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

  • US 9,339,651 B2
  • Filed: 10/07/2014
  • Issued: 05/17/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system used for controlling a position of a patient'"'"'s tongue, the system comprising:

  • an electrode having a plurality of contacts, the plurality of contacts configured to be implanted proximate a Hypoglossal nerve, the electrode configured to apply one of at least one electric signal to one of at least one targeted motor efferent groups located within a Hypoglossal nerve to stimulate at least one muscle of the tongue;

    an implantable pulse generator (IPG) coupled to the electrode, the IPG being programmable, independent of respiration cycle, to;

    assign each of the plurality of contacts to one of a plurality of functional groups,deliver at least two electric signals to the plurality of contacts in a pattern of electric frequencies;

    apply the at least two electric signals at a starting frequency,ramp the starting frequency downwards to a target frequency,maintain an amplitude of at least one electric signal of a first functional group of the plurality of functional groups at a target amplitude for a pre-determined amount of time and then replacing the at least one electric signal of the first functional group with at least one electric signal of a second functional group of the plurality of functional groups,ramp an amplitude of the at least one electric signal of the second functional group from an initial level up to the target amplitude, andramp the amplitude of the at least one electric signal of the second functional group from the target amplitude down to a rest amplitude.

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