Patent ID: 9314641
Filing Date: 2016-04-19
CPC Classification: A61B,A61N

Claim Text:
1. A method for controlling a position of a tongue, the method comprising: receiving an implanted electrode having a plurality of contacts to electrically couple the plurality of contacts to a Hypoglossal nerve; receiving an implantable pulse generator (IPG), the IPG being electronically coupled to the electrode, the IPG being programmed, without taking into account a timing of respiration, to assign each of the plurality of contacts to one of a plurality of functional groups, and deliver at least two electric signals to the plurality of functional groups in a sequence or interleaving pattern, each of the plurality of contacts pulsing sequentially in a nearly continuous pattern to share a stimulation load of the plurality of contacts; and applying the at least two electric signals via the plurality of contacts to at least two targeted motor efferent groups located within the Hypoglossal nerve to stimulate at least two muscles of the tongue.