Intra-oral appliances and systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020346010-A1
Application number	US-202016865363-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 3, 2020
Priority date	May 3, 2019
Publication date	Nov 5, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An intra-oral appliance to power and/or communicate with a neurostimulator is provided. The intra-oral appliance can include a teeth covering configured to fit over mandibular incisor, canine and/or premolar teeth of a human being and a remote controller in the form of a housing extending posteriorly from and operably connected to the teeth covering. The housing can include a power source, a coupling coil configured to transmit power to the neurostimulator and configured to receive power from an external charger, and electrical circuitry operably connected to the coupling coil and the power source.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An intra-oral appliance to treat sleep disordered breathing in a patient comprising:
a teeth covering configured to fit over mandibular incisor, canine and/or premolar teeth of a human being; a remote controller comprising a housing extending posteriorly from and operably connected to the teeth covering, the remote controller sized and dimensioned to be positioned, in its entirety, in the intra-oral cavity and configured to be positioned underneath the ventral surface of the tongue in an operable configuration, the housing comprising: a power source; a a coupling coil configured to transmit power to a neurostimulator and configured to receive power from an external charger; and a control circuit operably connected to the coupling coil and the power source.

2 . The intra-oral appliance of claim 1 , wherein the coupling coil is configured to receive power from an external charger.

3 . The intra-oral appliance of claim 1 , wherein the coupling coil is an induction coil.

4 . A neurostimulator system comprising the intra-oral appliance of claim 1 and further comprising:
a neurostimulator comprising a stimulating electrode and an antenna or coil configured to receiving power and/or stimulation parameters from the remote controller.

5 . The neurostimulation system of claim 4 , wherein the neurostimulator comprises an injectable implant comprising:
a cylindrical, hermetically-sealed body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; a stimulating electrode connected to the body; and an antenna or coil to receive power and/or stimulation parameters that is connected to the body.

6 . The neurostimulator of claim 5 , further comprising a fixation structure that facilitates fixation of the body of the injectable implant in or about a target tissue.

7 . The neurostimulator of claim 6 , wherein the fixation structure is deployable and is housed within the body of the injectable implant in a non-deployed configuration and, when actuated, forms a surface structure on the body that facilitates fixation in or about a target tissue.

8 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising at least one sensor attached to the body of the injectable implant and configured to detect a physiological parameter or a related symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

9 . The system of claim 4 , further comprising an external charger comprising a charging coil configured to transmit power to the coupling coil of the remote controller, the coupling coil configured to charge the power source.

10 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.

11 . The system of claim 4 , further comprising a personal electronic device in electrical communication with the remote controller, the personal electronic device including software to control one or more stimulation parameters associated with the neurostimulator.

12 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising a programming device configured to deliver stimulation instructions to the remote controller, the programming device being in electrical communication with the remote controller and/or the personal electronic device.

Assignees

• Cleveland Clinic Found
• Enhale Medical Inc

Inventors

• Papay Francis A
• Emerton Kelly B
• Steiner Charles P
• Caparso Anthony V

Classifications

• A61N1/3787

  from an external energy source · CPC title

• A61N1/36128

  Control systems · CPC title

• A61N1/0548

  Oral electrodes · CPC title

• A61N1/37205

  Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula · CPC title

• A61N1/3756

  Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators · CPC title