Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Electrical Stimulation Treatment

Abstract Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an intermittent occlusion of the upper airways resulting in frequent arousals during sleep. It is a prevalent problem among middle‐aged overweight males. Neuromuscular and anatomical factors play a major role predisposing the upper‐airways for obstructions. The limited success of current therapies and the strong correlation of the obstructions with the upper‐airway muscle mechanics has inspired researchers to apply the experience gained in the field of functional electrical stimulation to this common sleep disorder. A number of upper airway muscles have been tested in animal models and human subjects for their potential to remove or prevent the obstructions. Electrical activation of the extrinsic muscles of the tongue through the stimulation of the XIIth cranial (hypoglossal) nerve stands out as the most promising approach today. In this article, we review these recent attempts to treat OSA by electrical activation of the upper‐airway muscles.