Implantable electrical stimulator

Abstract

An implantable stimulator is provided for stimulating muscles or nerves. The implantable stimulator may comprise an array of electrodes for electrically stimulating at least one of a nerve or a muscle of a subject, and at least one processing device. The at least one processing device may be configured to detect, based on signals received from the array of electrodes, a measurement of an electromyography signal; dynamically select one or more electrodes within the array of electrodes to stimulate the nerve or muscle, the one or more electrodes being selected based on the measurement in order to stimulate a desired area of the nerve or muscle; and receive, from an external device, power used both to activate the selected electrodes and to stimulate the nerve or muscle

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . An implantable stimulator for stimulating muscles or nerves the implantable stimulator comprising:
 an array of electrodes for electrically stimulating at east one of a nerve or a muscle of a subject;   at least one processing device configured to:
 detect, based on signals received from the array of electrodes, a measurement of an electromyography signal; 
 dynamically select one or more electrodes within the array of electrodes to stimulate the nerve or muscle, the one or more electrodes being selected based on the measurement in order to stimulate a desired area of the nerve or muscle; and 
 receive, from an external device, power used both to activate the selected electrodes and to stimulate the nerve or muscle. 
   
     
     
         36 . The implantable stimulator of  claim 35 , wherein the power for activating the selected electrodes is used for causing a muscle contraction. 
     
     
         37 . The implantable stimulator of  claim 36 , wherein the implantable stimulator is located in a vicinity of the subject's tongue; and
 the power for activating the selected electrodes is used to cause a contraction of a genioglossus muscle of the subject.   
     
     
         38 . The implantable stimulator of  claim 37 , wherein the power for activating the selected electrodes is used to further cause dilation of a pharynx. 
     
     
         39 . The implantable stimulator of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to receive stimulation signals from the external device. 
     
     
         40 . The implantable stimulator of  claim 35 , wherein the power received from the external device through wireless transmission. 
     
     
         41 . The implantable stimulator of  claim 35 , wherein at least one processing device is further configured to receive a command from the external device and to transmit responses to the external device. 
     
     
         42 . The implantable stimulator of  claim 35 , wherein the measurement s indicative of a sleep-apnea related event 
     
     
         43 . The implantable stimulator of  claim 35 , wherein the measurement is indicative of a precursor to a sleep-apnea related event. 
     
     
         44 . The implantable stimulator of  claim 35 , wherein the selected electrodes are activated whenever power is provided. 
     
     
         45 . method for stimulating muscles or nerves, the method comprising:
 detecting, by an implantable stimulator and based on signals received from an array of electrodes for electrically stimulating at least one of a nerve or a muscle of a subject, a measurement of an electromyography signal;   dynamically selecting one or more electrodes within the array of electrodes to stimulate the nerve or muscle, the one or more electrodes being selected based on the measurement in order to stimulate a desired area of the nerve or muscle; and   receiving, from an external device, power used both to activate the selected electrodes and to stimulate the nerve or muscle.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the method further comprises causing a muscle contraction using the received power. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the implantable stimulator is located in a vicinity of the subject's tongue and the method further comprises causing a contraction of a genioglossus muscle of the subject using the received power. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the method further comprises causing a dilation of a pharynx using the received power. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the method further comprises receiving stimulation signals from the external device. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the external device is a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit power to the implantable stimulator. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the method further comprises receiving a command from the external device and transmitting responses to the external device. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 45 , w herein the measurement is indicative of a sleep-apnea related event. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the measurement is indicative of a precursor to a sleep-apnea related event. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the method further comprises activating the selected electrodes whenever the power is provided.