DETERMINING A TYPE OF DISORDERED BREATHING
A device is disclosed that can determine a type of disordered breathing in a patient. The device can include a number of contacts adapted to make contact with portions of an oral cavity of a patient and configured to provide a first signal indicative of one or more states of the patient's upper airway. The device can also include a control circuit configured to determine a type of disordered breathing in the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal.
1 . A device comprising:
a number of contacts adapted to make contact with portions of an oral cavity of a patient and configured to provide a first signal indicative of one or more states of the patient's upper airway; and
a control circuit coupled to the contacts and configured to determine a type of disordered breathing in the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the determined type of disordered breathing is one of a breathing obstruction, central nervous system (CNS) depression, and hyperventilation.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a portion of two of the contacts are adapted to be positioned posterior to a last molar location of the patient.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to selectively provide electrical stimulation to a portion of the patient's upper airway, via the number of contacts, based on the determined type of disordered breathing.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:
electrically stimulate the portion of the patient's upper airway based on the disordered breathing comprising a breathing obstruction; and
withhold electrical stimulation of the portion of the patient's upper airway based on the disordered breathing consisting of central nervous system (CNS) depression.
6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the electrical stimulation is configured to target the patient's Palatoglossus muscle and to avoid targeting the patient's Hypoglossal nerve.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:
indicate the type of disordered breathing as a breathing obstruction based on a magnitude of the first signal decreasing during each of at least two successive respiratory cycles of the patient; and
indicate the type of disordered breathing as a central nervous system (CNS) depression based on the magnitude of the first signal remaining substantially constant for a number of respiratory cycles of the patient.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:
indicate the type of disordered breathing as a breathing obstruction based on a positive slope of the first signal decreasing during each of at least two successive respiratory cycles of the patient; and
indicate the type of disordered breathing as a central nervous system (CNS) depression based on the magnitude of the first signal remaining substantially constant for a number of respiratory cycles of the patient.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:
indicate the type of disordered breathing as a breathing obstruction based on a magnitude of the first signal varying by more than an amount during a time period; and
indicate the type of disordered breathing as a central nervous system (CNS) depression based on a magnitude of the first signal remaining relatively constant for the time period.
10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the device comprises a sensor configured to provide a second signal indicating an amount of airflow in the patient's upper airway; and
the control circuit is configured to determine the type of disordered breathing in the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal and the second signal.
11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the first signal is indicative of at least one of electrical activity in the patient's upper airway, movement of the patient's upper airway, and a change in the patient's respiration rate.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises a thermistor.
13 . A method comprising:
receiving, from a number of contacts positioned within an oral cavity of a patient, a first signal indicative of one or more states of the patient's upper airway; and
determining a type of disordered breathing in the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the determined type of disordered breathing is one of a breathing obstruction, central nervous system (CNS) depression, and hyperventilation.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein a portion of two of the contacts are adapted to be positioned posterior to a last molar location of the patient.
16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
selectively providing electrical stimulation to a portion of the patient's upper airway, via the number of contacts, based on the determined type of disordered breathing.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
electrically stimulating the portion of the patient's upper airway based on the disordered breathing comprising a breathing obstruction; and
withholding electrical stimulation of the portion of the patient's upper airway based on the disordered breathing consisting of central nervous system (CNS) depression.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the electrical stimulation is configured to target the patient's Palatoglossus muscle and to avoid targeting the patient's Hypoglossal nerve.
19 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
indicating the type of disordered breathing as a breathing obstruction based on a magnitude of the first signal decreasing during each of at least two successive respiratory cycles of the patient; and
indicating the type of disordered breathing as a central nervous system (CNS) depression based on the magnitude of the first signal remaining substantially constant for a number of respiratory cycles of the patient.
20 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
indicating the type of disordered breathing as a breathing obstruction based on a positive slope of the first signal decreasing during each of at least two successive respiratory cycles of the patient; and
indicating the type of disordered breathing as a central nervous system (CNS) depression based on the magnitude of the first signal remaining substantially constant for a number of respiratory cycles of the patient.
21 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
indicating the type of disordered breathing as a breathing obstruction based on a magnitude of the first signal varying by more than an amount during a time period; and
indicating the type of disordered breathing as a central nervous system (CNS) depression based on a magnitude of the first signal remaining relatively constant for the time period.
22 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
receiving, from a sensor, a second signal indicating an amount of airflow in the patient's upper airway; and
determining the type of disordered breathing in the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal and the second signal.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the first signal is indicative of at least one member of the group consisting of electrical activity in the patient's upper airway, movement of the patient's upper airway, and a change in the patient's respiration rate.
24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the sensor comprises a thermistor.