Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing stops intermittently during sleep, often leading to significant health issues. Each episode can last from 10 to 20 seconds or more and is frequently accompanied by a brief arousal from sleep. This disturbance, largely unnoticed by the individual, can lead to severe daytime fatigue. Commonly, individuals seek help after being informed by their partners about loud snoring and noticeable breathing pauses during sleep.
The condition is more prevalent among...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Low-Dose CO<sub>2</sub> Inhalation to Improve Oxygenation and Exercise Capacity at High Altitude: A Double-Blind Pilot Study.

Respirology (Carlton, Vic.)·2026

Same author

Home blood pressure trajectories during 3 months of continuous positive airway pressure therapy in sleepy vs. non-sleepy patients.

Annals of the American Thoracic Society·2026

Same author

Sex Differences in the Usefulness of Unattended Blood Pressure Measurement in Patients with Arterial Hypertension.

High blood pressure & cardiovascular prevention : the official journal of the Italian Society of Hypertension·2026

Same author

Between Apneas: What Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring Reveals About OSA.

Sleep·2026

Same author

The effect of electrical stimulation of the upper airway dilator muscles on blood pressure in healthy volunteers and patients with obstructive sleep apnoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ERJ open research·2026

Same author

Study design of the InTakeCare trial: a digital health solution to monitor and improve medication adherence in hypertensive patients.

European heart journal. Digital health·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 3, 2026

Breathing-controlled Electrical Stimulation BreEStim for Management of Neuropathic Pain and Spasticity

Breathing-controlled Electrical Stimulation BreEStim for Management of Neuropathic Pain and Spasticity

Published on: January 10, 2013

Emerging technology: electrical stimulation in obstructive sleep apnoea.

Martino F Pengo¹, Joerg Steier¹

¹1 Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Lane Fox Respiratory Unit/Sleep Disorders Centre, London, UK ; 2 Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Padua, Italy ; 3 King's College London School of Medicine, London, UK ; 4 King's Health Partners, London, UK.

Journal of Thoracic Disease

|September 19, 2015

Summary

Electrical stimulation (ES) for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) shows promise. Both invasive hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) and non-invasive transcutaneous ES reduce breathing disruptions, offering a potential alternative to CPAP for some patients.

Keywords:

Transcutaneous genioglossal stimulation hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS)implantable device oxygen desaturation sleep-disordered breathing upper airway (UAW)

More Related Videos

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy DISE with Target Controlled Infusion TCI and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy DISE with Target Controlled Infusion TCI and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Published on: December 6, 2016

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders

Published on: August 18, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 3, 2026

Breathing-controlled Electrical Stimulation BreEStim for Management of Neuropathic Pain and Spasticity

Breathing-controlled Electrical Stimulation BreEStim for Management of Neuropathic Pain and Spasticity

Published on: January 10, 2013

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy DISE with Target Controlled Infusion TCI and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy DISE with Target Controlled Infusion TCI and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Published on: December 6, 2016

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders

Published on: August 18, 2023

Area of Science:

Neurology
Sleep Medicine
Biomedical Engineering

Background:

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) affects millions globally, with limited treatment adherence for standard therapies like CPAP.
Electrical stimulation (ES) of upper airway (UAW) muscles has resurged as a potential OSA treatment.
Recent research highlights the efficacy of both invasive and non-invasive ES methods.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the current state and potential of electrical stimulation for treating obstructive sleep apnoea.
To compare the efficacy and limitations of invasive (hypoglossal nerve stimulation) and non-invasive (transcutaneous) ES.
To identify areas for future research and potential clinical integration.

Main Methods:

Review of prospective trials and feasibility studies on ES for OSA.
Analysis of outcomes including apnoea-hypopnoea index and oxygen desaturation index (ODI).
Comparison of adverse events, costs, and technical challenges between invasive and non-invasive approaches.

Main Results:

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) significantly reduces the apnoea-hypopnoea index and ODI.
Transcutaneous ES shows promising results in feasibility studies with rare complications.
Invasive HNS has limitations including cost and adverse events; transcutaneous ES faces challenges in delivering sufficient current without arousal.

Conclusions:

ES of UAW dilator muscles is a promising alternative to CPAP for selected OSA patients with poor compliance.
Further research is needed to optimize stimulation parameters, devices, and patient selection.
International guidelines may require updates to incorporate ES as a viable OSA treatment option.