METHODS FOR POSITIONING SIGNAL DELIVERY DEVICES TO TREAT SLEEP APNEA, AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES AND TREATMENTS

The present technology is generally directed to methods for addressing a patient's sleep apnea. At least some of the methods can include one or more of percutaneously inserting an implantable signal delivery device at an insertion point on the patient's neck, moving the signal delivery device in a medial-to-lateral direction toward an ansa cervicalis nerve of the patient, and implanting the signal delivery device at a target location at least proximate to the ansa cervicalis nerve. The signal delivery device can include at least one electrode positioned to deliver a modulation signal to tissue at least proximate to the target location, such as a portion of the ansa cervicalis nerve. In some embodiments, delivery of the modulation signal can induce caudal traction in the patient and thereby address the patient's sleep apnea.