Obstructive sleep apnea treatment devices, systems and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of treating obstructive sleep apnea in a patient, the method comprising:
- pre-operatively protruding a tongue of the patient while sensing a response of the upper airway, wherein the tongue is protruded without electrical stimulation; and
treating an upper airway of the patient based on the sensed response, wherein treating the upper airway includes positioning an electrode adjacent a nerve innervating an upper airway muscle and delivering an electrical stimulation to the nerve to activate the upper airway muscle, wherein the electrode is connected to an implantable pulse generator via a lead.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of treating an upper airway of a patient. The method may include displacing a tongue of the patient while observing a response of the upper airway. The method may further include treating the upper airway based on the observed response, wherein treating the upper airway includes positioning an electrode adjacent a nerve innervating an upper airway muscle and delivering an electrical stimulation to the nerve to activate the upper airway muscle.
411 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method of treating obstructive sleep apnea in a patient, the method comprising:
-
pre-operatively protruding a tongue of the patient while sensing a response of the upper airway, wherein the tongue is protruded without electrical stimulation; and treating an upper airway of the patient based on the sensed response, wherein treating the upper airway includes positioning an electrode adjacent a nerve innervating an upper airway muscle and delivering an electrical stimulation to the nerve to activate the upper airway muscle, wherein the electrode is connected to an implantable pulse generator via a lead. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of treating obstructive sleep apnea, the method comprising:
-
pre-operatively protruding a tongue of a patient, wherein the tongue is protruded without electrical stimulation; sensing an upper airway of the patient for a response; and evaluating the patient for treatment based on the sensed response, the treatment including; positioning an electrode adjacent a nerve innervating an upper airway muscle; sensing respiration of the patient; and delivering an electrical stimulation to the nerve to activate the upper airway muscle, wherein the electrical stimulation is delivered as a function of the sensed respiration, wherein the electrical stimulation is delivered prior to the patient experiencing an apnea event; and administering the treatment. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of assessing and treating obstructive sleep apnea in a patient, the method comprising:
-
pre-operatively protruding a tongue of the patient while sensing a response in an upper airway of the patient, wherein the tongue is protruded without electrical stimulation, and wherein the response includes at least one of a change in a dimension of the upper airway, a displacement of the tongue, and a displacement force of the tongue; and evaluating the response to determine if the patient will respond to a treatment of the upper airway, wherein evaluating the response includes determining if the response meets a minimum threshold for the treatment, and, if the response meets the minimum threshold, implanting an electrode on a nerve innervating an upper airway muscle, wherein the electrode is coupled to an electrical source via a lead. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
Specification