| 摘要 |
<p>Apparatus (60) for stimulating muscles which control the operation of the tongue (28) of a subject comprises a chin engaging member (62) which carries an external electrode (8) for locating externally beneath the floor (9) of the oral cavity of the subject. An oral electrode carrier (3) extends from the chin engaging member (62) for locating an oral electrode (64) in the oral cavity (4). A locating member (10) locates the oral electrode carrier (3) on the teeth of the lower jaw of the subject while a support member (65) extends from the locating member (10) for carrying the oral electrode (64) at a distal end thereof. The oral electrode (64) is provided by an electrically conductive silicon polymer for electrically engaging the tongue (28) on an underside thereof and for electrically engaging the floor (9) of the oral cavity (4). The oral electrode (64) is located within the oral cavity (4) spaced apart from the gum (12) of the oral cavity a sufficient distance for preventing stray currents entering the lower gum and teeth (11) of the subject. A pulsed signal from a signal generator (34) is applied through a socket connector (71) to the oral and external electrodes (64, 8) for passing a current through the motor nerves of the muscles which control the operation of the tongue (28) for stimulating the muscles, and in turn toning and strengthening the muscles. By strengthening the muscles the tongue is retained in a more forward state in the mouth, thus alleviating sleep apnoea and snoring. The apparatus (1) by toning the muscles in the floor (9) of the oral cavity (4) cosmetically corrects a double chin condition.</p> |
