Method and apparatus for treating sleep apnea

Abstract

An oral appliance is disclosed that provides electrical stimulation to a patient's tongue in a manner that prevents collapse of the tongue and/or soft palate during sleep. More specifically, the appliance may induce a reversible current or currents in a lateral direction across the tongue in a manner that shortens the patient's Palatoglossus muscle, which in turn pulls the patient's soft palate downward towards a base of the tongue and/or decreases a volume of the tongue.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A non-invasive device for treating sleep apnea, comprising:
 an appliance configured to be positioned in a person's oral cavity;   a first electrode and a second electrode coupled to the appliance, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to float at a location beneath or on either side of the person's tongue;   a control circuit coupled to the appliance, wherein the control circuit is configured to generate a signal to drive the first and second electrodes;   a power supply coupled to the control circuit to provide power to the control circuit; and   wherein the appliance and the first and second electrodes comprise a unitary device adapted to fit entirely within the person's oral cavity.   
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 32  wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged to contact tissue proximate to the lateral posterior regions at which the palatoglossus muscle inserts into the person's tongue. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 32  wherein at least a portion of the first and second electrodes are adapted to be positioned posterior to a last molar location of the person. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 32  wherein the control circuit is configured to generate the signal to drive one or more reversible currents to flow in one or more substantially lateral directions across the tongue. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 35  wherein at least one of the reversible currents comprises a zero-sum waveform. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 35  wherein a pulse length of at least one of the reversible currents is configured according to a resistive-capacitive time constant model associated with the tongue. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 32  wherein the control circuit is configured to generate the signal to drive an induced current to shorten the palatoglossus muscle without targeting the person's hypoglossal nerve. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 32 , further comprising a sensor. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 39  wherein the sensor is one of the first or second electrodes. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 32  wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged to cause shortening of the palatoglossus muscle without targeting the hypoglossal nerve. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 32  wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes comprises a respiration sensor.