System and method for percutaneous palate remodeling

• US 20060207607A1
• Filed: 02/07/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Frazier, Andrew, Jackson, Jasper, Dineen, Michael, Hirotsuka, Mark, Roue, Chad C., Burg, Erik van der
• Application Number:
  US11/349,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20060207607A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/848
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00814 Surgery of the tongue, e.g. glossoplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00986 Malecots, e.g. slotted tubes, of which the distal end is pulled to deflect side struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0403 Dowels other bone dowels A61B17/68; dowels for connecting prosthetic parts A61F2002/30433
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/042 plastically deformed during insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0422 by insertion of a separate member into the body of the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0433 the anchor or the separate member comprising threads, e.g. a set screw or a worm gear for moving spreading members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0435 the barbs being separate elements mechanically linked to the anchor, e.g. by pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0437 the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0438 slotted, i.e. having a longitudinal slot for enhancing their elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 : with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0451 : Cams or wedges holding the suture by friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 : the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 : Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0461 : with features cooperating with special features on the suture, e.g. protrusions on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0462 : One way system, i.e. also tensioning the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 : for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 : for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 : Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00

Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed for manipulating the tongue. An implant is positioned within at least a portion of the tongue and may be secured to other surrounding structures such as the mandible and/or hyoid bone. In general, the implant is manipulated to displace at least a portion of the posterior tongue in an anterior or lateral direction, or to alter the tissue tension or compliance of the tongue. Methods and devices are also disclosed for manipulating other soft tissue structures, including the soft palate and pharyngeal airway.

Claims

1. A method for treating a patient, comprising:

providing a palate remodeling system, the system comprising at least one tether support and at least one palate element, the at least one palate element having at least one expandable tissue anchor joined to at least one tether;

accessing a region about a hard palate;

inserting the at least one expandable tissue anchor through a first pathway along the region about the hard palate to a soft palate;

attaching the at least one tether of the at least one palate element to the at least one tether support;

positioning the at least one tether support about the hard palate; and

fixing the at least one tether support about the hard palate.

2. The method for treating a patient as in claim 1, wherein fixing the at least one tether support about the hard palate comprises fixing the at least one tether support to the hard palate.

3. The method for treating a patient as in claim 1, wherein fixing the at least one tether support about the hard palate comprises fixing the at least one tether support to mucosal tissue overlying the hard palate.

4. A method for treating a patient, comprising:

providing a soft palate element having an attachment end and an expandable tissue-anchoring end;

inserting the expandable tissue-anchoring end into the soft palate;

securing the attachment end of the palate element to a body structure.

5. The method for treating a patient as in claim 4, wherein the body structure is a palatine bone.

6. The method for treating a patient as in claim 5, wherein the body structure is a hard palate.

7. The method for treating a patient as in claim 4, wherein the body structure is a nasal turbinate.

8. A method for treating a patient, comprising:

accessing a tissue anchor implanted in a soft palate, the tissue anchor having a deployment configuration and a removal configuration;

deforming the tissue anchor to the removal configuration; and

withdrawing the tissue anchor from the soft palate.

9. A method for treating a patient, comprising:

accessing an adjustment assembly of a patient with an implanted adjustable soft palate remodeling system comprising the adjustment assembly and one or more soft palate elements inserted into the soft palate;

wherein at least one soft palate element comprises an anchor and a tether secured to the adjustment assembly at a securing point on the adjustment assembly; and

adjusting one or more soft palate elements by manipulating the adjustment assembly.