Apparatus and method for treating obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract

The present invention describes an apparatus, a systems and a method for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. the treatment involves monitoring the position of the tongue and/or the force exerted by the tongue an electrical stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve to move the tongue into an anterior position or to maintain the tongue in an anterior position.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a sensor to monitor the position of a tongue and/or the force exerted by the tongue against the sensor; and   one or more electrodes to deliver electrical stimuli to the ventral surface of the tongue.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein apparatus further comprises a dental fixture. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an electronic controller to translate a signal received from the sensor and to deliver a train of electrical pulses to the one or more electrodes; a power source to deliver electricity to one or more components of the apparatus; or both.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an emitter and a detector in a transparent encapsulant separated by an opaque partition. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the emitter is an infrared emitter and the detector is an infrared detector. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrodes are attached to one or more flexible tubular carriers. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more electrodes are hemicylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein a portion of the one or more electrodes is adapted to allow contact with the ventral surface of the tongue. 
     
     
         9 . A method to treat obstructive sleep apnea or to avoid an apneic or hypoxic episode in a subject, comprising:
 providing a sensor to monitor the position of a tongue and/or the force exerted by the tongue against the sensor, one or more electrodes to deliver electrical stimuli to the ventral surface of the tongue, an electronic controller to translate a signal received from the sensor and to deliver a train of electrical pulses to the one or more electrodes, and a power source to deliver electricity to the sensor, the one or more electrodes, and the electronic controller;   sensing the position of the tongue and/or the force exerted by the tongue against the sensor; and   causing a train of electrical pulses to be delivered the ventral surface of the tongue via the one or more electrodes when the tongue is not in an anterior position, not in close proximity to the sensor, not touching the sensor, and/or not exerting a prescribed force upon the sensor.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor and the one or more electrodes configured are on a dental fixture. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the electronic controller, the power source, or both are configured on the dental fixture. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the train of electrical pulses has a voltage of about 5 to about 15 volts and a pulse frequency of about 3 to about 50 pulses per second. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the prescribed force is about 0 to about 150 gram(s). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising causing a defensive reflex whereby the tongue moves anteriorly in response to an onset of low-amplitude electrical stimulation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein causing the defensive reflex comprises applying cycles of delivering low-amplitude electrical stimulation, increasing the electrical stimulation to high-amplitude electrical stimulation and terminating the electrical stimulation when the tongue moves anteriorly or dorsally. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the high-amplitude electrical stimulation has a voltage of about 10 to about 25 volts and a pulse frequency of about 5 to about 50 pulses per second. 
     
     
         17 . A system for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:
 a sensor to monitor the position of a tongue and/or the force exerted by the tongue against the sensor;   one or more electrodes to deliver electrical stimulus to the ventral surface of the tongue;   an electronic controller to translate a signal received from the sensor and to deliver a train of electrical pulses to the one or more electrodes; and   a power source to deliver electricity to the sensor, the one or more electrodes, and/or the electronic controller.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor and the one or more electrodes are configured on a dental fixture. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor comprises an emitter and a detector in a transparent encapsulant separated by an opaque partition. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the emitter is an infrared emitter and the detector is an infrared detector. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more electrodes are on one or more flexible tubular carriers. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more electrodes are hemicylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein a portion of the one or more electrodes is configured to allow contact with the ventral surface of a tongue. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea or for avoiding an apneic or hypoxic episode in a subject, comprising:
 means for sensing the position of a tongue and/or the force exerted by the tongue against the means for sensing;   means for delivering electrical stimulus to the ventral surface of the tongue;   means for translating a signal received from the sensing means and for delivering a train of electrical pulses to the means for delivering electrical stimulus to the ventral surface of the tongue; and   means for providing electricity to the apparatus.   
     
     
         25 . A computer readable medium having computer executable components for:
 monitoring the position of a tongue and/or the force exerted by the tongue against a sensor;   translating a signal received from the sensor; and   delivering a train of electrical pulses to the ventral surface of the tongue via one or more electrodes.