METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HYPOGLOSSAL NERVE STIMULATION

摘要

A method of treating sleep disordered breathing in a patient includes the steps of monitoring the patient (34) for a pre-inspiratory drive signal (25) indicative of the breathing cycle by sensing electroneurogram activity of a hypoglossal nerve (3) of the patient, and electrically stimulating (36) the hypoglossal nerve (3) of the patient following each detection of the pre-inspiratory drive signal (2S) An implantable apparatus (1) for stimulating a hypoglossal nerve (3) of a patient for the treatment of sleep disordered breathing includes an electrode (5) positioned at least partially around the hypoglossal nerve with a monitoring contact (7) and a stimulation contact (9) and a controller (15) operatively coupled to the monitoring contact (7) and the stimulation contact (9) The monitoring contact (7) monitors the electroneurogram activity of the hypoglossal nerve (3) for a pre-inspiratory drive signal (25) indicative of the onset of inspiration and sends a signal to the controller (15) which in turn causes the stimulating electrode (9, 10) to electrically stimulate the hypoglossal nerve (3).