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; and wherein the electrodes comprise part of an injectable microstimulator.
- 2. The method of claim 1 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 simulates 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; wherein the electrodes comprise part of an injectable microstimulator.
- 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising adjusting a 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 5 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 simulates obstruction and opening of the subject's airway at a controlled rate.
Parent Case Info
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. Now U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,316 which claims benefit of Prov. No. 60/096,495 filed Aug. 14, 1998, and 60/118,840 filed Feb. 5, 1999.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
5549655 |
Erickson |
Aug 1996 |
A |
5591216 |
Testerman et al. |
Jan 1997 |
A |
5792067 |
Karell |
Aug 1998 |
A |
6132384 |
Christopherson et al. |
Oct 2000 |
A |
6198970 |
Freed et al. |
Mar 2001 |
B1 |
6240316 |
Richmond et al. |
May 2001 |
B1 |
6269269 |
Ottenhoff et al. |
Jul 2001 |
B1 |
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/096495 |
Aug 1998 |
US |
|
60/118840 |
Feb 1999 |
US |