Apparatus and method for detecting a sleep disordered breathing precursor

• US 8,574,164 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nyxoah SA
• Original Assignee: Nyxoah SA
• Inventors: Mashiach, Adi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mallari, Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wang, Yunqing
• Application Number:
  US13/629,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20130072747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 600/534, 600/595
• US Class Current: 600/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0504 Subcutaneous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0514 Electrodes for the urinary tract
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0526 Head electrodes A61N1/0551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0548 Oral electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 : of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 : Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36057 : adapted for stimulating afferent nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3606 : adapted for a particular treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36075 : Headache or migraine
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3611 : Respiration control stimulating respiratory organs A61N1/3601
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 : for treating hypertension
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 : Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 : using physiological parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 : with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 : specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 : Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 : Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 : Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 : Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 : Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3727 : characterised by the modulation technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 : Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 : from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 : for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 : using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/0421 : Controlled or regulated

Abstract

A device according to some embodiments may include a primary antenna configured to be located external to a subject. The device may also include at least one processor in electrical communication with the primary antenna and configured to receive a condition signal from an implantable device, the condition signal indicative of a precursor to sleep disordered breathing, and cause transmission of a primary signal from the primary antenna to the implantable device, in response to the condition signal, to stimulate at least one nerve in response to the precursor to sleep disordered breathing.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a primary antenna configured to be located external to a subject; and

at least one processor in electrical communication with the primary antenna, the at least one processor configured to;

receive a condition signal from an implantable device;

determine whether the condition signal is indicative of a precursor to sleep disordered breathing; and

cause transmission of a primary signal from the primary antenna to the implantable device, to stimulate at least one nerve, in response to a determination that the condition signal is indicative of a precursor to sleep disordered breathing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the condition signal is indicative of movement of a tongue of a subject.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the condition signal is received from the implantable device, which is configured to be implanted proximate to a muscle of a subject'"'"'s tongue.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one nerve includes a hypoglossal nerve.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein stimulation of the at least one nerve causes a subject'"'"'s tongue to move in a direction away from a posterior pharyngeal wall of the subject.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the implantable device includes at least one pair of electrodes configured to generate an electromagnetic field to stimulate the at least one nerve.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the implantable device is configured to be arranged such that the electromagnetic field extends in an elongated direction of the at least one nerve.

8. The device of claim 1, including an external unit with which the primary antenna and the at least one processor are associated.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the primary antenna includes a coil antenna.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the condition signal is indicative of relative movement between the implantable device and an external unit with which the primary antenna and the at least one processor are associated.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the condition signal is indicative of movement of a subject'"'"'s tongue over a predetermined distance.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the condition signal is indicative of a degree of coupling between the primary antenna and a secondary antenna associated with the implantable device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the coupling includes at least one of RF coupling or inductive coupling.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the precursor to sleep disordered breathing is a precursor to a sleep apnea airway blockage.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein transmission of the primary signal from the primary antenna to the implantable device is caused prior to the sleep apnea airway blockage.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving, via a primary antenna located external to a body of a subject, a condition signal from an implantable device;

determining whether the condition signal is indicative of a precursor to sleep disordered breathing; and

transmitting a primary signal from the primary antenna to the implantable device, to stimulate at least one nerve, in response to a determination that the condition signal is indicative of a precursor to sleep disordered breathing.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the condition signal is indicative of movement of a tongue of a subject.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one nerve includes a hypoglossal nerve.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein stimulation of the at least one nerve causes a subject'"'"'s tongue to move in a direction away from a posterior pharyngeal wall of the subject.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating an electromagnetic field via at least one pair of electrodes associated with the implantable device to stimulate the at least one nerve.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the electromagnetic field extends in an elongated direction of the at least one nerve.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining a degree of coupling between the primary antenna and a secondary antenna associated with the implantable device based on the condition signal.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the precursor to sleep disordered breathing is a precursor to a sleep apnea airway blockage.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein transmitting a primary signal from the primary antenna to the implantable device, in response to the condition signal occurs prior to the sleep apnea airway blockage.