Patent ID: 7809442

Claim:
A method of treating a person having a hypoglossal nerve and an upper airway, comprising: chronically implanting a nerve cuff electrode on a portion of the hypoglossal nerve, the nerve cuff electrode comprising a cylindrical cuff body having a first side with a first longitudinal edge and a second side with a second longitudinal edge, the cylindrical cuff body having a proximalmost end surface and a distalmost end surface, wherein the first longitudinal edge includes a proximalmost end and a distalmost end, and the second longitudinal edge includes a proximalmost end and a distalmost end, and wherein, when the nerve cuff electrode is implanted on the hypoglossal nerve, the nerve cuff electrode surrounds substantially an entire circumference of a portion of the hypoglossal nerve, the first and second longitudinal edges are unattached and facing one another, and the proximalmost and distalmost ends of the second longitudinal edge are disposed between the proximalmost and distalmost ends of the first longitudinal edge, wherein the distalmost end surface of the cylindrical cuff body is not associated with the second side of the cylindrical cuff body; and delivering a stimulus to the hypoglossal nerve via the nerve cuff electrode to mitigate obstruction of the upper airway.