Patent ID: 6484053
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
A method for treating a dysphagic patient using variable high voltage sequential electrical stimulation comprising the steps of:detecting a swallowing signal from the SEMG of the glossal or temporalis muscle of the patient during a swallowing event with at least a pair of electrodes placed bilaterally on the skin in the region of the submandibular salivary glands of the patient or bilaterally in the temporal area, and a ground electrode placed on the inner right forearm of the patient; processing the signal from the electrodes with a signal processing circuit for amplifying and passing the signal to a calculation and comparator circuit; calculating the signal and comparing the signal with the calculation and comparator circuit using a reference to determine whether the patient is attempting to swallow, whereby an attempted swallow is recognised and a signal will be sent to a stimulation generation circuit to deliver high voltage stimuli to the patient's muscles under the chin and of the pharynx via stimulation electrodes placed under the chin and on the pharynx of the patient; and generating high voltage by the stimulation generation circuit which delivers high voltage stimuli to the patient's muscles under the chin and pharyngeal muscles via electrodes connected to at least one channel.