause activation of the first deglutition muscle independent of activation of the second deglutition muscle and selectively stimulate the second fascicle with the electrode array to cause activation of the second deglutition muscle independent of activation of the first deglutition muscle, including the controller programmed to simultaneously deliver varying amounts of energy to each of the plurality of electrode contacts as subthreshold steering currents configured to direct an additional stimulating current pulse to a selected region of the first nerve. - View Dependent Claims (10)
-
Specification