Pharyngeal wall treatment

• US 20060235462A1
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Knudson, Mark B., Conrad, Timothy R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,669,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/196
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0077 Special surfaces of prostheses, e.g. for improving ingrowth A61F2/30767 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/20 Epiglottis; Larynxes; Tracheae combined with larynxes or for use therewith tracheae, bronchi per se A61F2/04 ; tracheostomy tubes A61M16/0465
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04

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.

Claims

1. A method for treating sleep apnea by treating a pharyngeal airway having a pharyngeal wall of a patient at least partially surrounding and defining said airway, said method comprising;

identifying a patient with sleep apnea;

inserting an expander member into said airway and positioning an active portion of said expander member in an interior of said airway of said patient and external to a tissue of said pharyngeal wall and in opposition to an airway-defining tissue of portions of said wall to be treated;

activating said expander member to urge against said airway-defining tissue of said portions to urge said portions outwardly to an outwardly displaced position;

treating said portions to retain said portions in said outwardly displaced position following deactivation of said expander member for a time sufficient to treat obstructive sleep apnea;

deactivating said expander member while leaving said portions in said outwardly placed position; and

removing said expander member from said airway.

2-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A method for treating sleep apnea by treating a pharyngeal airway having a pharyngeal wall of a patient at least partially surrounding and defining said airway, said method comprising identifying a patient with sleep apnea;

stabilizing at least a portion of said pharyngeal wall of said patient against underlying structure by securing said portion of said pharyngeal wall to said structure to resist inward collapse of said pharyngeal wall, said stabilizing include treating said portion to resist inward collapse independent of a mechanical force acting against an external tissue of said pharyngeal wall within said airway for a time sufficient to treat obstructive sleep apnea.

14. A method according to claim 10 further comprising compressing said portion prior to said stabilization.

11. A method according to 10 wherein said stabilization includes mechanically securing said portion to said structure.

12. (canceled)

13. A method according to 10 wherein said stabilization includes adhering said portion to said structure.

15. A method for treating sleep apnea by treating a pharyngeal airway having a pharyngeal wall of a patient at least partially surrounding and defining said airway, said method comprising:

identifying a patient with sleep, apnea;

compressing at least a portion of a tissue of said pharyngeal wall of said patient to a compressed state; and

stabilizing said portion of said tissue in said compressed state, said stabilizing includes treating said portion to resist inward collapse independent of a mechanical force acting against an external tissue of said pharynlieal wall within said airway for a time sufficient to treat obstructive sleep apnea.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein said stabilization includes mechanically securing said portion to a structure underlying said wall.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein said stabilization includes adhering said portion to a structure underlying said wall.

17. (canceled)

19. An apparatus for treating sleep apnea by treating a pharyngeal airway having a pharyngeal wall of a patient at least partially surrounding and defining said airway, said method comprising;

an expander member dimensioned so as to be inserted into said airway with an active portion of said expander member positioned in an interior of said airway and external to a tissue of said pharyngeal wall and in opposition to an airway-defining tissue of portions of said wall to be treated;

an activator for activating said expander member to urge against said airway-defining tissue of said portions to urge said portions outwardly to an outwardly displaced position;

an applicator to treat said portions in said outwardly displaced position with a treatment to retain said portions in said outwardly displaced position following deactivation of said expander member for a time sufficient to treat obstructive sleep apnea;

said expander member adapted to be deactivated while leaving said portions in said outwardly displaced position;

said expander member further dimensioned so as to be removable from said airway.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said expander member includes a fluid inflatable member and said activator includes a connection between said fluid inflatable member and a source of fluid under pressure.

21. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said expander member includes an injector for injecting a biocompatible adhesive into compressed tissue adjacent said portions while said portions are in said outwardly displaced positions.

22. An apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising an injector for injecting a fibrosis-inducing agent into compressed tissue adjacent said portions while said portions are in said outwardly displaced positions.

23-24. -24. (canceled)