TONGUE IMPLANT

• US 20070233276A1
• 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, Conrad, Timothy, Sopp, John, Critzer, Susan
• Granted Patent: US 7,703,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/23.720
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices

Abstract

An airway condition of a patient'"'"'s is treated by selecting an implant sized to be implanted within a tongue of the patient. The implant has a tissue-engaging member sized to be implanted within the tongue near a base of the tongue to oppose relative movement between the tissue-engaging member and surrounding tissue of the tongue. The implant further has an elongated tether member with a first end secured to the tissue-engaging member. The implant is placed within the tongue with the tissue-engaging member implanted within tissue of the tongue near the base and with the tether member extending from the first end to a second end near a jaw bone of the patient. The second end of the tether is secured to the jaw bone.

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 base of a tongue of the patient from opposing tissue of a pharyngeal wall of the patient;

said method comprising;

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

placing said implant within said tongue with said tissue-engaging member implanted within tissue of said tongue near said base and with said tether member extending from said first end to a second end near a jaw bone of said patient; and

securing said second end of said tether to said jaw bone.

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 jaw bone.

3. A method according to claim 1 comprising drawing on said tether member to narrow a natural spacing between said jaw bone and said base of said tongue.

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 jaw bone 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.