GLOSSOPEXY ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20080023012A1
• Filed: 06/13/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Aspire Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Frazier, Andrew, Jackson, Jasper, Dineen, Michael, Roue, Chad, van der Burg, Erik, Hirotsuka, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,408,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/848
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/042 plastically deformed during insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0422 by insertion of a separate member into the body of the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0433 the anchor or the separate member comprising threads, e.g. a set screw or a worm gear for moving spreading members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0435 the barbs being separate elements mechanically linked to the anchor, e.g. by pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0437 the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0438 slotted, i.e. having a longitudinal slot for enhancing their elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0443 the shaft being resilient and having a coiled or helical shape in the released state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 snug fit within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0451 Cams or wedges holding the suture by friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0453 threaded elements, e.g. set screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0461 with features cooperating with special features on the suture, e.g. protrusions on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0462 One way system, i.e. also tensioning the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 : for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06057 : Double-armed sutures, i.e. sutures having a needle attached to each end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0618 : elastic, e.g. stretchable for prostheses A61F2210/0057
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/248 : Operations for treatment of snoring, e.g. uvulopalatoplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 : Intra-oral devices

Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed for manipulating the tongue. An implant is positioned within at least a portion of the tongue and may be secured to other surrounding structures such as the mandible and/or hyoid bone. In general, the implant is manipulated to displace at least a portion of the posterior tongue in an anterior or lateral direction, or to alter the tissue tension or compliance of the tongue. Methods and devices for adjusting a glossopexy system are also disclosed. Adjusting a distance between two body-engaging structures can be performed without disengaging a tether from either of the body-engaging structures in some embodiments.

Claims

1. A tongue remodeling system, comprising:

a first body-engaging structure;

a second body-engaging structure;

a tether configured to be connected to the first body-engaging structure and to the second body-engaging structure; and

means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure when the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure are engaged with the body without disengaging the tether from either of the body-engaging structures.

2. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a ratchet.

3. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a worm drive.

4. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a friction shaft operably engaged within a bone anchor.

5. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a set screw for locking the tether.

6. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the first body-engaging structure comprises a bone anchor and wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure is directly attached to the bone anchor.

7. The tongue remodeling system of claim 6, wherein the first body-engaging structure comprises a bone anchor and wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure is directly attached to a proximal head portion of the bone anchor.

8. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a clamping element configured to clamp a tether.

9. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the first body-engaging structure comprises a bone anchor, the bone anchor comprising a bore within the bone anchor;

and the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a rotatable member operably engaged within the bore.

10. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a lead screw.

11. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a cam lock.

12. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a drawstring lock.

13. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a turnbuckle.

14. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises one or more magnets.

15. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a screw and a bit-valve covering over a portion of the screw.

16. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a rotational assembly.

17. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises an adjustable knot.

18. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a gripping collar.

19. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a bead clamp.

20. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a plurality of eccentricity plates.

21. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a spool with an axial titration element.

22. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a zip tie.

23. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises a plurality of finger elements.

24. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting a distance between the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure comprises an element with a channel therein configured to house the tether therethrough, the channel containing a friction surface configured to resist movement of the tether.

25. A tongue remodeling system, comprising:

a tissue-engaging structure;

a bone anchor with a proximal head portion and a threaded distal portion;

wherein the bone anchor comprises an adjustment mechanism directly attached to the bone anchor.

26. The tongue remodeling system of claim 25, wherein the adjustment mechanism resides on the proximal head portion of the bone anchor.

27. A tongue remodeling system, comprising:

a tissue-engaging structure;

a bone anchor comprising a bore;

a tether configured to be connected to the tissue-engaging structure and the bone anchor; and

an adjustment element comprising a rotatable member configured to engage the bore within the bone anchor, the rotatable member configured to carry a portion of the tether.

28. The tongue remodeling system of claim 27, wherein the rotatable member is a screw.

29. The tongue remodeling system of claim 27, wherein the bore is threaded.

30. A method of remodeling the tongue, comprising:

providing a tissue-engaging structure;

inserting the tissue-engaging structure within the tongue;

providing a bone anchor comprising a bore;

providing an adjustment element comprising a rotatable member configured to engage the bore within the bone anchor, the rotatable member configured to carry a portion of a tether;

providing a tether connected to the tissue-engaging structure and the rotatable member;

inserting the bone anchor into a bone;

turning the rotatable member in a first direction to adjust a distance between the tissue-engaging structure and the bone anchor.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the tether is pre-attached to at least one of the tissue-engaging structure and the bone anchor.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of turning the rotatable member in a second direction to fix the distance between the tissue-engaging structure and the bone anchor.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the bone is the mandible.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the bone is a hyoid bone.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the rotatable member is a screw.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein the bore is threaded.