Tissue anchoring system for percutaneous glossoplasty

• US 20060207612A1
• 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, van der Burg, Erik, Hirotsuka, Mark, Roue, Chad C.
• Application Number:
  US11/349,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20060207612A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/860
• 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 tissue anchoring system for engaging soft tissue, comprising:

at least one deformable hook element, the at least one hook element comprising an elongate body having a proximal portion and a sharp distal end, wherein the at least one hook element when unrestrained curls to form an arcuate structure; and

a tether attached about the proximal portion of the at least one hook element.

2. The tissue anchoring system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one deformable hook element is a plurality of deformable hook elements.

3. The tissue anchoring system as in claim 2, wherein the plurality of deformable hook elements are arranged circumferentially.

4. The tissue anchoring system as in claim 2, wherein the plurality of deformable hook elements are arranged in a generally planar configuration.

5. The tissue anchoring system as in claim 3, wherein the hook elements when unrestrained curl back toward themselves to form a loop-like structure.

6. The tissue anchoring system as in claim 3, further comprising a band about the proximal portions of the hook elements.

7. The tissue anchoring system as in claim 3, further comprising a proximal group of hook elements and a distal group of hook elements.

8. The tissue anchoring system as in claim 3, wherein the hook elements comprise symmetrical U-shaped planar structures with sharp distal tips.

9. The tissue anchoring system as in claim 3, further comprising a delivery device adapted to receive and restrain the hook elements in a generally linear configuration, wherein the hook elements when advanced out of the delivery device curl back toward themselves to engage tissue.

10. A tissue anchoring system for engaging soft tissue, comprising:

at least one means for expandable curled tissue engagement; and

a tether attached to the at least one means for expandable curled tissue engagement.

11. A tissue anchoring system for engaging soft tissue, comprising:

a plurality of deformable hook elements spaced circumferentially about each other, each of the plurality of hook elements comprising an elongate body having a proximal portion and a sharp distal end, wherein the plurality of hook elements when unrestrained curls to form an arcuate structure; and

a tether attached about the proximal portion of the plurality of hook elements.

12. The tissue anchoring system for engaging soft tissue as in claim 11, wherein the plurality of deformable hook elements comprise at least two pairs of deformable hooks elements joined together about the proximal portions of their elongate bodies.

13. The tissue anchoring system as in claim 12, wherein the at least two pairs of deformable hook elements are joined proximally by a band.

14. The tissue anchoring system as in claim 12, wherein the at least two pairs of deformable hook elements comprise four pairs of deformable hook elements.

15. The tissue anchoring system as in claim 12, wherein the at least two pairs of deformable hook elements are arranged circumferentially.

16. The tissue anchoring system as in claim 12, wherein the at least two paired groups of deformable hook elements are arranged in a generally planar configuration.

17. The tissue anchoring system as in claim 16, wherein the at least two paired groups of deformable hook elements are arranged in a generally planar nested configuration.

18. The tissue anchoring system as in claim 16, wherein the at least two paired groups of deformable hook elements are arranged in a generally planar stacked configuration.