Apparatus is provided for treating obstructive sleep apnea, including an external device (24) configured to be incorporated into a household item which further includes: a breathing sensor (28) configured for placement outside of a body of a subject and to sense activity associated with breathing of the subject and a power supply unit (27) configured to power the external device. A control unit (26) coupled to the breathing sensor is configured to generate a signal (32) in response to the sensed activity associated with breathing. A sublingual implant (34) includes a wireless receiver (40) for receiving the signal, and two or more electrodes (42,44) and circuitry (46) coupled to the electrodes. The circuitry is configured to drive the electrodes to apply current to a tissue of the subject in response to the signal, in a plurality of successive periods of inspiration of the subject, even in the absence of a detection of apnea by the control unit.
