Method and apparatus for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
First Claim
1. A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea, the method comprising:
- providing a tethering device comprising;
an elastic filament having a terminal distal end and a proximal end; and
a flexible memory head directly mounted to the terminal distal end of the elastic filament and having a proximal side and a distal side, the flexible memory head comprising a disk structure comprising soft, pliable atraumatic material, the flexible memory head comprising a patterned recess formed in the proximal side of the flexible memory head and a like-patterned head stiffener received in the patterned recess;
advancing the tethering device through the tongue of a patient so that the flexible memory head of the tethering device exits a back of the tongue and is disposed against an external surface of the back of the tongue and the elastic filament of the tethering device extends from the flexible memory head and through the tongue; and
securing the proximal end of the elastic filament to the mandible of the patient under tension, whereby to restrain rearward movement of the tongue while the patient is sleeping;
wherein the elastic filament extends from the terminal distal end and away from the distal side of the flexible memory head.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea is described herein. The method includes the step of providing a tethering device having an elastic filament having a distal end and a proximal end and a flexible memory head mounted to the distal end of the elastic filament. The method further includes the steps of advancing the tethering device through the tongue of a patient so that the flexible memory head of the tethering device is disposed against the back of the tongue and the elastic filament of the tethering device extends through the tongue and securing the proximal end of the elastic filament to the mandible of the patient under tension, whereby to restrain rearward movement of the tongue while the patient is sleeping.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea, the method comprising:
-
providing a tethering device comprising; an elastic filament having a terminal distal end and a proximal end; and a flexible memory head directly mounted to the terminal distal end of the elastic filament and having a proximal side and a distal side, the flexible memory head comprising a disk structure comprising soft, pliable atraumatic material, the flexible memory head comprising a patterned recess formed in the proximal side of the flexible memory head and a like-patterned head stiffener received in the patterned recess; advancing the tethering device through the tongue of a patient so that the flexible memory head of the tethering device exits a back of the tongue and is disposed against an external surface of the back of the tongue and the elastic filament of the tethering device extends from the flexible memory head and through the tongue; and securing the proximal end of the elastic filament to the mandible of the patient under tension, whereby to restrain rearward movement of the tongue while the patient is sleeping; wherein the elastic filament extends from the terminal distal end and away from the distal side of the flexible memory head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea, the method comprising:
-
providing a tethering device comprising; an elastic filament having a terminal distal end and a proximal end; and a flexible memory head directly mounted to the terminal distal end of the elastic filament and having a proximal side and a distal side, the flexible memory head comprising a patterned recess formed in the proximal side of the flexible memory head and a like-patterned head stiffener received in the patterned recess; advancing the tethering device through the tongue of a patient so that the flexible memory head of the tethering device exits a back of the tongue and is disposed against an external surface of the back of the tongue and the elastic filament of the tethering device extends from the flexible memory head and through the tongue; and securing the proximal end of the elastic filament to the mandible of the patient under tension, whereby to restrain rearward movement of the tongue while the patient is sleeping; wherein the elastic filament extends from the terminal distal end and away from the distal side of the flexible memory head.
-
-
19. A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea, the method comprising:
-
providing a tethering device comprising; an elastic filament having a terminal distal end and a proximal end; and a flexible memory head directly mounted to the terminal distal end of the elastic filament and having a proximal side and a distal side, the flexible memory head comprising a disk structure comprising soft, pliable atraumatic material, the flexible memory head comprising a patterned recess formed in the proximal side of the flexible memory head and a like-patterned head stiffener received in the patterned recess, the flexible memory head comprising a multi-lobe configuration, the head stiffener comprising a superelastic material; advancing the tethering device through the tongue of a patient using a corridor sheath having a lumen extending therethrough so that the flexible memory head of the tethering device exits a back of the tongue and is disposed against an external surface of the back of the tongue and the elastic filament of the tethering device extends from the flexible memory head and through the tongue; and securing the proximal end of the elastic filament to the mandible of the patient under tension, whereby to restrain rearward movement of the tongue while the patient is sleeping; wherein the tethering device is advanced through the tongue of the patient using the corridor sheath, a corridor trocar, and outer inserter tube having a lumen extending therethrough, and an inner inserter tube having a lumen extending therethrough; wherein the corridor trocar is sized to fit within the lumen of the corridor sheath, the outer inserter tube is sized to fit within the lumen of the corridor sheath, the inner inserter tube is sized to fit within the lumen of the outer inserter tube, and the lumen of the inner inserter tube is sized to receive the elastic filament therethrough; and wherein the corridor trocar comprises a light source; and wherein the elastic filament extends from the terminal distal end and away from the distal side of the flexible memory head.
-
Specification