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Method of stimulating a hypoglossal nerve for controlling the position of a patient's tongue

  • US 9,031,654 B2
  • Filed: 04/24/2014
  • Issued: 05/12/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling a position of a patient'"'"'s tongue, the method comprising:

  • implanting an electrode having a plurality of contacts into the patient to electrically couple the plurality of contacts to a Hypoglossal nerve of the patient;

    implanting an implantable pulse generator (IPG) into the patient, the IPG being electronically coupled to the electrode;

    programming the IPG, without taking into account a timing of respiration, to assign each of the plurality of contacts to one of a plurality of functional groups, and deliver at least two electric signals to the plurality of functional groups in a sequence or interleaving pattern, each of the plurality of contacts pulsing sequentially in a nearly continuous pattern to share a stimulation load of the plurality of contacts; and

    applying the at least two electric signals via the plurality of contacts to at least two targeted motor efferent groups located within the Hypoglossal nerve to stimulate at least two muscles of the tongue.

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