SOFT PALATE IMPLANT

• US 20070227545A1
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Metzger, Anja, Erickson, Brian, Sopp, John, Critzer, Susan, CONRAD, TIMOTHY
• Granted Patent: US 7,673,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/848
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices

Abstract

An airway condition of a patient is treated by selecting an implant sized to be implanted within a soft palate of the patient. The implant has a tissue-engaging member sized to be implanted within the soft palate near a trailing end of the soft palate to oppose relative movement between the tissue-engaging member and surrounding tissue of the soft palate. The implant further has an elongated tether member with a first end secured to the tissue-engaging member. The implant is placed within the soft palate with the tissue-engaging member implanted within tissue of the soft palate near the trailing end and with the tether member extending from the first end to a second end near a hard palate of the patient. The second end of the tether is secured to the hard palate.

Claims

1. A method for treating a condition of a patient'"'"'s airway wherein said condition is attributed at least in part to a spacing of a trailing end of a soft palate of the patient from opposing airway tissue of the patient;

said method comprising;

selecting an implant sized to be implanted within said soft palate, said implant a tissue-engaging member sized to be implanted within said soft palate near said trailing end and oppose relative movement between said tissue-engaging member and surrounding tissue of said soft palate, said implant further having an elongated tether member with a first end secured to said tissue-engaging member;

placing said implant within said soft palate with said tissue-engaging member implanted within tissue of said soft palate near said trailing end and with said tether member extending from said first end to a second end near a hard palate of said patient; and

securing said second end of said tether to said hard palate.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising drawing on said tether member to place said tether member under tension before securing said second end to said hard palate.

3. A method according to claim 1 comprising drawing on said tether member to narrow a natural spacing between said hard palate and said trailing end of said soft palate.

4. A method according to claim 1 comprising accessing said secured second end at a time following initial implantation and adjusting a spacing between said hard palate and said tissue-engaging end.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said condition is snoring.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said condition is sleep apnea.