CPC A61N 1/3611 (2013.01) [A61B 5/0826 (2013.01); A61B 5/4818 (2013.01); A61N 1/00 (2013.01); A61N 1/0556 (2013.01); A61N 1/18 (2013.01); A61N 1/36 (2013.01)] | 17 Claims |
1. An apparatus for treating sleep apnea in a subject, the apparatus comprising:
i. at least two implantable neural interfacing elements each having one or more electrodes, wherein one of the at least two implantable neural interfacing elements is configured to be in signaling contact with at least one of a left cervical sympathetic chain (CSC), a left superior cervical ganglion (SCG) or postganglionic branch thereof to induce a change in a first parameter associated with sleep apnea and wherein the other one of the at least two implantable neural interfacing elements is configured to be in signaling contact with at least one of a right cervical sympathetic chain (CSC), a right superior cervical ganglion (SCG) or postganglionic branch thereof to induce change in a second parameter associated with sleep apnea; and
ii. a controller operably coupled to the at least two implantable neural interfacing elements, the controller causes the at least two implantable neural interfacing elements to deliver electrical signals that increase localized sympathetic activity of the left CSC, left SCG or postganglionic branch thereof and the right CSC, the right SCG or postganglionic branch thereof,
wherein the increased sympathetic activity of at least one of the CSC, SCG or postganglionic branch ameliorates sleep apnea in the subject, and further wherein the electrical signals induce changes to the first parameter and the second parameter and modulate different aspects of sleep apnea.
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