The human tongue has a bearing when it comes to sleep apnea problems, most likely pointing to the blockages that occur when we are asleep due to air blockage. But now a surgical procedure may yet address this issue, an implant that is placed near the tongue and is programmed to keep parts of the tongue awake and avoid blockages.
Called Targeted Hypoglossal Neurostimulation (THN) Sleep Therapy, the technique consists of a small electrical device implanted under the skin near the lower jaw and along the Hypoglossal (12th cranial) nerve, then connected to a programmable implantable pulse generator (IPG) implanted near the surface of one’s upper chest.
The surgery takes less than 45 minutes to perform and will heal after a couple of days. Something that should be checked out, especially for people who have been suffering from sleep apnea. Check out the video.
(Source) CNet
