Patent ID: 8249723

Claim:
A device for use with a patient having a mouth, a tongue, and an airway, the tongue being positionable in a portion of the mouth whereat the airway is unobstructed by the tongue, the device comprising: at least one sensor configured to generate a signal encoding information related to the position of the tongue in the patient's mouth; at least one electrical stimulus generator; at least one processor configured to (a) receive the signal generated by the at least one sensor, (b) determine based upon the information related to the position of the tongue in the patient's mouth encoded in the signal whether the tongue is in the portion of the mouth whereat the airway is unobstructed by the tongue, and (c) instruct the at least one electrical stimulus generator to generate electrical stimulation if the at least one processor determines the tongue is not in the portion of the mouth whereat the airway is unobstructed by the tongue; and at least one electrode positionable against the tongue of the patient configured to receive the electrical stimulation generated by the electrical stimulus generator, and apply the electrical stimulation to the tongue, the electrical stimulation being configured to cause the tongue to move toward the portion of the mouth whereat the airway is unobstructed by the tongue.