Therapeutic treatment of sleep disorder by nerve stimulation
US5335657A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 3, 1991 |
| Grant date | Aug 9, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 3, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/3614
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Method and apparatus for treating and controlling sleep disorders by detecting the presence of the sleep disorder under treatment, and, in response, selectively applying a predetermined electrical signal to the patient's vagus nerve for stimulation thereof to alleviate the sleep disorder under treatment. The method and apparatus includes several techniques for detecting the presence of the sleep disorder under treatment, such as sensing the patient's EEG activity in the case of insomniac and hypersomniac patients, or detecting a sudden nodding of the head in the case of narcoleptic patients, or sensing the cessation of respiration in the case of sleep apnea patients.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.