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

Abstract

A system for controlling a position of a patient's tongue includes attaching at least one electrode to the patient's Hypoglossal nerve and applying an electric signal through the electrode to at least one targeted motor efferent located within the Hypoglossal nerve to stimulate at least one muscle of the tongue. The system may also include the use of more than one contact to target more than one motor efferent and stimulating more than one muscle. The stimulation load to maintain the position of the tongue may be shared by each muscle. The position of the patient's tongue may be controlled in order to prevent obstructive sleep apnea.

1 . A system used for controlling a position of a patient's tongue, the system comprising:
 an electrode configured to apply one of at least one electric signal to one of at least one targeted motor efferent located within a Hypoglossal nerve to stimulate at least one muscle of the tongue.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an implantable pulse generator (IPG) coupled to the electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a remote control and charger coupled to the IPG. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the remote control powers the IPG. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , where the remote control re-charges the IPG. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a docking station configured to charge the remote control and charger. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the remote control and charger are configured to couple with a computer to program the IPG. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the electrode includes a plurality of contacts. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the IPG is programmable to assign the contacts to one of a plurality of functional groups. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the IPG is programmable to sequence or interleave the functional groups. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein each functional group maintains an open airway in the patient and a first functional group includes at least one or more different muscles than a second functional group. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the IPG is covered by a hermetic enclosure. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a sensor configured to measures the temperature of the IPG. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode includes a plurality of contacts. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein electrode includes six contacts. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the contacts are each driven by their own independent current source. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a primary boot loader. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a secondary boot loader. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a Medical Implant Communication Service (MICS) telemetry transceiver. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an inductive link telemetry transceiver. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode includes a cuff housing configured to wrap around a portion of the Hypoglossal nerve. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric signal is applied to the Hypoglossal nerve via an open loop system. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode is driven by multiple current sources. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising event logging memory. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a multiplexer configured to measure impedance of at least one of an electrode contact and patient tissue.