Patent ID: 7890178

Claim:
A method of controlling deglutition of a user without substantial aspiration comprising: subcutaneously positioning a first electrode array at a first location along a first nerve comprising a first fascicle controlling a first deglutition muscle and a second fascicle controlling a second deglutition muscle, wherein the electrode array comprises at least one electrode, and further wherein the first nerve is associated with the first deglutition muscle and the second deglutition muscle such that stimulation of the first nerve causes movement of at least one of the first deglutition muscle and the second deglutition muscle; and selectively stimulating the first fascicle with the first electrode array to artificially activate the first deglutition muscle independent of activation of the second deglutition muscle; wherein the first deglutition muscle is selected from the group consisting of tongue, hyoglossus, genioglossus, constrictor pharyngis, cricopharyngeous, digastricus, cricoarytenoid laterlis, geniohyoid, levator veli palatini, mylohyoid, omohyoid, palatoglossus, palatopharyngeus, sternohyoid, sternothyroid, styoglossus, stylohoid, stylopharyngeus, and tensor veli palatine muscles; selectively stimulating the second fascicle with the first electrode array to artificially activate the second deglutition muscle independent of activation of the first deglutition muscle; and wherein only fascicles of the first nerve are artificially stimulated throughout user deglutition.