Thoracic Impedance Nerve Stimulation for Sleep Apnea
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for treating obstructive sleep apnea using nerve stimulation often fail to accurately detect respiratory cycles due to signal artifacts and low signal-to-noise ratios, leading to inadequate relief of upper airway obstruction.
Innovation Solution
The method involves measuring thoracic impedance using electrodes to determine the patient's respiratory cycle and stimulating nerves associated with sleep apnea, such as the hypoglossal nerve or ansa cervicalis nerve, based on the impedance values to relieve upper airway obstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If implanted pressure sensors or IMUs are used to detect respiratory cycles, then nerve stimulation can be timed with breathing, but signal artifacts and low signal-to-noise ratio cause frequent detection failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/physical sensing systems (implanted pressure sensors, IMUs) with an electrical measurement system based on thoracic impedance. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical sensors and their associated signal processing challenges, achieving more reliable respiratory cycle detection through simpler electrical impedance measurements that are less susceptible to artifacts and noise.
2Measurement precision
If thoracic impedance measurement is used to detect respiratory cycles, then detection accuracy is improved, but additional electrodes and wireless transmission components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by using the same electrodes that are already present in the nerve stimulation device for both nerve stimulation and thoracic impedance measurement. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated sensing electrodes, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision for respiratory cycle detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the impedance measurement function with the existing nerve stimulation system by integrating the measurement circuitry and using the same electrode infrastructure. This consolidation eliminates redundant components and simplifies the overall device architecture while achieving accurate respiratory cycle detection.
3Reliability
If nerve stimulation is timed based on accurate respiratory cycle detection, then upper airway obstruction relief is enhanced, but stimulation timing must be precisely controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring thoracic impedance changes that indicate respiratory phase transitions. The system uses this real-time feedback to automatically adjust stimulation timing, ensuring that nerve stimulation is delivered at the optimal moment in the respiratory cycle to maximize upper airway obstruction relief while maintaining precise temporal control.
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
This approach provides more reliable and accurate timing of nerve stimulation, effectively reducing obstructive sleep apnea symptoms by improving respiratory cycle detection and enhancing upper airway patency.
Implementation Method 1
measuring, with a number of electrodes, thoracic impedance of the patient
Implementation Method 2
stimulating, with a nerve stimulation device implanted in the patient, a nerve of the patient based on the thoracic impedance
Data Source
AI summary
A method of treating obstructive sleep apnea in a patient includes measuring, with electrodes, thoracic impedance of the patient, and stimulating, with a nerve stimulation device implanted in the patient, a nerve of patient based on the thoracic impedance. The nerve is associated with sleep apnea, such as the hypoglossal nerve and/or the ansa cervicalis nerve. The electrodes may be either surface electrodes or implanted electrodes, and the thoracic impedance may be trans-thoracic impedance or intra-thoracic impedance.