Method and apparatus for treating oropharyngeal, respiratory and oral motor neuromuscular disorders with electrical stimulation

摘要

A simple, non-invasive device and method for treating oropharyngeal, respiratory, and oral motor neuromuscular disorders provides electrical stimulation to various regions of a patient. The method and device offer an effective and non-invasive treatment for these disorders. The device is an electrical neuromuscular stimulator that includes a pulse generator for generating a series of electrical pulses and a processor coupled to the pulse generator for controlling its operation. An electrode array of uni-directional or bi-directional electrodes is coupled to the pulse generator and provides electrical stimulation to the appropriate neck, chest, or facial region of the patient. Using bi-directional snap electrodes, for example, the electrode array may also generate electrical feedback signals in response to the neuromuscular stimulation of the patient. The electrical feedback signals are provided to the processor, which generates and stores test data and may modify the operation of the device in response to the electrical feedback signals.