212 results about "Treatment sleep" patented technology

Methods and systems involve monitoring one or more patient conditions using a monitoring device that is fully or partially implantable. Feedback information is developed based on the monitored conditions and is provided to a device delivering therapy to treat sleep disordered breathing. Components of the monitoring device are disposed within an implantable housing that is separate from the housing of the therapy device. The therapy device may comprise a housing that is implantable or patient-external. The feedback information may be used to adjust the sleep disordered breathing therapy.

An implantable cardiac stimulation device comprises a physiologic sensor and one or more pulse generators. The physiologic sensor is capable of sensing a physiologic parameter. The pulse generators can generate cardiac pacing pulses with a timing based on the physiologic parameter. The timed cardiac pacing pulses can prevent a sleep apnea condition. In one example, a cardiac stimulation device has a physiologic sensor and can be configured to pace a patient's heart according to a rest mode of operation. The cardiac stimulation device uses measurements from the physiologic sensor to prevent and treat sleep apnea using a revised rest mode of operation. The revised rest mode operates under a presumption that sleep apnea is primary to a reduced heart rate, rather than secondary, so that pacing at a rate higher than the natural cardiac rate during sleep will prevent sleep apnea.

An implantable cardiac stimulation device comprises a physiologic sensor and one or more pulse generators. The physiologic sensor is capable of sensing a physiologic parameter. The pulse generators can generate cardiac pacing pulses with a timing based on the physiologic parameter. The timed cardiac pacing pulses can prevent a sleep apnea condition. In one example, a cardiac stimulation device has a physiologic sensor and can be configured to pace a patient's heart according to a rest mode of operation. The cardiac stimulation device uses measurements from the physiologic sensor to prevent and treat sleep apnea using a revised rest mode of operation. The revised rest mode operates under a presumption that sleep apnea is primary to a reduced heart rate, rather than secondary, so that pacing at a rate higher than the natural cardiac rate during sleep will prevent sleep apnea.

A method for relating to each other cardiovascular and sleep disordered breathing conditions of a patient. The patient's heart rate and / or detailed echocardiogram data is monitored and recorded continuously or periodically together with sleep disordered breathing information on similar time scales. Changes in the patient's heart rate associated with changes in sleep disordered breathing can then be observed. More specifically, positive airway pressure at therapeutic levels for treatment of sleep disordered breathing is applied while events associated with the treatment of the patient's sleep disordered breathing are detected and recorded. At the same time, information concerning the cardiovascular condition of the patient is stored and the stored information concerning the cardiovascular condition of the patient and the recorded events associated with the treatment of the patient's sleep disordered breathing are related to each other.

Systems and methods provide a self-contained, intermittent positive airway pressure system for treating sleep apnea, snoring, and other respiratory disorders. The systems and methods provide an air flow director that can be worn in or over the nose of the individual in communication with an upper airway. The systems and methods provide an airflow regulation assembly that can also be worn in its entirety by the individual in communication with the air flow director. The airflow regulation assembly includes a source of positive pressure. The airflow regulation assembly intermittently operates the source of positive pressure to increase positive air pressure in the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway during only a portion of the respiratory cycle less than the entire respiratory cycle.

The invention concerns a medical device for implantation in a body, comprising a stimulation unit, a sleep detector unit having at least one signal input which is adapted to detect a sleep condition of the body and to produce a sleep signal, an apnea detector unit which is adapted to detect sleep apnea in dependence on at least one body signal caused by the body and to produce an apnea signal, a therapy unit which is at least indirectly connected to the stimulation unit! the sleep detector unit and to the apnea detector unit and which is adapted to produce, in dependence on the apnea signal and the sleep signal, at least one apnea therapy signal which represents therapy information for preventing and / or for the treatment of sleep apnea, and to send same to the stimulation unit. The medical device has a position sensor, which is operatively connected to the signal input of the sleep detector unit and adapted in dependence on its inclination about at least one spatial axis extending through the position sensor in relation to the horizontal to alter at least one of its electrical properties.

An apparatus to detect the onset of sleep apnea, and to provide an automated way to awaken the sleeping patient at the onset of sleep apnea. The apparatus may also contain a recording device or computer that captures blood oxygen levels and pulse rates throughout the period of sleep, and may contain computer programs, algorithms, subroutines or logic to determine the level of blood oxygen and pulse rate that indicates the onset of a sleep apnea event. The method of arousing the patient from sleep at the onset of a sleep apnea event will decrease or eliminate the occurrence of sleep apnea, arrhythmia, and partial epilepsy over time.

Improved methodology and apparatus for the clinical study and treatment of sleep apnea which incorporates one or more of the following features: (1) application of mono-level, alternating high and low level, or variable positive airway pressure generally within the airway of the patient with the mono-level, high and low level, or variable airway pressure generally being coordinated with and / or responsive to the spontaneous respiration of the patient, (2) usage of adjustably programmable pressure ramp circuitry capable of producing multiple pressure ramp cycles of predetermined duration and pattern whereby the ramp cycles may be customized to accommodate the specific needs of an individual sleep apnea patient so as to ease the patient's transition from wakefulness to sleep, (3) remote control or patient-sensed operation of the apparatus, (4) employment of safety circuitry, reset circuitry and minimum system leak assurance circuitry, controls and methods, and (5) utilization of clinical control circuitry whereby sleep disorder data may be compiled and appropriate therapy implemented during a one-night sleep study.

Embodiments of the invention include methods and devices to prevent or treat upper airway disorders in mammals related to impaired airflow. One aspect of this invention is a tongue retractor (LTR) that indirectly retracts tongue base by its implant site in the frenulum area. This simplifies the insertion, adjustment and maintenance of the device. Another aspect of this invention describes a highly localized and fully implantable LTR that is inserted into the base of tongue to stiffen lax surface mucosa or mechanically couple it to internal tongue structures. Another aspect of this invention is an LTR inserted in or around the pharyngoglossal fold. This site allows retraction and stiffening of tongue base tissue as well as the soft palate and lateral pharyngeal wall.

A headgear for securing and positioning a mask suitable for the treatment of sleep disordered breathing is constructed from a composite including polyurethane foam. It includes a back portion with upper and lower straps connected to the back portion. The straps have relatively narrow strap ends the lower straps are displaced downward with respect to the back portion. A quick release mechanism near the front of the face attaches the headgear to the mask. Additional components can be attached to the straps to alter their elasticity and stiffness.

A notification system monitors changes in air flow channeled between a positive air pressure generator and a CPAP mask supplying positive airway pressure to a patient during treatment of sleep apnea. An air flow sensor and / or pressure sensor is positioned to monitor air flow channeled to the mask. When a sensor detects a significant change in air flow and / or air pressure, a detection signal is analyzed by a controller unit microprocessor for comparisons with a preselected operating range for air flow and / or pressure. Upon verification the air flow and / or pressure is not within the preselected range, a remote transmission is transmitted to an alarm means proximal of the patient. The alarm means directs at least one stimulus to the patient for alerting and waking the patient. The alarm stimulus includes audio and / or vibratory stimuli of sufficient intensity to alert the patient that mask adjustments are required for proper CPAP treatment.

A custom, sized and fitted, integrated oral appliance is provided to treat breathing obstruction and restriction in the upper airway during sleep. Several novel features are integrated in a single device, which includes mandible repositioning to open the airway, and tongue restraint to prevent airway blockage. This device is comprised of a built-in air conduit to bypass nasal restriction and airway occlusion. In operation, the appliance is positioned in the oral cavity to firmly grip the upper and lower dentition using customized unshaped trays. Appliance positioning advances the mandible to an adjustable predetermined position and simultaneously restrains the tongue using flexible bristles attached to a spring-loaded, tongue-restraint-ac (TRAC) component. A hollow air conduit, built into the TRAC, spans the area between the users' lips and soft palate. It facilitates the flow of self-heated, moisturized air directly to (and from) the oropharynx to bypass airway obstructions and / or nasal restrictions.

Systems and methods provide for detecting snoring, and for determining the presence of sleep disordered breathing using detected snoring. Snoring indicative signals generated by one or more patient-internal or external sensors are detected. The presence of sleep disordered breathing is algorithmically determined, patient-internally or externally, using the snoring signals. Algorithmically determining presence of sleep disordered breathing may include computing a snoring index developed from the detected snoring. Sleep apnea may be detected using the snoring index. Sleep apnea may be verified using internal or external sensors. A positive airway pressure device may operate cooperatively to verify and treat sleep disordered breathing.

Provided herein are 3,3-disubstituted 19-nor-steroidal compounds according to Formula (I) and (III): where R1, R2, R3, R3′, R4, R6a, R6a, R11a, and R11b are as defined herein. Compounds of the present invention are contemplated useful for the prevention and treatment of a variety of CNS-related conditions, for example, treatment of sleep disorders, mood disorders, insomnia, anxiety, depression, traumatic brain injury (TBI), stress, and epilepsy.

An intraoral mandibular advancement device to treat sleep disorders in a user having an obstructed airway includes a maxillary appliance with a main body for removable attachment to the maxillary teeth; a protrusive element distending from the central portion of the main body; and retention means extending from the main body for retention of the device on the maxillary teeth during sleep. A mandibular appliance removably attaches to the mandibular anterior teeth and includes a lingual spacer that extends posteriorly from the mandibular anterior teeth. The anterior aspect of the protrusive element of the maxillary appliance contacts the posterior edge of the lingual space and thereby causes mandibular advancement.

A method of using CPAP equipment to sense cardiogenic oscillations in a patient's airflow, and to monitor and treat the patient's cardiac condition. The apparatus diagnoses cardiac morbidity conditions, such as the existence of arrhythmias or other cardiac abnormalities, and influences and optimizes cardiac stroke volume. The apparatus further monitors pulse-transit time, changes in the heart pre-ejection period, and the duration of the cardiac cycle.

An apparatus and method for treating sleep apnea and / or snoring is provided. The apparatus includes an appliance sized and structured to be placed in the pharyngeal region of a human or animal and being effective in treating sleep apnea and / or snoring, for example in maintaining openness of an oropharyngeal region of a human or animal during natural sleep, advantageously while not interfering with normal functioning of the epiglottis. Preferably, the appliance is non-circumferential in form and includes rounded, spaced apart end portions.

A ventilation apparatus for treating sleep apnea is provided. A ventilator controlled by a control system may deliver ventilation gas through a ventilation gas delivery circuit to a ventilation catheter and a distal tip on the ventilation catheter. One or more sensors may detect a breathing cycle and the control system may operate the ventilator in synchrony with the breathing cycle. The distal tip may deliver the ventilation gas superiorly from the transtracheal ventilation catheter towards an upper airway, inferiorly from the transtracheal ventilation catheter towards a lung, or a combination of both. The ventilation catheter may be a transtracheal catheter, a trans-oral catheter or a trans-nasal catheter.

An airway implant device for maintaining and / or creating an opening in air passageways is disclosed. Methods of using the device are also disclosed. The airway implant device comprises an actuator element to control the opening of an air passageway. Preferably the actuator element is an electroactive polymer element. Energizing of the electroactive polymer element provides support for the walls in order to prevent the collapse of an air passageway. Some embodiments of the invention include a sensor capable of sensing the possible occurrence of an apneic event and activating the actuator element of the airway implant device. Some embodiments include a housing designed to conform to the shape of the palate. Some embodiments include an attachment element to secure the device to tissue. Methods of treating airway disorders such as sleep apnea and snoring with the airway implant device are disclosed herein.

A medical appliance for the treatment of one or more sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea in a patient, the appliance comprising: a biasing member for inserting behind and exerting a force upon the patient's soft palate or tongue, wherein the biasing member is inserted in a reduced or minimized form and then expanded or firms once in place to exert the force. The appliance may be nasally inserted or be placed through the mouth. In a particular configuration, both the soft palate and tongue are biased to prevent obstruction of the flow of air in the nasopharyngeal airway.

A method for the detection and treatment of disordered breathing during sleep employs an artificial neural network (ANN) in which data related to breathing gas flow are analyzed. A respiratory circuit is established by connecting the patient to a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system with pressurized breathing gas supply, the gas flow in the circuit is periodically sampled, one or several cepstrum parameters distinctive of various breathing patterns are periodically calculated; the parameter values are periodically fed to an ANN trained to recognize breathing patterns characteristic of sleep disordered breathing and are analyzed in the network, the CPAP pressurized breathing gas supply is controlled in response to the ANN output. Also disclosed is a corresponding apparatus.

The invention relates to an elastic tongue dorsum traction apparatus and a method for implanting the same. The elastic tongue dorsum traction apparatus and the method are used for treating patients suffering from sleep apnea-hypopnea syndromes or snoring. The elastic tongue dorsum traction apparatus comprises a tongue dorsum connecting mechanism, elastic traction bodies and tooth-side fixators. A support body of the tongue dorsum connecting mechanism is implanted under the mucosa of the tongue dorsum of a patient, and the elastic traction bodies and the tongue dorsum connecting mechanism are exposed out of the mucosa of the tongue dorsum of the patient. The tooth-side fixators are fixed to the inner sides of the teeth or the alveolar bones of the patient, one end of each elastic traction body is connected with the corresponding tooth-side fixator, and the other end of each elastic traction body is connected with the tongue dorsum connecting mechanism. The elastic tongue dorsum traction apparatus and the method have the advantages that the tooth-side fixators are used as support points, the elastic traction bodies can exert elastic tractive force on the tongue dorsum connecting mechanism, accordingly, the glossocoma tongue of the patient can be pulled up forwardly, airway stenosis and obstruction of the glossopharyngeal part of the patient can be prevented, and snoring and OSAHS (obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome) treatment effects can be realized; an elastic traction effect is realized for the tongue dorsum connecting mechanism by the elastic traction bodies, so that movement of the tongue of the patient is unaffected while the tongue of the patient is moderately pulled up, certain swallowing and speaking functions can be kept, the airway of the glossopharyngeal part of the patient can be expanded, and the patient feels comfortable when using the elastic tongue dorsum traction apparatus.

An improved treatment of obstructive sleep apnea is disclosed. A method and various device combinations are presented. The device combinations describe optimal adjustments to properly position a nasal pillow in each of a patient's nares. A novel swivel joint is described to which a nasal pillow is slip-fit over. The swivel joint prevents loss of a proper seal between the nasal pillow and nare which may otherwise occur as a result of head movement. Also presented is an improved obturator mouthpiece design which substantially eliminates air flow through the oral cavity resulting from leakage in the oropharynx.

An intraoral mandibular advancement device to treat sleep disorders in a user having an obstructed airway includes a maxillary appliance with a main body for removable attachment to the maxillary teeth; a protrusive element distending from the central portion of the main body; and retention means extending from the main body for retention of the device on the maxillary teeth during sleep. A mandibular appliance removably attaches to the mandibular anterior teeth and includes a lingual spacer that extends posteriorly from the mandibular anterior teeth. The anterior aspect of the protrusive element of the maxillary appliance contacts the posterior edge of the lingual space and thereby causes mandibular advancement.