Claims
- 1. A method of treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using an electrical stimulator controllable to provide electrical stimulation pulses in accordance with a regular stimulation pattern having a controlled rhythm comprising:
(a) determining an approximate natural respiration cycle of a patient; (b) positioning electrodes in or on the patient at a location near the oropharynx muscles; and (c) applying an electrical stimulus to the electrodes from the electrical stimulator at a rate that approximates the rate of a natural respiration cycle, wherein the oropharynx muscles are stimulated to pull open obstructed airways at a rhythm that is the same as or close to the natural respiration cycle; wherein the respiratory rate of the patient is entrained to follow the rhythm of the electrical stimulator, whereby obstructed airways are kept open.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrodes comprise part of an injectable microstimulator, and wherein the positioning of the electrodes in or on the patient at a location near the oropharynx muscles comprises injecting the microstimulator so that the microstimulator is positioned near the oropharynx muscles.
- 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of applying an electrical stimulus to the electrodes comprises controlling the injectable microstimulators so that they provide a stimulus at a rate that approximates the natural respiration rate.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the patient's natural respiration rate comprises using a diagnostic face mask that stimulates obstruction and opening of the patient's airway at a controlled rate.
- 5. A method of treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using an electrical stimulator controllable to provide electrical stimulation pulses in accordance with a regular stimulation pattern having a controlled rhythm comprising:
(a) determining an approximate natural respiration cycle of a subject; (b) positioning electrodes near the oropharynx muscles of the subject; and (c) applying an electrical stimulus to the electrodes to pull open obstructed airways at a rhythm that is the same as or close to the natural respiration cycle.
- 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising adjusting the rate of the applied stimulus so as to entrain the respiration cycle of the subject to follow the applied stimulus rate.
- 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the electrodes comprise part of an injectable microstimulator, and wherein positioning the electrodes near the oropharynx muscles comprises injecting the microstimulator so that the microstimulator is positioned near the oropharynx muscles.
- 8. The method of claim 6 wherein determining an approximate natural respiration cycle of the subject comprises using a diagnostic face mask that stimulates obstruction and opening of the subject's airway at a controlled rate.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/370,082, filed Aug. 6, 1999, which application, including its Appendix A filed therewith, is incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60096495 |
Aug 1998 |
US |
|
60118840 |
Feb 1999 |
US |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09370082 |
Aug 1999 |
US |
Child |
09812447 |
Mar 2001 |
US |