Device and method for correcting obstructive sleep apnea

摘要

An orthotic obstructive sleep apnea treatment device is provided that includes a hyoid bone attachment element disposed to attach a ferric element to a hyoid bone, where the ferric element is disposed to face along a treatment vector from the hyoid bone, and the treatment vector is oriented relative to a sagittal plane of a human. The orthotic obstructive sleep apnea treatment device further includes an external orthotic neck device having a contoured housing with a shape disposed to conform about a neck of the human subject, where the housing includes a force delivery element disposed at an exterior-front neck region of the human subject and is disposed to provide an attractive force to the ferric element along the treatment vector. A force sensor is disposed to measure a force exerted on the hyoid bone, a skin contact pressure, tissue compression between the ferric element and the force delivery element.

主权项

1. An orthotic obstructive sleep apnea treatment device, comprising:
a. a hyoid bone attachment element that is configured to attach a ferric element to a hyoid bone, wherein said ferric element faces along a treatment vector from said hyoid bone, wherein said treatment vector is oriented relative to a sagittal plane of a human subject; b. an external orthotic neck device, wherein said external orthotic neck device comprises a contoured housing having a shape disposed to conform about a i) neck, ii) head, iii) chest, i) and ii), i) and iii), or ii) and iii) of said human subject, wherein said contoured housing comprises a force delivery element, wherein said force delivery element is configured to be disposed at an exterior-front neck region of said human subject, wherein said force delivery element provides an attractive force to said ferric element along said treatment vector; and c. the contoured housing further comprising a force sensor, wherein said force sensor measures a force selected from the group consisting of a force exerted on said hyoid bone, a skin contact pressure, tissue compression between said ferric element and said force delivery element, and a second force exerted by said force delivery element.