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.

Neuromodulation of cranial nerves can be used to treat sleep or breathing disorders, among other diseases and disorders. A neuromodulation system can include a housing configured for implantation in an anterior cervical region of a patient, such as at or under a mandible of the patient, such as at least partially in one or more of a submental triangle, a submandibular triangle, and a carotid triangle. The system can include an electrode lead coupled to the housing, and the electrode lead can include an electrode configured to be disposed at or near a cranial nerve target in the patient. The system can be configured to generate electrical neuromodulation signals for delivery to the cranial nerve target using the electrode.

A delivery system is disclosed having an implant retainer configured to releasably hold an implant unit and maintain the implant unit in a fixation location relative to target tissue in a subject's body during an implantation procedure. A first suture guide portion may be disposed on a first side of the implant retainer and configured to guide a suture needle during the implantation procedure. A second suture guide portion may be disposed on a second side of the implant retainer, opposite the first side, and configured to guide the suture needle after the suture needle exits the first suture guide portion.

A power element for an implantable medical device is described. The implantable medical device includes sealingly contained circuitry and a sealingly contained power element. The sealingly contained power element supplies power to the circuitry.

Aspects of this disclosure describe methods and systems for nerve stimulation using a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter includes a catheter, an inflatable balloon with a surface, and a set of electrodes positioned along the surface of the inflatable balloon. The balloon catheter may be positioned in a vessel of a patient, such as the esophagus. The patient may be concurrently undergoing mechanical ventilation. The balloon catheter is secured in the vessel by inflating the inflatable balloon. When the inflatable balloon is inflated, the surface of the inflatable balloon and the set of electrodes is positioned at an internal wall of the vessel. Stimulation is provided to a nerve near the vessel, via the set of electrodes, based on stimulation parameters. Values for the stimulation parameters may be adjusted based on breathing parameters of the patient. The stimulation parameters may also be adjusted to wean a patient off mechanical ventilation.

An implant unit configured for implantation into a body of a subject is provided. The implant unit may include a flexible carrier unit including a central portion and two elongated arms extending from the central portion, an antenna, located on the central portion, configured to receive a signal, at least one pair of electrodes arranged on a first elongated arm of the two elongated arms. The at least one pair of electrodes may be adapted to modulate a first nerve. The elongated arms of the flexible carrier may be configured to form an open ended curvature around a muscle with the nerve to be stimulated within an arc of the curvature.

A method of treating a patient, comprising: sensing a biological parameter indicative of respiration; analyzing the biological parameter to identify a respiratory cycle; identifying an inspiratory phase of the respiratory cycle; and delivering stimulation to a hypoglossal nerve of the patient, wherein stimulation is delivered if a duration of the inspiratory phase of the respiratory cycle is greater than a predetermined portion of a duration of the entire respiratory cycle.

A system for electrical ventilation stimulation of a patient including an implantable nerve stimulator including a stimulation circuit and a pulse generator that produces biphasic charge-balanced pulses to stimulate a phrenic nerve, an external digital programming device having near field communication transmission and a digital interface, and wherein the external digital programming device is used to control settings of the implantable nerve stimulator.

Methods and systems for treating sleep apnea using electrical stimulation to a patient's upper and/or lower respiratory nerve or muscle are described. A stimulation regimen can be used to achieve upper airway patency and/or rhythmic air flow in a coordinated fashion during sleep. In some cases, diaphragm activity is monitored to determine whether sufficient upper airway patency and/or rhythmic air flow is achieved and maintained. The stimulation regimen may be adjusted based on the diaphragm activity. In some cases, the system includes modularized components so that the components can be customized to an individual's needs.

A system and method for determining parameters of stimulation electrical signals for vagus nerve stimulation is discussed. Initial parameters of the signals are selected to provide reliable response to stimulation in physiological measurements of a subject. One or more physiological and neurological indices are determined based on a vagus nerve response model. For a selected vagus nerve activation, the electrical parameters of the signals are varied while monitoring changes in physiological parameters and values of the indices. The electrical parameters are varied until desired response in the physiological measurements and the values of the indices is observed. The electrical parameters are then stored as preferred parameters and can be used to activate the selected vagus nerve of the subject.