The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 30, 1996
Filed:
Sep. 21, 1994
Roy L Testerman, New Hope, MN (US);
Donald J Erickson, Plymouth, MN (US);
Ralph W Bierbaum, Coon Rapids, MN (US);
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea in a patient by electrical stimulation of muscles of the upper airway includes detecting an obstructive apnea and then stimulating muscles of the upper airway in response to the apnea. The apnea is detected by monitoring changes in a respiratory effort waveform of the patient for a parameter characteristic of the patient's level of respiratory effort which is averaged over successive respiratory cycles to provide a baseline average. A limit value is then generated from the baseline average and the value for the parameter is compared with the limit value. If the limit value is exceeded, an apnea event is detected. Electrical stimulation can then be applied to a muscle of the upper airway upon detection of the apnea at a level which restores patency to the airway.