Ansa Cervicalis Neuromodulation for Upper Airway Collapse

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing treatments for sleep disordered breathing, such as CPAP therapy and hypoglossal nerve stimulation, have limited effectiveness and are not suitable for all patients, as they do not adequately address airway collapse during sleep.

Innovation Solution

A neuromodulation system that delivers a combination of stimulating and blocking neuromodulation signals to neural target sites, including the ansa cervicalis, hypoglossal nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve, and pharyngeal plexus, to activate and inhibit specific muscle groups, thereby reducing upper airway compliance and preventing airway collapse.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If CPAP therapy is used to treat OSA, then airway pressure is maintained to prevent collapse, but compliance is limited with reported rates ranging from 50% to 70%

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidpatient compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical CPAP system with a neuromodulation system that uses electrical signals to stimulate the hypoglossal nerve and ansa cervicalis, thereby activating muscles to maintain airway patency without requiring external mechanical pressure devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The neuromodulation system activates the patient's own muscle tissues (genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus, infrahyoid muscles) to maintain airway opening, making the treatment self-performing through physiological mechanisms rather than requiring external device compliance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If hypoglossal nerve stimulation is used to protrude and stiffen the tongue muscle, then pharyngeal airway is dilated, but only a small subset of patients have suitable anatomy and many continue to suffer from airway collapse

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairway dilation effectivenessVSAvoidpatient suitability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the neuromodulation treatment into multiple independent target sites (hypoglossal nerve and ansa cervicalis) that can be stimulated separately, allowing customization based on individual patient anatomy and response to maximize airway stabilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies localized neuromodulation to specific muscle groups (genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus, infrahyoid muscles) based on their individual roles in airway maintenance, with different stimulation parameters tailored to each target site's specific function and patient response

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If stimulation is applied to the ansa cervicalis to activate infrahyoid muscles, then upper airway compliance is reduced, but undesirable retrograde efferent activation of suprahyoid muscles may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairway stiffnessVSAvoidundesirable muscle activation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and selectively blocks the retrograde efferent fibers from the ansa cervicalis stimulation, isolating the desired infrahyoid muscle activation while preventing the harmful suprahyoid muscle activation through targeted neuromodulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful retrograde efferent activation into a beneficial selective block, using the same stimulation pathway to achieve both infrahyoid activation (beneficial) and suprahyoid block (harmful prevention) through coordinated signal delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively reduces airway collapse by stiffening the upper airway and preventing undesirable muscle contractions, offering a more comprehensive treatment for sleep disordered breathing with minimal side effects.

Implementation Method 1

delivering a stimulating neuromodulation signal to an ansa cervicalis that stimulates activation of the ansa cervicalis innervating one or more infrahyoid muscles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNeuromodulation:

Implementation Method 2

delivering a blocking neuromodulation signal to the ansa cervicalis that blocks activation of efferent fibers that innervate one or more suprahyoid muscles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical stimulation:

Data Source

PatentUS20250387624A1Systems and methods of improving sleep disordered breathing

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 VANDERBILT UNIV

AI summary

Systems and methods for improving sleep disordered breathing are provided including delivering a stimulating neuromodulation signal to an ansa cervicalis that stimulates activation of the ansa cervicalis innervating one or more infrahyoid muscles. A blocking neuromodulation signal to the ansa cervicalis can be delivered that blocks activation of efferent fibers that innervate one or more suprahyoid muscles. The blocking neuromodulation signal can mitigate undesirable retrograde efferent activation of the one or more suprahyoid muscles.