Pharyngeal wall treatment
First Claim
1. A method for treating a pharyngeal airway having a pharyngeal wall of a patient at least partially surrounding and defining said airway, said method comprising;
- inserting an expander member into said airway and positioning an active portion of said expander member in opposition to portions of said wall to be treated;
activating said expander member to urge said portions outwardly to an outwardly displaced position;
deactivating said expander member while leaving said portions in said outwardly placed position; and
removing said expander member from said airway.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A patient'"'"'s pharyngeal wall is treated by inserting an expander member into the airway and positioning an active portion of the expander member in opposition to portions of the pharyngeal wall to be treated. The expander member is activated to urge the wall portions outwardly to an outwardly displaced position. The expander member is then deactivated while leaving the wall portions in the outwardly placed position and the expander member is removed from said airway. A further aspect of the treatment includes stabilization of at least a portion of the pharyngeal wall after compression of portions of the wall.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for treating a pharyngeal airway having a pharyngeal wall of a patient at least partially surrounding and defining said airway, said method comprising;
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inserting an expander member into said airway and positioning an active portion of said expander member in opposition to portions of said wall to be treated;
activating said expander member to urge said portions outwardly to an outwardly displaced position;
deactivating said expander member while leaving said portions in said outwardly placed position; and
removing said expander member from said airway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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- 10. A method for treating a pharyngeal airway having a pharyngeal wall of a patient at least partially surrounding and defining said airway, said method comprising stabilizing at least a portion of said wall against underlying structure by securing said portion to said structure.
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15. A method for treating a pharyngeal airway having a pharyngeal wall of a patient at least partially surrounding and defining said airway, said method comprising:
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compressing at least a portion of said wall to a compressed state; and
stabilizing said portion in said compressed state. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for treating a pharyngeal airway having a pharyngeal wall of a patient at least partially surrounding and defining said airway, said method comprising;
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an expander member dimensioned so as to be inserted into said airway with an active portion of said expander member positioned in opposition to portions of said wall to be treated;
an activator for activating said expander member to urge said portions outwardly to an outwardly displaced position;
said expander member adapted to be deactivated while leaving said portions in said outwardly placed position;
said expander member further dimensioned so as to be removable from said airway. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification