Percutaneous access for systems and methods of treating sleep-related disordered breathing

1. A method of implanting comprising:

inserting, via a single skin incision, a stimulation element into a head-and-neck region adjacent an upper airway patency-related nerve; and

advancing the stimulation element through tissue underlying the single skin incision and positioning the stimulation element within the head-and-neck region to establish engagement of an electrode array of the stimulation element relative to a target portion of the upper airway patency-related nerve;

employing an introduction tool to carry the stimulation element during the inserting and advancing, wherein the stimulation element resides within the introduction tool during the inserting and the advancing and wherein the stimulation at least one anchoring element, and

wherein the introduction tool includes:

an engagement mechanism at a distal portion of the introduction tool; and

a trigger at a proximal portion of the introduction tool to cause the selective deployment of the engagement mechanism; and

upon final positioning of the stimulation element relative to the target portion of the upper airway patency-related nerve, selectively deploying the engagement mechanism of the introduction tool to cause the at least one anchoring element, coupled to the stimulation element, to securely engage non-nerve surrounding tissue to maintain engagement of the stimulation element relative to the target portion of the upper airway patency-related nerve.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the positioning comprises:

prior to the securely engaging, selectively initially positioning the electrode array of the stimulation element along a length of the target portion of the upper airway patency-related nerve, while stimulating the upper airway patency-related nerve, to identify a target stimulation site.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

withdrawing the introduction tool via the single skin incision while leaving the stimulation element positioned, via the at least one anchoring element, in engagement relative to the target portion of the upper airway patency-related nerve.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one anchoring element comprises a barb detachably connected to a portion of the stimulation element.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

arranging a carrier body of the stimulation element to include:

a first portion comprising the electrode array; and

a second portion comprising a non-conductive portion supporting the electrode array; and

a non-nerve securing structure located at least one of:

at least one of opposite side portions of the carrier body; or

at least one of opposite end portions of the carrier body; and

maintaining engagement of the electrode array relative to the target portion of the upper airway patency-related nerve via securing a respective one of the opposite side portions and end portions, via the at least one anchoring element, relative to the non-nerve surrounding tissue.

6. The method of claim 5 , arranging the non-nerve securing structure as a loop to which the at least one anchoring element may be coupled; and

engaging the non-nerve surrounding tissue via the at least one anchoring element to secure the loop to the non-nerve surrounding tissue.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the introduction tool comprises a conduit.