Supported by
The ultimate goal of this project is the development of an automated and comfortable wearable system for the non-invasive treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) through the electrical stimulation (ES) of the genioglossus muscle. The system will incorporate a flexible sensitive strain sensor that will be able to monitor breathing during sleep. The sensor will attach to the skin of the patient, preferably in the region of the neck, close to the larynx and will be connected to appropriate electronics for triggering the electrical stimulation whenever a reduction or a cessation of the airflow is identified. Apart from the development of the sensor, the work will include the study of the electrode characteristics and triggering patterns as well as the system integration and its algorithms. OSA is a common undiagnosed disorder that strongly affects health and quality of life when untreated. In addition, there is a current need for high efficacy therapies and increased long-term patient compliance. The proposed system anticipates addressing this need serving both as a stand-alone system or combined with oral appliances for OSA. When combined with oral appliances, enhancement of the effectiveness and reduction of side effects of the oral appliance therapy are expected.
