Method and apparatus to treat conditions of the naso-pharyngeal area

• US 20040199045A1
• Filed: 04/14/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Knudson, Mark B., Tweden, Katherine S., Conrad, Timothy R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,077,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0059 Cosmetic or alloplastic implants A61F2/10 - A61F2/16, A61F2/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00

Abstract

A patient'"'"'s upper airway condition such as snoring and sleep apnea is treated by selecting a particulate material selected for limited migration within tissue and for encouraging a fibrotic response of tissue to the material. A bolus of the particulate material is injected into the tissue area to structurally stiffen the tissue.

Claims

1. A method for treating an upper airway condition of a patient, said method comprising:

selecting an implant sized to be implanted into a tissue of a pharyngeal wall of said patient, said implant having mechanical characteristics for said implant to resist deflection of said wall and urge a deflected tissue to return to a rest state; and

implanting said implant into said tissue of said pharyngeal wall.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said implant is metal.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said metal is nitinol.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said implant has tissue in-growth areas.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said condition is obstructive sleep apnea.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said implant is not connected to a bony structure.

7. An apparatus for treating an upper airway condition of a patient, said apparatus comprising:

an implant sized to be implanted into a tissue of a pharyngeal wall of said patient, said implant having mechanical characteristics for said implant to resist deflection of said wall and urge a deflected tissue to return to a rest state.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said implant is metal.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said metal is nitinol.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said implant has tissue in-growth areas.