GLOSSAL ENGAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20080027560A1
• Filed: 06/13/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• 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
• Application Number:
  US11/762,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20080027560A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/23.64
• 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 2017/00814 Surgery of the tongue, e.g. glossoplasty
• 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 2017/045 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: A61B 2018/00327 : Ear, nose or throat
• 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 engaging the tongue are also disclosed. One embodiment of a tongue remodeling system includes an elongate implant configured to be positioned within a selected region of the tongue and a tether configured to suspend the tongue. The tether can be configured to be looped around the elongate implant and connected to another structure.

Claims

1. A tongue remodeling system, comprising:

an elongate implant configured to be positioned within a selected region of the tongue; and

a tether configured to suspend the tongue, the tether configured to be looped around the elongate implant and be connected to another structure.

2. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the elongate implant comprises an elongate rod.

3. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the elongate implant comprises at least two curved elongate rods.

4. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the elongate implant comprises tissue ingrowth material to promote stiffening.

5. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the tissue ingrowth material comprises felt.

6. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the tissue ingrowth material comprises PET.

7. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, further comprising a bone anchor attached to the tether.

8. A tongue remodeling system, comprising:

An elongate implant configured to be positioned within a selected region of the tongue;

a tissue anchor configured to be positioned within a selected region of the tongue such that it engages the elongate implant; and

a tether configured to be attached to the tissue anchor to suspend the tongue to another structure.

9. A tongue remodeling system, comprising:

means for stiffening a region of the tongue; and

means for suspending the stiffened region of the tongue.

10. A method for remodeling the tongue, comprising:

stiffening a selected region of the tongue; and

suspending the stiffened region of the tongue.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein stiffening a selected region of the tongue comprises:

providing an elongate implant; and

inserting the implant into the selected region of the tongue.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the implant is inserted such that a longitudinal axis of the implant is substantially parallel to a long axis of the tongue.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the implant is inserted such that a longitudinal axis of the implant is substantially perpendicular to a long axis of the tongue.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the implant comprises an elongate rod.

15. The method of claim 11, comprising inserting a pair of curved elongate rods substantially parallel to each other along a long axis of the tongue.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein suspending a selected region of the tongue comprises extending a tether between the implant and a selected body location.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the selected body location is the mandible.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the selected body location is the hyoid bone.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the selected body location is another portion of the tongue.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the selected body location is the genioglossus muscle.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the selected body location is soft tissue within the oral cavity.

22. The method of claim 10, wherein suspending a region of the tongue results in the region of the tongue being pulled in an anterior direction.

23. A method for remodeling the tongue, comprising:

providing an elongate implant;

inserting the elongate implant within a first selected region of the tongue to stiffen the selected region of the tongue;

providing a tissue anchor;

inserting the tissue anchor within a second selected region of the tongue;

engaging the tissue anchor with the elongate implant;

providing a tether; and

suspending the tongue by connecting the tether to the tissue anchor and another structure.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein another structure is another portion of the tongue.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein another structure is soft tissue within the oral cavity.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein another structure is a bone.