Sleep apnea treatment
First Claim
1. Apparatus for treating a subject for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the apparatus comprising:
- an implant, comprising;
a wireless receiver;
two or more electrodes; and
circuitry coupled to the electrodes;
an imaging device configured to generate images of the subject while the subject sleeps;
at least one antenna; and
a control unit configured to;
at a first time, in response to a set of training images received from the imaging device;
learn an association between a position of a head of the subject and OSA of the subject, andin response to the association, establish, for an OSA-related parameter, at least two distinct thresholds corresponding to respective different head positions, andat a second time following the first time, in response to a second-time position of the subject'"'"'s head exhibited in a second-time image received from the imaging device;
select, from the established thresholds, a threshold that corresponds to the second-time position of the subject'"'"'s head, andwhen a second-time value of the OSA-related parameter passes the selected threshold, treat the subject for OSA by driving the antenna to transmit a signal to the wireless receiver, the wireless receiver being configured to receive the signal, and the circuitry being configured to drive the electrodes to apply current to an anatomical site of the subject in response to the received signal.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are described, including apparatus for treating a subject for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The apparatus includes an implant, an imaging device, and a control unit. In response to a set of training images received from the imaging device, the control unit learns an association between a position of a head of the subject and OSA of the subject. In response to the association, the control unit establishes, for an OSA-related parameter, at least two distinct thresholds corresponding to respective different head positions. Subsequently, at a second time, the control unit selects a threshold that corresponds to the position of the subject'"'"'s head, and if the value of the OSA-related parameter passes the selected threshold, treats the subject for OSA by driving the implant to apply current to an anatomical site of the subject. Other applications are also described.
204 Citations
12 Claims
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1. Apparatus for treating a subject for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the apparatus comprising:
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an implant, comprising; a wireless receiver; two or more electrodes; and circuitry coupled to the electrodes; an imaging device configured to generate images of the subject while the subject sleeps; at least one antenna; and a control unit configured to; at a first time, in response to a set of training images received from the imaging device; learn an association between a position of a head of the subject and OSA of the subject, and in response to the association, establish, for an OSA-related parameter, at least two distinct thresholds corresponding to respective different head positions, and at a second time following the first time, in response to a second-time position of the subject'"'"'s head exhibited in a second-time image received from the imaging device; select, from the established thresholds, a threshold that corresponds to the second-time position of the subject'"'"'s head, and when a second-time value of the OSA-related parameter passes the selected threshold, treat the subject for OSA by driving the antenna to transmit a signal to the wireless receiver, the wireless receiver being configured to receive the signal, and the circuitry being configured to drive the electrodes to apply current to an anatomical site of the subject in response to the received signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for treating a subject for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the method comprising:
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using an imaging device, generating a set of training images of the subject while the subject sleeps; using a control unit; in response to the set of training images, learning an association between a position of a head of the subject and OSA of the subject; and in response to the association, establishing, for an OSA-related parameter, at least two distinct thresholds corresponding to respective different head positions; using the imaging device, generating a second-time image of the subject while the subject sleeps; and using the control unit, in response to a second-time position of the subject'"'"'s head exhibited in the second-time image; selecting, from the established thresholds, a threshold that corresponds to the second-time position of the subject'"'"'s head, and when a second-time value of the OSA-related parameter passes the selected threshold, treating the subject for OSA by driving an implant to apply current to an anatomical site of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for treating a subject for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the apparatus comprising:
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an implant, comprising; a wireless receiver; two or more electrodes; and circuitry coupled to the electrodes; an imaging device configured to generate images of the subject while the subject sleeps; at least one antenna; and a control unit configured to; at a first time, in response to a set of training images received from the imaging device, learn an association between a position of a head of the subject and OSA of the subject, and at a second time following the first time, in response to (a) a second-time position of the subject'"'"'s head exhibited in a second-time image received from the imaging device, and (b) the learned association, treat the subject for OSA by driving the antenna to transmit a signal to the wireless receiver, the wireless receiver being configured to receive the signal, and the circuitry being configured to drive the electrodes to apply current to an anatomical site of the subject in response to the received signal.
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Specification