KR20160054659A - Hypoglossal implant - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hypoglossal implant, comprising: an external unit (100) including a battery (101), and a transformer unit (102) which wirelessly supplies power and a signal to an internal unit (200); the internal unit (200) including a receiver unit (201) which receives the power and signal supplied from the external unit, a power control unit (202), a stimulation chip (203) which generates a hypoglossal stimulation signal, and an electrode (204) which stimulates the hypoglossal nerve; and a breathing sensor unit (300). The present invention does not embed a battery in the internal unit inserted into the body, but instead employs a wireless power supply system that receives power supplied from the outside, which eliminates the need for a surgery to change the battery; and also eliminates the need for space for the battery inside the internal unit. Therefore the size of the overall product can be minimized, and through semiconductor microfabrication, miniaturization and weight reduction of the product can be achieved.

Description

Hypoglossal implant.

The present invention relates to a subluxation implant, which can be used to treat snoring and sleep apnea by inserting the device into the sublingual muscle.

Snoring refers to the phenomenon that the breathing is broken for more than 10 seconds when the pores in the sleeping surface are blocked during the sleep, and a part of the air passage forming the pore becomes narrower, the air flow is accelerated, and the surrounding tissue of the pore is shaken.

Snoring and apnea during sleep are mainly caused by relaxation of the muscles associated with the uvula or tongue and by blocking the pores of the uvula or tongue due to gravity sagging. Snoring and sleep apnea are caused by neurological abnormalities and anatomical abnormalities, many of which are known to have neurologic abnormalities. Neurological causes are associated with abnormalities in the pressure gauges of the muscles (Genioglossus) running from the jaw to the tongue.

Symptoms of snoring and sleep apnea cause severe drowsiness, chronic fatigue, memory and cognitive decline during the day, depressive personality changes, loss of libido and erectile dysfunction, headache, and dry mouth. Methods for treating snoring and sleep apnea include diet, oral devices, hypertension, and surgical treatment.

Diet is a way to broaden your mind by losing weight. Diet medicines are prescribed, but they are difficult to succeed and have limitations. Oral devices are useful when the pores are blocked by the tongue, but they can cause pain in the jaw joints, be worn for a lifetime, be incompletely treated, and be relatively expensive.

The above-described positive pressure device is a method in which the machine forcibly blows air into the pores to open the pores, and if it is worn properly, 100% cure is possible as the most effective treatment. Disadvantages include nasal congestion, nasal congestion, nasal mucous irritation, uncomfortable wear, lifelong wear, and high cost.

Surgical treatment is possible with one treatment, but the success rate is as low as 40%, frequently recurred, tongue clogging is limited, and severe pain can be caused.

On the other hand, the sublingual nerve implant is an apparatus for electrically stimulating the sublingual nerve inserted into the human body, and is a device for treating a tingling of the upper limb by contracting the tongue causing snoring and sleep apnea (see FIG. 1).

In this connection, US Pat. No. 6,636,767 discloses a " snoring patient insertion device ". A control device is attached to the mouth of the mouth to implant electrodes to the stimulation contact area with the muscles that control the pores. By the magnetic field generated by the control device, the electrode receives energy and contracts the muscles to change the pores Technology. However, this has the inconvenience that the control device should be installed at the entrance.

In addition, Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 20-2011-0038314 proposed to solve the above problem has an insertion body inserted into the lower tongue, a sensing part embedded in the insertion body, a stimulation part provided on a side surface of the insertion body, Discloses an electrical stimulation insertion device for snoring and sleep apnea patients that includes a battery and a controller. However, since the insert includes a battery or the like, the size of the product is relatively large, and there is a limitation in that an operation for replacing the battery is required.

1. Korean Published Patent Application No. 20-2011-0038314 2. US Patent 6636767

The present invention relates to a surgeon's implant for improving snoring and apnea, which reduces the inconvenience of increasing the size and replacement operation of the body insertion device that occurs due to the power supplied by the battery, We also want to increase production efficiency.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a battery pack comprising: a battery; an external device 100 including a converter 102 for wirelessly supplying power and signals to the internal device 200; A stimulator chip 203 for generating a sublingual stimulation signal and an electrode 204 for stimulating the sublingual stimulation are connected to an internal unit 200 (200) including a receiver 201 for receiving power and signals wirelessly supplied to the external unit, a power regulator 202, ), And respiration detection sensor (300).

The breathing sensor 300 of the sublingual nerve implant according to the present invention is located outside the body and the external device 100 further includes a digital signal processor 103 for processing a signal received from the breathing sensor .

The breathing sensor 300 of the sublingual nerve implant according to the present invention is located inside the body, and the stimulation chip 203 receives a signal from the sensor and generates a stimulation signal.

The inner part 200 of the sublingual nerve implant according to the present invention is characterized by being packaged with a biocompatible polymer.

The size of the inner part 200 of the subgingival nerve implant according to the present invention is characterized in that the length of each side is 1 to 100 mm.

The transducer 103 and the receptor 201 of the sublingual nerve implant according to the present invention are characterized by an inductive coil system.

The transducer 103 of the sublingual nerve implant according to the present invention is characterized by supplying power and signals using an amplitude modulation method using a class E amplifier.

The receiver 201 of the sublingual nerve implant according to the present invention is characterized in that the received power and signals are received from a receiving coil and then received by a full-wave rectifier.

The sublingual nerve implant of the present invention introduces a wireless power supply system which is supplied with power from the outside instead of including a battery in the internal unit inserted into the body, thereby eliminating the need for a battery replacement operation and reducing the battery space of the internal unit, So that it is possible to miniaturize and lighten the product through the semiconductor microprocessing.

In addition, it is possible to reduce weight and improve human compliance by using a polymer instead of a conventional metal package, and the breathing sensor can place the breath measurement sensor near or outside the stimulator to make insertion surgery easier .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view showing a position where an internal part of a subgingival nerve implant of the present invention is to be inserted. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the operation of the sublingual nerve implant of the present invention using an inductive coil method.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of Embodiment 1 (when a breathing sensor is present outside) of the sublingual nerve implant of the present invention. FIG.
Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a sublingual nerve implant of the present invention (when a breathing sensor is present). Fig.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a battery pack comprising: a battery; an external device 100 including a converter 102 for wirelessly supplying power and signals to the internal device 200; A stimulator chip 203 for generating a sublingual stimulation signal and an electrode 204 for stimulating the sublingual stimulation are connected to an internal unit 200 (200) including a receiver 201 for receiving power and signals wirelessly supplied to the external unit, a power regulator 202, ), And respiration detection sensor (300). Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

3 and 4, a sublingual nerve implant according to the present invention includes an external device 100 including a battery 101, a converter 102 for wirelessly supplying power and signals to the internal device 200; A stimulator chip 203 for generating a sublingual stimulation signal and an electrode 204 for stimulating the sublingual stimulation are connected to an internal unit 200 (200) including a receiver 201 for receiving power and signals wirelessly supplied to the external unit, a power regulator 202, ), And a breathing sensor (300).

The external device 100 includes a battery 102 and a converter 102 for wirelessly supplying power and signals to the internal device 200. The battery 101 supplies power to an external unit, and a commonly used battery may be used. More preferably, a battery of an appropriate size may be used so that there is no great inconvenience to wear during sleeping and to take a sleep .

The inner unit 200 is inserted into the sublingual nerve. The inner unit 200 may be made of a metal or a plastic material, and more preferably, a biocompatible polymer having less side effects on the human body may be used. More specifically, there may be used a liquid crystal polymer which is less liable to bio-immune reaction and less permeable to water, such as polyimide or perylene, and which satisfies all of the above conditions and is light in weight packaging. However, Do not.

The inner unit 200 is provided with a receptor 201 for receiving power and signals wirelessly supplied to an external device, a power controller 202, a stimulation chip 203 for generating a sublingual stimulation signal, and an electrode 204 for stimulating the sublingual .

The transducer 103 and receiver 201 may be used without limitation as long as the device is a wireless power / signal transmission and reception device applicable to the ordinary artisan and has an electromagnetic field strength that is safe and suitable for use in a bio-implantable device. For example, by using the inductive coil method, it is possible to place the external coil and the body coil close to each other, thereby increasing the power transmission efficiency and lowering the electromagnetic wave absorption rate (SAR).

The transducer 103 can supply a power and a signal by an amplitude modulation method using a class E amplifier. The receiver 201 receives the supplied power and signals from the receiving coil, wave rectifier (see FIG. 4).

The power regulator 202, the stimulation chip 203, and the electrode 204 may be a power regulator, a stimulation chip, or an electrode that can be commonly used in the art. The AC voltage of the signal rectified by the full-wave rectifier is converted into a DC voltage of a certain magnitude by the power regulator since the voltage changes due to a change in the distance between the coils, a change in the biomaterial, and the like.

In the stimulation chip 203, biphasic current pulses are generated using adjustment signals included in the rectified signal source, and are transmitted to the electrodes. This part will be fabricated in the form of an integrated circuit for minimizing power efficiency and size.

Electrode 204 is fabricated in a polymer-based or metal-based form and stimulates the sublingual nerve using a commonly used platinum electrode based on Teflon-coded or a polymer-based cuff electrode.

The respiration detection sensor 300 senses an apnea state occurring during sleep, and transmits a stimulation signal including information on a stimulation waveform such as a number of beats, a duration, and a stimulation size in the case of apnea at the time of apnea detection.

The breathing sensor 300 may be located outside the body or inside the body. In this case, the breathing sensor 300 may be attached to the outside of the body or may be inserted into the body as a separate device from the external body 100 or the internal body 200, Or may be positioned to be included in the external unit 100 or the internal unit 200, thereby simplifying the operation.

The external device 100 further includes a digital signal processing unit 103 for processing a signal received from the breathing sensor 300 when the breathing sensor 300 is located outside or inside the body 100 can do. In this case, when the respiration detection sensor 300 senses apnea, it sends a signal to the digital signal processor 103 and transmits power and stimulus signals to the internal device 200 through the transducer 102 ).

When the respiration detection sensor 300 is located in the body or inside the body 200, when the respiration detection sensor 300 senses apnea, the stimulation signal is transmitted to the stimulation chip 203 of the internal unit 200 (See FIG. 4). In this case, it is preferable to use the stimulation chip 203 which adopts an integrated circuit in which a digital signal processing function is integrated to change the stimulation signal transmitted from the sensor, Do.

The size of the inner unit 200 is preferably a size suitable for insertion into the body, and the length of each surface may be within 1 to 100 mm. More specifically, the width x height x thickness may be about 10 to 50 x 10 to 50 x 5 to 20 mm.

The sublingual nerve implant according to the present invention stimulates the sublingual nerve when the sleep apnea occurs, thereby reducing the volume of the tongue while moving forward. This extends the upper airway located behind the tongue and treats snoring and apnea.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples. It should be understood, however, that these examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.

[Example 1]

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a sublingual implant having a breathing sensor in an external device. Since the sensor for measuring apnea is present outside the body, it is measured by an external sensor at the time of apnea, and the digital signal processor 103 processes the signal to output the stimulus current signal source to the internal unit 200 Power is transmitted wirelessly.

The transmitted power is supplied to the stimulation chip 203 through the power regulator 202. The stimulation chip 203 receiving the signal generates a current signal for stimulating the sublingual nerve by analyzing the power source and the signal, And the electrode stimulates the sublingual nerve.

In this case, the external device 200 transmits the power and the preset stimulus signal to the internal device 200 only when the breathing occurs.

[Example 2]

Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a sublingual implant having a breathing sensor in an inner vessel. The external unit transmits power and current parameters to the internal unit through the converter 102.

The transmitted power is supplied to the stimulation chip 203 through a regulator. The stimulation chip 203, which receives a signal, outputs a current signal for stimulating the sublingual nerve using the power source and setting parameters. And transmits it to the electrode 204, which stimulates the sublingual nerve.

In this case, the external device 100 may continuously supply power, and may transmit a stimulus signal when there is a change in the stimulus signal information in the internal device 200, if necessary.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciate that such specific embodiments are merely preferred embodiments and that the scope of the present invention is not limited thereby. something to do. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims (8)

An external device 100 including a battery 101, a converter 102 for wirelessly supplying power and signals to the internal device 200;
A stimulator chip 203 for generating a sublingual stimulation signal and an electrode 204 for stimulating the sublingual stimulation are connected to an internal unit 200 (200) including a receiver 201 for receiving power and signals wirelessly supplied to the external unit, a power regulator 202, ), And
A sublingual nerve implant comprising a breathing sensor (300).
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the breathing sensor (300) is located outside the body, and the external device (100) further comprises a digital signal processor (103) for processing a signal received from the breathing sensor.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the breathing sensor (300) is located inside the body, and the stimulation chip (203) receives a signal from the sensor to generate a stimulation signal.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the inner vessel (200) is packaged with a biocompatible polymer.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the inner unit (200) has a length of 1 to 100 mm on each side.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the transducer (103) and the receiver (201) are inductive coil systems.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the transducer (103) supplies a power and a signal by an amplitude modulation method using a class E amplifier.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the receiver 201 receives the supplied power and signals from the receiving coil and then receives the received power and signals through a full-wave rectifier.

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