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US4830008A
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Method and system for treatment of sleep apnea
Assignee: JEFFREY A MEER REVOCABLE LIVING
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Filing: 1988-02-16
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Granted: 1989-05-16
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Expires: 2008-02-16
Abstract
Abstract A method for treatment of sleep-apnea syndrome in a patient is disclosed as including mointoring inspiratory effort and generating electrical signals in response to the step of monitoring in order to stimulate those nerves which activate the patient's upper airway muscles to contract in order to maintain upper airway patency. A system (10) for such treatment is disclosed as including a monitor (14) capable of monitoring inspiratory effort, and an elecrtrical signal generating mechanism (16) coupled to the monitor (14) for generating electrical signals, to affect the patient's upper airway muscles in order to thereby maintain upper airway patency.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey A. Meer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/3601
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
A method for treatment of sleep-apnea syndrome in a patient, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring inspiratory effort; generating electrical signals in response to the step of monitoring; and applying said electrical signals to those nerves which activate the patient's upper airway muscles to contract in order to maintain upper airway patency.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
53 words
A method for treatment of sleep-apnea syndrome in a patient, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring inspiratory effort; generating electrical signals in response to the step of monitoring; and applying said electrical signals to those nerves which activate the patient's upper airway muscles to contract in order to maintain upper airway patency.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 1 further including the step of sensing upper airway muscle activity and inhibiting the release of electrical signals if normal upper airway activity is detected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as in claim 1 or 2 further including the step of activating those muscles included in the group consisting of the diaphragm or sternomastoid muscles as necessary to cause inspiration at a predetermined rate when no inspiratory effort is sensed by said monitor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the upper airway muscles include one or more of the muscles in the group consisting of geniohyoid, genioglossus, digastric, stylopharyngei or mylohyoid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein effecting the upper airway muscles includes moving the patient's tongue anteriorly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein monitoring inspiratory effort includes monitoring contraction of the patient's inspiratory muscles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 6 wherein monitoring the inspiratory effort includes comparing the contraction of the patient's inspiratory muscles to a predetermined threshold contraction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein the electrical signals are generated at the appropriate instant during the respiratory cycle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein monitoring inspiratory effort includes monitoring intrathoracic pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein monitoring the inspiratory effort sensed includes comparing the intrathoracic pressure to a predetermined threshold of intrathoracic pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein the electrical signals are generated at the appropriate instant during the respiratory cycle.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
56 words
A system (10) for treatment of sleep-apnea syndrome in a patient comprising: monitoring means (14) capable of monitoring inspiratory effort; and electrical signal generating means (16) coupled to said monitor (14) for generating electrical signals to effect those nerves which activate the patient's upper airway muscles to contract as necessary to thereby maintain upper airway patency.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
56 words
A system (10) for treatment of sleep-apnea syndrome in a patient comprising: monitoring means (14) capable of monitoring inspiratory effort; and electrical signal generating means (16) coupled to said monitor (14) for generating electrical signals to effect those nerves which activate the patient's upper airway muscles to contract as necessary to thereby maintain upper airway patency.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as in claim 12 wherein said monitor (14) senses action potentials in those nerves which innervate those muscles which maintain upper airway patency.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
73 words
A system (10) as in claim 12 or 13 further including a sensor lead (18) having first and second ends (20, 22); said first end (20) being communicated to said monitor (14) and said second end (22) including a sensor electrode (24) attached to the inspiratory muscles for receiving inspiratory information from the inspiratory muscles and for conveying the information received by said sensor electrode (24) along lead (18) to said monitor (14).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system (10) as in claim 14 further including an effector lead (26) having first and second ends (28, 30); said first end (28) being connected to said electrical signal generating means (16) and said second end (30) including an effector electrode (32) for transmitting electrical signals sent via effector lead (26) to those nerves which activate the upper airway muscles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as in claim 15 wherein said effector lead (26) is also communicated to said monitor via said electrical signal generating means 16 (14) to sense action potentials at the effector electrode (32) in those nerves which innervate those inspiratory muscles which maintain upper airway patency.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system (10) as in claim 16 wherein said effector electrode (32) initiates excitation in one or more of the muscles in the group consisting of geniohyoid, genioglossus, digastric, stylopharyngei or mylohyoid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system (10) as in claim 17 wherein said effector electrode (32) initiates excitation in the genioglossus muscle and thereby moves the patient's tongue anteriorly.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system (10) as in claim 14 wherein said monitor (14) monitors contraction and expansion of the patient's inspiratory muscles.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system (10) as in claim 14 wherein said monitor (14) monitors intrathoracic pressure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system (10) as in claim 14 wherein said electrical signal generating means (16) is programmable with respect to providing electrical stimuli output in response to predetermined input messages.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system (10) as in claim 21 wherein said programmable electrical signal generating means (16) is programmable with respect to voltage, current, pulse width and frequency of electrical stimuli provided.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of the type used to treat sleep-apnea syndrome including monitoring inspiratory effort characterized by generating electrical signals in response to the monitoring to stimulate those nerves which activate the patient's upper airway muscles to contract thereby to maintain upper airway patency and sensing upper airway muscle activity and inhibiting the release of electrical signals if normal upper airway activity is detected.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of the type used to treat sleep-apnea syndrome including monitoring inspiratory effort characterized by generating electrical signals in response to the monitoring to stimulate those nerves which activate the patient's upper airway muscles to contract thereby to maintain upper airway patency and sensing upper airway muscle activity and inhibiting the release of electrical signals if normal upper airway activity is detected.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-05-15 | 1992-11-14 | 1993-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-15 | 1996-11-14 | 1997-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-15 | 2000-11-14 | 2001-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |