US 10898709

US Patent 10898709, titled "Stimulation for treating sleep disordered breathing," is currently active.

Here's a concise summary:

Title: Stimulation for treating sleep disordered breathing
Assignee: Inspire Medical Systems Inc
Inventors: Darrell Wagner, Quan Ni, John Rondoni, David Dieken
Filing Date: 2016-03-16
Issue Date: 2021-01-26

Abstract:
The patent describes a stimulation element configured to asynchronously stimulate an airway-patency-related nerve. This stimulation uses a first stimulation protocol that is independent of real-time sensed respiratory information. Each stimulation cycle within this protocol includes a stimulation period and a non-stimulation period. The stimulation period has a minimum duration that is equal to or greater than an inspiratory reference, which corresponds to the duration of an inspiratory phase of a reference respiratory cycle. Furthermore, each stimulation cycle's stimulation period is longer than the inspiratory reference, while its non-stimulation period is shorter than the stimulation period.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (System): This claim describes a system designed to treat sleep-disordered breathing. It features a therapy manager with a component that stimulates a nerve important for keeping the airway open. The stimulation is applied using a predetermined protocol that does not rely on current breathing patterns. This protocol consists of alternating periods of nerve stimulation and no stimulation. The period of stimulation is at least as long as, and in fact greater than, the typical duration of an inspiration (breathing in) from a standard breathing cycle, while the non-stimulation period is shorter than the stimulation period.

• Claim 16 (Method): This claim outlines a method for treating sleep-disordered breathing. It involves applying nerve stimulation to a patient's airway-patency-related nerve using a specific protocol. This protocol is not synchronized with real-time sensed breathing information and involves a sequence of stimulation cycles. Each cycle includes a period of stimulation followed by a period of no stimulation. The stimulation period is longer than the typical duration of an inspiration from a standard breathing cycle, and the non-stimulation period is shorter than the stimulation period.

• Claim 17 (System): This claim details a system for treating sleep-disordered breathing, focusing on a stimulation element. This element is set up to stimulate a nerve responsible for maintaining an open airway, using a stimulation protocol that operates independently of real-time breathing data. The protocol is made up of stimulation cycles, each having a stimulation period and a non-stimulation period. The stimulation period is longer than the typical inspiratory phase of a reference breath, and the non-stimulation period is shorter than the stimulation period.

• Claim 18 (Method): This claim describes a method for treating sleep-disordered breathing by stimulating an airway-patency-related nerve. The key feature is that this stimulation follows a protocol that is independent of real-time sensed respiratory information, and this protocol is implemented by cycling through a variety of different stimulation protocols.

Litigation Status (as of April 26, 2026):
The patent family is involved in litigation.

• A US case (1:25-cv-00667) was filed in the Delaware District Court.
• A PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) case, IPR2026-00090, has been filed and is currently pending in 2026.