Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 16, 2026

The Combined Use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Robotic Therapy for the Upper Limb
Published on: September 23, 2018
Tongue motion variability with changes of upper airway stimulation electrode configuration and effects on treatment
Armin Steffen1, Ayse Kilic1, Inke R König2
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
Objectives/Hypothesis:
Upper airway stimulation (UAS) is an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Previous data have demonstrated a correlation between the phenotype of tongue motion and therapy response. Closed loop hypoglossal nerve stimulation implant offers five different electrode configuration settings which may result in different tongue motion.
Study Design:
Two-center, prospective consecutive trial in a university hospital setting.
Methods:
Clinical outcomes of 35 patients were analyzed after at least 12 months of device use. Tongue motion was assessed at various electrode configuration settings. Correlation between the tongue motion and treatment response was evaluated.
Results:
OSA severity was significantly reduced with the use of UAS therapy (P < .001). Changes in tongue motion patterns were frequently observed (58.8%) with different electrode configuration settings. Most of the patients alternated between right and bilateral protrusion (73.5%), which are considered to be the optimal phenotypes for selective UAS responses. Different voltage settings were required to achieve functional stimulation levels when changing between the electrode settings.
Conclusions:
UAS is highly effective for OSA treatment in selected patients with an apnea-hypopnea index between 15 and 65 events per hour and higher body mass index. Attention should be given to patients with shifting tongue movement in response to change of electrode configuration. The intraoperative cuff placement should be reassessed when tongue movement shifting is observed.
Level Of Evidence:
4 Laryngoscope, 1970-1976, 2018.
More Related Videos
07:14A Novel Approach to Assess Motor Outcome of Deep Brain Stimulation Effects in the Hemiparkinsonian Rat: Staircase and Cylinder Test
Published on: May 31, 2016
05:31Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Tongue
Anatomical Position in the Oral Cavity
The tongue is located within the oral cavity, also known as the mouth. It is attached to the floor of the mouth by a fold of mucous membrane called the...
Controller Configurations
Control-system compensation involves various configurations, most commonly series or cascade compensation, in which the controller...
Electron Configurations
The relative energies of the subshells determine the order in which atomic orbitals are filled (1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p,...
Electron Configuration of Multielectron Atoms
Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon
Configurations of BJT
The common base configuration is noted for its high voltage gain, positioning it as an ideal choice for single-stage amplifier circuits, such as microphone pre-amplifiers. A notable...