Devices, systems, and methods using magnetic force systems in or on tissue
First Claim
1. An implant device comprising a carrier structure for placement in or on tissue in an airway, and at least a first and second source of magnetism carried by the carrier structure, each source generating a magnetic field having a direction, the direction of the magnetic field of the first source of magnetism being oriented at an angle from the direction of the magnetic field of the second source of magnetism.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods include magnetic structures for placement in or on tissues in an airway. The magnetic structures carry sources of magnetism, which generate magnetic fields having directions. The magnetic fields interact to provide magnetic forces that provide a desired therapeutic effect, e.g., maintaining separation between the soft palate and/or tongue and the posterior pharyngeal wall. The systems and methods size and configure the directions of the magnetic fields to provide stability, which makes possible the achievement of the desired therapeutic effect in a straightforward and elegant manner.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An implant device comprising
a carrier structure for placement in or on tissue in an airway, and at least a first and second source of magnetism carried by the carrier structure, each source generating a magnetic field having a direction, the direction of the magnetic field of the first source of magnetism being oriented at an angle from the direction of the magnetic field of the second source of magnetism.
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2. An implant device comprising
a carrier structure for placement in or on tissue in an airway, and at least a first and second source of magnetism carried by the carrier structure, each source generating a magnetic field having a direction, and means for orienting the direction of the magnetic field of the first source of magnetism at an angle from the direction of the magnetic field of the second source of magnetism.
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23. An implant device comprising
a carrier structure for placement in or on tissue in an airway, the carrier structure having a longitudinal x-axis and z-axis extending normal to the x-axis, and at least a first and second source of magnetism carried by the carrier structure, each source generating a magnetic field having a direction, the directions of the magnetic fields of the first and second sources of magnetism being oriented at an angle from the z-axis.
- 26. A family of implant devices each comprising a source of magnetism having a magnetic field orientation, the magnetic field orientations of the implant devices differing within the family.
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28. A method comprising
placing a first magnetic structure in or on tissue on a posterior pharyngeal wall, and placing a second magnetic structure in or on tissue in a soft palate, the second magnetic structure interacting with the first magnetic structure to develop a magnetic force that maintains separation between the soft palate and the posterior pharyngeal wall, including placing, as the second magnetic structure, an implant device having a desired magnetic field orientation by (i) providing a family of candidate implant devices, each comprising a source of magnetism having a magnetic field orientation, the magnetic field orientations of the candidate implant devices differing within the family; - (iii) separately placing two or more of the candidate implant devices in or on tissue in a soft palate in interaction with the first magnetic structure;
(iv) assessing, as a function of the magnetic field orientation, a therapeutic effect of the interaction between each of the two or more candidate implant device and the first magnetic structure; and
(v) selecting as the desired magnetic field orientation, the magnetic field orientation that provides a desired therapeutic effect based, at least in part, upon the assessment of (iv); and
(v) providing an implant device having the desired magnetic field orientation.
- (iii) separately placing two or more of the candidate implant devices in or on tissue in a soft palate in interaction with the first magnetic structure;
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29. A method of manufacturing a magnetic structure comprising a carrier and at least a first and second source of magnetism carried by the carrier, each source generating a magnetic field having a direction, the direction of the magnetic field of the first source of magnetism being oriented at an angle from the direction of the magnetic field of the second source of magnetism, the method comprising providing first and second materials having grain directions that can be magnetized in response to exposure to a magnetizing field, placing the first material on the carrier with its grain direction aligned with the direction of the magnetic field of the first source, placing the second material on the carrier with its grain direction aligned with the direction of the magnetic field of the second source, and exposing the first and second materials on the carrier to a single magnetizing field while the carrier is folded to orient the grain directions of the first and second materials within 45-degrees and 60-degrees of the magnetizing field, whereby the first and second materials are magnetized to become, respectively, the first and second sources of magnetism on the carrier.
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30. A method of manufacturing a magnetic structure comprising a carrier and at least a first and second source of magnetism carried by the carrier, each source generating a magnetic field having a direction, the direction of the magnetic field of the first source of magnetism being oriented at an angle from the direction of the magnetic field of the second source of magnetism, the method comprising providing a support having a first component that carries the first source of magnetism and a second component that carries the second source of magnetism, and assembling the first component to the second component to form the carrier.
Specification