Therapy protocol activation triggered based on initial coupling
The present disclosure is directed to a control unit for cooperating with an adhesive patch to convey power from a location external to a subject to a location within the subject. The control unit may include a housing configured for selective mounting on the adhesive patch and may further include at least one processor within the housing. The at least one processor may be configured to activate when the housing is mounted on the adhesive patch and to delay, for a predetermined amount of time following activation of the at least one processor, generation of therapeutic control signals for modulating at least one nerve in the subject's body.
1. A device for treating sleep apnea, and for cooperating with a patch configured for adhesion to convey power from a location external to a subject to an implant beneath the subject's skin, the device comprising:
a housing configured for selective mounting on a side of the patch, the housing including one or more electrical connectors configured to maintain electrical contact with an electrical portion of an antenna, the electrical portion of the antenna being exposed on the side of the patch for mounting the housing; and
at least one processor within the housing, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
be activated by the selective mounting of the housing on the patch, wherein activation enables the implant to modulate a hypoglossal nerve and thereby cause contraction of a genioglossus muscle;
after the activation of the at least one processor, cause generation of sub-modulation signals to facilitate placement of the patch on the subject's skin at a position relative to an implant beneath the subject's skin, the sub-modulation signals having a power level below a stimulation threshold for a nerve or nerve tissue;
discontinue the sub-modulation signals after the placement of the patch at the position relative to the implant beneath the subject's skin;
delay, for a predetermined amount of time after the activation of the at least one processor and the placement of the patch, generation of modulation signals to thereby delay at least one contraction of a genioglossus muscle until after the subject has had an opportunity to fall asleep; and
increase one or more parameters of the modulation signals periodically until receiving a feedback signal indicating nerve modulation has occurred.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the delay extends for at least a calibration period associated with device.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the delay is of sufficient time duration to enable proper placement of the patch on the subject's skin, the sufficient time duration including at least one of approximately 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, and 10 minutes.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount of time is zero.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the delay is of sufficient time duration to enable the subject to fall asleep, the sufficient time duration being between approximately fifteen to ninety minutes.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to enable generation of therapeutic control signals for modulating at least one nerve in the subject's body after placement of the patch on the subject's skin.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount of time is greater than zero.