System for controlling apnea

• US 9,022,032 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2012
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Holzrichter, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGLAS, STEVEN O
• Application Number:
  US13/425,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20120240934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 600/529, 600/546
• US Class Current: 128/204.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0826 Detecting or evaluating apnoea events A61B5/4818 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs

Abstract

An implanted stimulation device or air control device are activated by an external radar-like sensor for controlling apnea. The radar-like sensor senses the closure of the air flow cavity, and associated control circuitry signals (1) a stimulator to cause muscles to open the air passage way that is closing or closed or (2) an air control device to open the air passage way that is closing or closed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling an individual'"'"'s air passages being potentially blocked by the individual'"'"'s soft tissue around the air passages wherein the individuals air passages are in the individuals neck area, comprising:

an EM wave generator and receiver operatively positioned in the individuals neck area for directing EM waves to the individual'"'"'s soft tissue and receiving EM waves from the individuals soft tissue,

an air system operatively connected to the individual'"'"'s air passages for forcing air into the individuals air passages, and

a controller operatively connected to said EM wave generator and receiver and operatively connected to said air system to signal said air system when the individual'"'"'s air passages are potentially being blocked by the individual'"'"'s soft tissue to force air into the individuals air passages to move the individuals soft tissue and un-block the individuals air passages.

2. The apparatus for controlling an individual'"'"'s air passages being potentially blocked by the individual'"'"'s soft tissue of claim 1 wherein the individual has lungs that have air wherein said air system operatively connected to the air passages includes an air mask for forcing air into the individuals air passages.

3. The apparatus for controlling an individual'"'"'s air passages being potentially blocked by the individual'"'"'s soft tissue of claim 1 wherein said EM wave generator and receiver includes an antenna which radiates EM waves to the individual'"'"'s soft tissue and receives EM waves from the individual'"'"'s soft tissue.

4. The apparatus for controlling an individual'"'"'s air passages being potentially blocked by the individual'"'"'s soft tissue of claim 1 wherein the individual has an air tract tissue-target and wherein said EM wave generator and receiver includes an antenna which radiates EM waves to said air tract tissue-target and receives EM waves from the individual'"'"'s air tract tissue-target.

5. The apparatus for controlling an individual'"'"'s air passages being potentially blocked by the individual'"'"'s soft tissue of claim 4 wherein said antenna has a far-field and wherein said antenna directs said EM waves to the individual'"'"'s soft tissue and receives EM waves from the individual'"'"'s soft tissue.

6. The apparatus for controlling an individual'"'"'s air passages being potentially blocked by the individual'"'"'s soft tissue of claim 1 further comprising recharging units for said EM wave generator and receiver.

7. The apparatus for controlling an individual'"'"'s air passages being potentially blocked by the individual'"'"'s tissue of claim 1 further comprising one or more recharging units for said controller.

8. An apparatus for controlling an individual'"'"'s air passages being potentially blocked by the individual'"'"'s soft tissue around the passages wherein the individuals air passages are in the individuals neck area, comprising:

EM wave generator and receiver means positioned in the individuals neck area of the individual'"'"'s soft tissue and receiving EM waves from the individuals soft tissue,

controller means operatively connected to said EM wave generator and receiver for signaling when the individual'"'"'s air passages are potentially being blocked by the individual'"'"'s soft tissue, and

air system means operatively connected to the individual'"'"'s air passages for forcing air into the individuals air passages upon said signaling to move the individuals soft tissue and un-block the individuals air passages.

9. The apparatus for controlling an individual'"'"'s air passages being potentially blocked by the individual'"'"'s soft tissue of claim 8 wherein the individual has lungs and wherein said air system means operatively connected to the individual'"'"'s air passages for forcing air into the individuals air passages upon said signaling to move the individuals soft tissue and un-block the individuals air passages comprises an air mask which forces said air into the individual'"'"'s lungs upon said signaling.