CPC A61N 1/0452 (2013.01) [A61B 5/4812 (2013.01); A61N 1/0496 (2013.01); A61N 1/36031 (2017.08); A61B 2562/0219 (2013.01)] | 29 Claims |
1. A wearable device for decreasing respiratory effort of a subject during sleep, the wearable device comprising:
a housing configured to be worn on the subject's head and/or neck during sleep;
a left bipolar electrode associated with the housing and comprising a first electrode portion spaced apart from a second electrode portion, the first and second electrode portions each configured to be mounted on the subject's skin at the subject's left masseter muscle;
a right bipolar electrode associated with the housing and comprising a third electrode portion spaced apart from a fourth electrode portion, the third and fourth electrode portions each configured to be mounted on the subject's skin at the subject's right masseter muscle; and
a stimulator associated with the housing and coupled to the left and right bipolar electrodes, the stimulator configured to cause the left bipolar electrode to transcutaneously stimulate a left motor point of the left masseter muscle to cause the left masseter muscle to contract and to cause the right bipolar electrode to transcutaneously stimulate a right motor point of the right masseter muscle to cause the right masseter muscle to contract, thereby elevating the subject's mandible to decrease respiratory effort during sleep.
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