Smart Mandibular Repositioning System

• US 20090078273A1
• Filed: 09/22/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Pavad Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Choi, George Y., Hegde, Anant V., Bhat, Nikhil D., Yung, Charisse M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,578,937 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/848
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes 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: A61F 2/02 Prostheses implantable into the body closure means for urethra or rectum or for artificial body openings therefor A61F2/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting an obstructive sleep apnea event are disclosed herein. The systems and methods may use an electrical output generating ionic polymer metal composite sensor attached to a region in an airway passage in an oral cavity. The electrical output may be wirelessly transmitted as a signal for indication of an obstructive sleep apnea event. The signal may be further processed by a smart mandibular repositioning system for treatment of the obstructive sleep apnea event.

Claims

1. A system to treat obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:

an ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) sensor attached to a region in an airway passage in an oral cavity which generates an electrical output when a change in shape of the airway passage in the oral cavity occurs;

a transmitter device electrically coupled to the IPMC sensor and configured to transmit at least one electronic signal; and

an electronically actuated mandibular repositioning device (MRD) configured to move a jaw from a first position to a second position based on the least one electronic signal to treat the sleep apnea event.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the IPMC sensor includes an electro active polymer material.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the IPMC sensor is configured as an elongated strip.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the MRD comprises:

a fixed upper jaw positioner configured to align with a portion of an upper denture;

at least one linkage with a first end and a second end, the first end moveably attached to the fixed upper jaw positioner;

a moveable jaw positioner configured to align with a portion of a lower denture and moveably attached to the second end of linkage; and

at least one jaw actuator attached to at least one of the fixed upper jaw, at least one linkage, and moveable jaw positioner.

5. A system of claim 4 wherein the MRD additionally includes a control circuit.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the at least one jaw actuator is controlled by the control circuit.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the control circuit is wirelessly coupled to the transmitter device.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the control circuit includes a timer.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein the control circuit includes a motor control.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the IPMC sensor is integral with the transmitter device.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic signal is a digital signal.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic signal is an analog signal.

13. A method to treat sleep apnea, comprising:

generating at least one electronic signal from an ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) sensor attached to a region in an airway passage in an oral cavity when a change in shape of the airway passage in the oral cavity occurs from an obstructive sleep apnea event;

analyzing the at least one electronic signal;

generating an output based on the at least one electronic signal; and

actuating an electronically actuated mandibular repositioning device (MRD) configured to move a jaw from a first position to a second position based on the output to treat the sleep apnea event.

14. The method of claim 13 additionally comprising generating at least one additional electronic signal from a second ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) sensor.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the output is generated in a linear, non-linear, or adaptive fashion.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the output generation is based on neural network algorithms.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein generating includes converting the at least one additional electronic signal into a digital signal.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the MRD includes at least one MRD motor, and actuating the electronically actuated MRD additionally includes activating the at least one MRD motor to move the jaw from the first position to a second position.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one electronic signal is generated from an electro active polymer material.

20. The method of claim 13 additionally comprising reactuating the MRD to move the jaw from the second position to the first position when the obstructive sleep apnea event has subsided.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the MRD includes at least one MRD motor, and reactuating the MRD includes deactivating the least one MRD motor.