Medical techniques include systems and methods for administering a positive pressure ventilation, a positive end expiratory pressure, and a vacuum to a person. Approaches also include treating a person with an intrathoracic pressure regulator so as to modulate or upregulate the autonomic system of the person, and treating a person with a combination of an intrathoracic pressure regulation treatment and an intra-aortic balloon pump treatment.

Devices and methods are provided to treat acute and chronic heart failure by using one or more implantable or non-implantable sensors along with phrenic nerve stimulation to reduce intrathoracic pressure and thereby reduce pulmonary artery, atrial, and ventricular pressures leading to reduced complications and hospitalization.

Devices, systems and methods provide forms of asymptomatic diaphragmatic stimulation (ADS) therapy that affect pressures within the intrathoracic cavity, including: 1) dual-pulse ADS therapy, during which a first ADS pulse is delivered during a diastolic phase of a cardiac cycle and a second ADS pulse is delivered during a systolic phase, 2) paired-pulse ADS therapy, during which a first ADS pulse is delivered, closely followed by a second ADS pulse, with the second ADS pulse functioning to extend or enhance a phase of a transient, partial contraction of the diaphragm, and 3) multiple-pulse ADS therapy, during which a stream of ADS pulses is delivered, wherein the time between pulses is based on heart rate. Devices, systems and methods also monitor electromyography (EMG) activity of the diaphragm relative to baseline activity to assess the health of a diaphragm subject to ADS therapy and to adjust ADS therapy parameters or sensing parameters.

An example system for exciting a selected set of motor neurons of a patient comprises one or more signal generators configured for generating a first electrical signal and a second electrical signal; a first set of wires configured to provide the first electrical signal to a first set of electrodes, wherein the first set of electrodes are configured for being secured to a first set of positions on the patient; a second set of wires configured to provide the second electrical signal to a second set of electrodes, wherein the second set of electrodes are configured for being secured to a second set of positions on the patient; and a controller configured to control operation of the one or more signal generators. The first electrical signal is a periodic signal of a first frequency. The second electrical signal is a periodic signal of a second frequency. The first frequency and the second frequency differ by a non-zero frequency difference. The first signal is provided to the first electrodes and the second signal is provided to the second electrodes for exciting the set of motor neurons of the patient.

A device and/or method to determine a sleep-wake status, such as in association with sleep disordered breathing (SDB) care.

Intraoral electrical stimulation devices are disclosed. A representative device, which can be used to treat sleep apnea, includes an intraoral attachment body, a guide element carried by the attachment body and having a constrained guide path, and an electrode movably supported relative to the guide element and movable along the constrained guide path to a plurality of positions. A positioning member is coupleable to the electrode to move the electrode along the constrained guide path, and a signal generator is coupleable to the electrode to direct a stimulation signal to the electrode.

Mandibular repositioning devices have a mandibular piece having a first teeth covering and having a housing proximate each of a left molar portion and a right molar portion, a protrusive flange extending cranially from each housing, and a maxillary piece having a second teeth covering and having a housing proximate each of a left molar portion and a right molar portion. Each housing encloses a power source electrically connected an on-board circuit board and the housings of the maxillary piece further have the power source electrically connected to a motor operatively connected to a drive for anterior and posterior movements of the mandibular piece. The maxillary piece sits on the mandibular piece with the driver operatively engaged with the protrusive flange. The protrusive flange has a concavely-shaped anterior surface mated to a convexly-shaped head of the driver shaped to match the concavely-shaped anterior surface of the protrusive flange.

A method includes receiving respiration data associated with respiration of a user from a respiration monitoring device that is positioned inside the user adjacent to a thoracic cavity of the user. The method also includes determining, based at least in part on the respiration data associated with respiration of the user, a respiration signal for the user. The method also includes determining, based at least in part on the respiration signal, a predicted start time for a future inhalation of the user. The method also includes causing a stimulation device to provide electrical stimulation to one or more branches of a nerve of the user at the predicted start time, the stimulation device being positioned inside the user adjacent to a tongue of the user and being physically separated from the respiration monitoring device.

The present invention provides a method of inhibiting the growth of proliferating cells, viruses or bacteria in living tissue, the method comprising: applying low to mid-level frequency Alternating Current electromagnetic signals to the living tissue with a transducer comprising a magnetically conductive material passing through a conduction ring energized by an electrical signal to create the low to mid-level frequency AC current electromagnetic signals within the living tissue; wherein the low to mid-level frequency AC current electromagnetic signals have a frequency in the range of about 50 kHz to about 300 kHz and are produced with an AC voltage generator; and circulating fluid in the living tissue provide a secondary coil for the transmission of the low to mid-level frequency AC current electromagnetic signals.

A method of treating obstructive sleep apnea according to this disclosure may include: providing an implant comprising a substantially planar central body portion having a top side and a bottom side; at least two adjustable wing portions; and at least two connecting members, each one of the at least two connecting members extending from opposite sides of the central body portion, the each one of the at least two connecting members being configured for flexibly connecting each one of the at least two wing portions at opposite sides to said central body portion; forming a surgical opening to expose a genioglossus muscle; exposing a branch of a hypoglossal nerve for stimulation by the implant at least on one side of the geniouglossus; forming at least one pocket on at least one side of the geniouglossus; such that the pocket dimensions are configured to fit the at least one of the at least two wing portions of the device; inserting an implant device through the surgical opening such that the central body extends over the genioglossus and each one of the wing portions is received in the respective at least one pocket; and securing the implant device to the muscle.