TREATMENT OF OROPHARYNGEAL DISORDERS BY APPLICATIOTREATMENT OF OROPHARYNGEAL DISORDERS BY APPLICATION OF NEUROMUSCULAR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION N OF NEUROMUSCULAR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION

摘要

A method for treating an oropharyngeal disorder in a patient by neuromuscula r electrical stimulation includes selectively placing a plurality of electrodes in electrical contact with tissue of a pharyngeal region of the patient. The method also includes the steps of providing a pulse generator for generating a series of electrical pulses, each of which comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases, and attaching the plurality of electrodes to the pulse generator so that the series of electrical pulses ma y be provided to the patient through the plurality of electrodes. According to the method, a seri es of electrical pulses, each of which comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases, is generated, and said series of electrical pulses is provided to th e patient through the plurality of electrodes. An apparatus for generating a series of electrical pulses for application of electrical neuromuscular stimulation to a patient through a plurality of electrodes for treatment of oropharyngeal disorders includes a pulse generator which generates a series of electrical pulses, each of which pulses comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases. The apparatus includes an intensity control circuit forregulatin g the series of electrical pulses such that the intensity of the electrical pulses does not exceed a predetermined value, a frequency controller for controlling the frequency at which the series of electrical pulses is generated so that such pulses are generated at a predetermined frequency, and a duration control circuit for controlling the duration of each such electrical pulse. /SDOAB