Patent ID: 9706934
Date: 2017-07-18
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61H,A61N

Claim:
1. A method for monitoring a condition in a subject, the method comprising: obtaining one or more neural signals in a neural signal acquisition module from one or more upper airway afferents of the subject; processing each of the one or more neural signals in a neural activity profile module configured to obtain two or more neural activity profiles, each neural activity profile characterized by a plurality of characteristics selected from the group consisting of a neural signal timing, a neural signal amplitude, a neural signal phase, a neural signal position, a neural signal conduction velocity, and combinations thereof; comparing each of the neural activity profiles from the neural activity profile module to one or more activity criteria in an activity type module configured to associate each neural activity profile with an associated activity type, the activity type selected from the group consisting of a respiratory activity type, a deglutition activity type, a vibration activity type, a reflux activity type and combinations thereof, wherein at least one neural activity profile includes a first activity type and at least another neural activity profile includes a second activity type, the first activity type being different than the second activity type; processing each of the neural activity profiles from the neural activity profile module in an activity state module configured to determine an activity state characterizing the associated activity type, the activity state selected from a group consisting of: after processing each of the neural activity profiles to determine the activity state, generating one or more stimuli based on the activity state in order to stimulate reflex-related nerves, reflex-related muscles, reflex-related sensory receptors, or combinations thereof.