Devices, systems, and methods using magnetic force systems in or on tissue

• US 20070000497A1
• Filed: 04/04/2006
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Apneon, Inc.
• Inventors: Boucher, Ryan, McGill, Scott, Paraschac, Joe, Rampersaud, Charles, Purdy, Craig, Gillis, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,721,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/848
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 602/902 Antisnoring or mouth closing devices

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.

Claims

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.

3. An implant device according to claim 1

wherein the carrier structure comprises a generally planar configuration prior to implantation.

4. An implant device according to claim 3

wherein the angle is formed by orienting a pole direction of one of the first and second sources to face a different direction than a pole direction of the other one of the first and second sources.

5. An implant device according to claim 1

wherein the carrier structure comprises a generally flexed configuration prior to implantation.

6. An implant device according to claim 5

wherein the angle is formed by flexure of the carrier structure.

7. An implant device according to claim 1

wherein the carrier structure flexes to conform to a curved tissue morphology after implantation.

8. An implant device according to claim 7

wherein the angle is formed by flexure of the carrier.

9. An implant according to claim 1

wherein the angle is formed by a magnet having an angled field.

10. An implant device according to claim 1

wherein at least one of the first and second sources of magnetism comprises a permanent magnet.

11. An implant device according to claim 1

wherein at least one of the first and second sources of magnetism comprises a radial magnet.

12. An implant device according to claim 1

wherein the carrier structure includes an edge region, and

wherein one of the first and second sources of magnetism is carried in the edge region.

13. An implant device according to claim 1 or 2

wherein the angle is at least 10-degrees.

14. An implant device according to claim 1 or 2

wherein the angle is 90°

or less.

15. An implant system comprising

a first implant device as defined in claim 1 or 2, and

a second implant structure for implantation in or on a second tissue region in the airway, the second implant device including a third source of magnetism that interacts with at least one of the first and second sources of magnetism to develop a magnetic force between the first and second implant devices.

16. An implant system according to claim 15

wherein the magnetic force includes at least one of a repelling force, a torquing force, and a decentering force.

17. A method comprising

providing an implant device as defined in claim 1 or 2

implanting the implant device in or on a first tissue region in an airway.

18. A method according to claim 17

wherein the first tissue region comprises one of a soft palate, a pharyngeal wall, and a tongue.

19. A method according to claim 17

further comprising implanting a second implant device in or on second tissue region in an airway, the second implant device including a third source of magnetism that interacts with at least one of the first and second sources of magnetism to develop a magnetic force between the first and second implant devices.

20. A method according to claim 19

wherein the magnetic force stabilizes a desired tissue orientation in an airway.

21. A method according to claim 19

wherein the magnetic force includes a repelling force.

22. A method according to claim 19

wherein the magnetic force includes at least one of a repelling force, a torquing force, and a decentering force.

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.

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.

24. An implant device according to claim 23

wherein the angle for all sources of magnetism on the carrier structure is essentially equal.

25. An implant device according to claim 23

wherein the carrier structure is sized and configured for implantation in a tongue and/or a soft palate.

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.

27. An implant system comprising

a family of implant devices as defined in claim 26, and

instructions comprising (i) separately placing two or more of the implant devices in or on tissue in a first tissue region in association with a second magnetic structure, which is placed in or on a second tissue region different than the first tissue region, the magnetic filed orientation of the implant devices magnetically interacting with the second magnetic structure;

(ii) assessing, as a function of the magnetic field orientation, a therapeutic effect that results from the interaction between each of the two or more implant devices and the second magnetic structure; and

(iii) selecting as a desired magnetic field orientation, the magnetic field orientation that provides a desired therapeutic effect based, at least in part, upon the assessment of (ii).

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.

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.

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.