Sleep apnea, the most common sleep disorder, affects 21 million Americans and can cause high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Although the device of continuous positive pressure in the respiratory tract (C.P.A.P., for its acronym in English) is the most used treatment, it is estimated that more than 40 percent of patients with sleep apnea refuse to use this device.
Companies are now marketing an implant that provides stimulation to open important muscles of the airways during sleep. Controlled by a remote patch or placed on the patient, the technology acts as a pacemaker, which helps to synchronize the air intake with the action of the tongue through a breathing sensor and a stimulation cable driven by a small battery. These neuromodulation systems have had positive results in clinical trials and this technology is expected to provide a better night’s sleep to more patients and spouses, thus promoting healthier communities.
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