Screening devices and methods for obstructive sleep apnea therapy
First Claim
1. A method of assessing a patient'"'"'s suitability for an upper airway stimulation therapy, the method comprising:
- inserting a visualization device into the patient'"'"'s upper airway to evaluate tissue redundancy in pharyngeal walls due to a quantity of adipose tissue;
documenting a degree of tissue redundancy; and
generating an indication of suitability for upper airway stimulation therapy based on the documented degree of tissue redundancy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for treating obstructive sleep apnea by first performing an assessment of the patient that involves observing the patient'"'"'s upper airway during a tongue protrusion maneuver. The assessment may, for example, be done using endoscopy to observe the upper airway while the patient is awake in the supine position. An adequate response of the upper airway during the tongue protrusion maneuver is indicative of likely therapeutic success with hypoglossal nerve stimulation, and may be used for making clinical decisions. The principles of the present invention may be applied to other therapeutic interventions for OSA involving the upper airway.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of assessing a patient'"'"'s suitability for an upper airway stimulation therapy, the method comprising:
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inserting a visualization device into the patient'"'"'s upper airway to evaluate tissue redundancy in pharyngeal walls due to a quantity of adipose tissue; documenting a degree of tissue redundancy; and generating an indication of suitability for upper airway stimulation therapy based on the documented degree of tissue redundancy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of assessing a patient'"'"'s suitability for an upper airway stimulation therapy, the method comprising:
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inserting a visualization device into the patient'"'"'s upper airway to evaluate tissue redundancy in pharyngeal walls due to a quantity of adipose tissue; documenting a tissue redundancy presence due to a quantity of adipose tissue; and generating an indication of suitability for upper airway stimulation therapy based on the documented degree of tissue redundancy. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of assessing a patient'"'"'s suitability for an upper airway stimulation therapy, the method comprising:
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recording with an imaging device at least a portion of tissue redundancy in pharyngeal walls due to a quantity of adipose tissue; recording a tissue redundancy; generating a record of said recordings, wherein the record includes a characterization of said tissue redundancy, wherein the record is configured for comparison to a criterion relating to the tissue redundancy, the criterion concerning the patient'"'"'s suitability for the upper airway stimulation therapy; and generating an indication of suitability for upper airway stimulation therapy based on the characterization of said tissue redundancy. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification