appendix i in the event that inhalation is not detected for a predetermined time based upon a fixed time or based upon previous breathing patterns the preferred breathing device activates the electrodes to stimulate the upper airway muscles in this way apneic episodes are prevented while at the same time electrode stimulation is not imposed when not needed this is in contrast to the prior art in which stimulation is not provided until an apneic episode has already occurred this is also in contrast to those prior art devices which stimulate on each inhalation effort such as that set forth in u s pat no 4 830 008 hereby incorporated by reference as those skilled in the art can appreciate if stimulation is applied with every inhalation the patient effectively gets used to the stimulation and it is no longer as effective the present invention on the other hand prevents stimulation when conditions are absent indicating that is predicting an apneic episode but yet ensures stimulation before an apneic episode thus the two main disadvantages of the prior art stimulation techniques are avoided as those skilled in the art can appreciate other means can be used to detect the imminence of an apneic episode for example by monitoring airway admittance as discussed above in connection with fig1 21 an apneic episode can be predicted and stimulation applied when this occurs that is to say by monitoring admittance during inhalation a narrowing of the airway can be detected by monitoring the.