Patent ID: 6935335
Filing Date: 2005-08-30
Classification: A61B,A61M,A61N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for terminating a physiological process that causes cessation of breathing to occur in an airway of a person due to a complete obstruction of said airway due to an obstructive sleep apnea event, wherein said physiological process is terminated before cessation of breathing occurs, wherein the apparatus comprises: at least one microphone capable of being acoustically associated with said person, said microphone capable of detecting breathing sounds within said airway of said person and capable of generating signals representative of said breathing sounds; a controller coupled to said at least one microphone and capable of receiving said signals, said controller capable of identifying within said signals at least one signal pattern that is associated with a breathing pattern of said person that occurs at the onset of said physiological process, before cessation of breathing occurs, and capable of generating an alarm signal in response thereto; and a stimulus generator coupled to said controller, said stimulus generator capable of receiving said alarm signal from said controller, and in response thereto, creating a stimulus to said person's neck muscles to cause said person to move said person's neck muscles to move said person's head backwards to terminate said physiological process before cessation of breathing occurs.