Patent ID: 8644921

Claim:
A system for treating apnea in a subject, comprising: a) an electrode configured for positioning in contact with the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (iSLN) of the subject; b) a control unit comprising: i. a signal conditioning module for conditioning an electroneurogram signal from the electrode; ii. an apnea monitoring and detection module operatively coupled to the signal conditioning module and configured for computing an index of respiratory activity from the conditioned electroneurogram signal, wherein when the index of respiratory activity is at or above a predetermined level, the index of respiratory activity is indicative of an occurrence of an apneic event; and iii. a therapy control module operatively coupled to the apnea monitoring and detection module and configured to control delivery of a swallow stimulus to the subject when the index of respiratory activity is indicative of an occurrence of an apneic event.