Obstructive sleep apnea from blockage of the upper
airway can result in significant
daytime drowsiness, with many long-term co-morbidities associated with this disorder such as such as hypertension. A common cause of
obstructive sleep apnea is the complete concentric collapse of the soft
pallet or retrusion of the
genioglossus muscle into the upper
airway obstructing
breathing. The latter can be due to exhaustion of the
muscle due to heightened activation during wake periods, or a greater number of type II
muscle fibers can contribute to
muscle fatigue. It could also be neurological, whereby the
hypoglossal nerve which controls most the upper
airway muscles fails to innervate the genioglossus sufficiently to prevent backward movement and pharyngeal block. Described herein is an intelligent personalized
closed loop neuromodulation system and methods to prevent backwards movement of the
genioglossus muscle through stimulation of certain branches of the
hypoglossal nerve and muscle motor points, by using muscle feedback from electromyogram sensors to provide optimal stimulus. Alternative embodiments to treat
neuropathic pain and urinary dysfunction are enclosed.