Methods and Devices for Treating Sleep Apnea and Snoring
First Claim
1. A device for maintaining an upper airway passage in a subject comprising:
- a soft tissue retractor member;
a shaft having a first end and a second end;
a soft tissue retractor member connected to the first end of the shaft; and
an anchor member connected to the second end of the shaft;
wherein the retractor member is positioned at an object extrinsic to the subject'"'"'s tongue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention include methods and devices to prevent or treat upper airway disorders in mammals related to impaired airflow. One aspect of this invention is a tongue retractor (LTR) that indirectly retracts tongue base by its implant site in the frenulum area. This simplifies the insertion, adjustment and maintenance of the device. Another aspect of this invention describes a highly localized and fully implantable LTR that is inserted into the base of tongue to stiffen lax surface mucosa or mechanically couple it to internal tongue structures. Another aspect of this invention is an LTR inserted in or around the pharyngoglossal fold. This site allows retraction and stiffening of tongue base tissue as well as the soft palate and lateral pharyngeal wall.
157 Citations
1 Claim
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1. A device for maintaining an upper airway passage in a subject comprising:
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a soft tissue retractor member;
a shaft having a first end and a second end;
a soft tissue retractor member connected to the first end of the shaft; and
an anchor member connected to the second end of the shaft;
wherein the retractor member is positioned at an object extrinsic to the subject'"'"'s tongue.
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Specification