Auto-titration of positive airway pressure machine with feedback from implantable sensor

1. A system to treat obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:

an ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) sensor adapted to be attached to a region in an airway passage in an oral cavity which generates an electrical output when a change in shape of the airway passage in the oral cavity occurs; and

a transmitter device electrically coupled to the IPMC sensor and configured to wirelessly transmit at least one electronic signal;

a sensor analyzer wirelessly electronically coupled to the transmitter device for wirelessly receiving and for analyzing the at least one electronic signal and generating an output based thereon; and

a positive airway pressure machine electronically coupled to the sensor analyzer for generating an optimum input pressure to treat the sleep apnea event according to the output from the sensor analyzer.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the output of the sensor analyzer is generated in a linear or non-linear or adaptive fashion.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the output generation is based on neural network algorithms.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the IPMC sensor includes an electro active polymer material.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the IPMC sensor is configured as an elongated strip.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the IPMC sensor is adapted to be implanted into the soft palate.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the IPMC sensor does not include an external power source.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the positive airway pressure machine automatically titrates an amount of pressure delivered to a patient.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the positive airway pressure machine includes a pressure controller.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the pressure controller is coupled to a pressure sensor which outputs a pressure signal.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the pressure signal is also used to generate the optimum input pressure.

12. A method to treat obstructive sleep apnea in a patient, the method comprising:

attaching an ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) sensor to a region in an airway passage in an oral cavity of the patient;

generating at least one electronic signal from the IPMC sensor when a change in shape of the mouth or larynx occurs from an obstructive sleep apnea event and independent of pressure in the airway passage;

wirelessly transmitting the at least one electronic signal;

receiving and analyzing the at least one electronic signal at a location external the patient;

generating an output based on the at least one electronic signal; and

generating an optimum input pressure at least partially based on the output, for a positive airway pressure machine to treat the obstructive sleep apnea event.

13. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising generating at least one additional electronic signal from a second ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) sensor.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the output is generated in a linear or non-linear or adaptive fashion.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the output generation is based on neural network algorithms.

16. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising generating a pressure signal from a pressure sensor.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the pressure signal is also used to generate the optimum input sensor.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the output is the sole input to generate the optimum input pressure.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein wirelessly transmitting the at least one electronic signal is performed by a transmitter device which is coupled to the IPMC sensor.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of attaching the IPMC sensor includes implanting the IPMC sensor into a soft palate of the patient.