Electrostimulation method and system for the treatment of sleep apnea

摘要

Electric stimulation method and system for treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Syndrome using an external actuator on the pharyngeal-laryngeal muscles.;Using this actuator, the muscles involved receive an electric stimulus, with the aim of widening the muscular opening and attaining sufficient air flow to prevent the lack of air. Said stimulus only acts in the event of an apnea episode being detected, by means of analyzing sound patterns of the upper airways. Both detection and treatment arc self-regulatory, in order to adapt to the patient's morphology and the evolution of the condition or problem.

主权项

1. An electric stimulation system for treating sleep apnea in a patient, comprising:
treatment means designed to treat the acoustic signal generated by the patient's breathing and divide it into a plurality of blocks, each block corresponds to a fragment of the acoustic signal within a time interval, said treatment means are furthermore designed to measure the strength of a plurality of blocks of the acoustic signal; control means designed to count, in the plurality of blocks measured, the number of low strength blocks CLSB when the strength of the block is less than a strength threshold linked to breathing, TBrea, said control means furthermore being designed to determine the existence of an apnea episode when the number of low strength blocks CLSB exceeds a threshold on the number of low strength blocks TLSB, said control means are also designed to selectively control, if there is an apnea episode, the activation of a number of electric stimulation means, designed to apply an electric signal to the submental muscles linked to the respiratory airways.