SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TEMPORARY TONGUE SUSPENSION

• US 20080035160A1
• Filed: 06/19/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Burg, Erik van der, Woodson, Beverly, Frazier, Andrew, Jackson, Jasper, Dineen, Michael, Roue, Chad, Hirotsuka, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,934,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/860
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00349 Needle-like instruments having hook or barb-like gripping means, e.g. for grasping suture or tissue A61B17/06066 takes precedence
• 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, and more particularly for temporarily suspending the tongue. One embodiment of the device comprises an elongate member with a retractable distal tissue-engaging tip that is movable within the lumen of tubular member configured for insertion into the tongue, preferably from an inferior surface of the jaw. The device may be used diagnostically assess the effect of performing tongue suspension in a patient prior to permanent implantation of a glossopexy device. The retractable distal tissue-engaging tip may be removed after diagnostic assessment, or left in place and attached to a temporary external securing device.

Claims

1. A method for assessing airway obstruction, comprising:

providing a glossopexy diagnostic system, the glossopexy diagnostic system comprising;

a cannula having a proximal end, a sharpened distal end, and a lumen therebetween;

an elongate tissue anchor residing in the cannula lumen, the elongate tissue anchor having a proximal handle, at least one distal outwardly biased barb, and an elongate body therebetween;

percutaneously inserting the cannula through the submental region of a patient toward the patient'"'"'s tongue base;

deploying the at least one barb in the tongue of the patient;

pulling on the elongate tissue anchor from the chin to assess airway patency;

repositioning the cannula with respect to the chin;

maintaining cannula position with respect to the mandible by securing a clip relative to an external skin surface of the patient.

2. The method for assessing airway obstruction as in claim 1, further comprising performing at least a portion of a sleep apnea study while maintaining the cannula position.

3. A method for diagnosing airway obstruction, comprising:

percutaneously inserting a tissue-engaging member through the submental region of a patient along a linear access pathway;

engaging a tongue tissue site using the tissue-engaging member;

forming tension in the tissue-engaging member;

maintaining the tension in the tissue-engaging member using a securing member pressed against the skin of the patient; and

performing at least a portion of an apnea study on the patient while maintaining tension in the tissue-engaging member.

4. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 3, further comprising:

inserting a tubular member from a percutaneous insertion site toward the tongue tissue site, the tubular member comprising a proximal end, a sharpened distal end, and a lumen therebetween.

5. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 4, further comprising inserting the tissue-engaging member into the lumen of the tubular member.

6. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 5, further comprising deploying the tissue-engaging member from the distal end of the tubular member.

7. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 5, further comprising removing the tubular member from the patient before securing the repositioned tongue tissue site.

8. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 7, wherein the tubular member is a peel-away tubular member.

9. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 7, wherein the tissue-engaging member comprises a proximal handle.

10. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 9, wherein the proximal handle is a detachable proximal handle.

11. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 4, further comprising adjusting tension in the tissue-engaging member with the tubular member remaining within the patient.

12. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 4, wherein the tubular member forms a mechanical interfit with the securing member.

13. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 12, wherein the mechanical interfit is a threaded interfit.

14. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 3, wherein the tissue-engaging member forms a mechanical interfit with the securing member.

15. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 12, wherein adjusting tension in the tissue-engaging member comprises rotating the tubular member.

16. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 12, wherein adjusting tension in the tissue-engaging member comprises rotating the securing member.

17. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 4, further comprising checking a plurality of indicia located on an external surface of the tubular member to determine the relative location of the tubular member in the tongue.

18. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 4, wherein the securing member is pre-attached to the tissue-engaging member.

19. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 4, wherein the securing member comprises a clamp.

20. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 4, wherein the securing member comprises a blocking member having a threaded aperture.

21. The method for diagnosing airway obstruction as in claim 20, wherein the blocking member comprises a pad.

22. A system for performing tongue suspension, comprising:

a tissue-engaging assembly comprising a proximal handle, at least one distal tissue-engaging element having a linear non-deployed configuration and a non-linear deployed configuration, and a body therebetween; and

an adjustable tensioning member configured to engage to the tissue-engaging assembly and press against an external skin surface of a patient.

23. The system for performing tongue suspension as in claim 22, wherein the proximal handle is a detachable proximal handle.

24. The system for performing tongue suspension as in claim 22, wherein the proximal handle and the adjustable tensioning member are integrally formed.

25. The system for performing tongue suspension as in claim 22, wherein the adjustable tensioning member is configured to threadably engage to the tissue-engaging assembly.

26. The system for performing tongue suspension as in claim 22, further comprising a means for attaching the adjustable tensioning member to the patient'"'"'s body.

27. The system for performing tongue suspension as in claim 22, wherein the tissue-engaging assembly further comprises a cannula having a proximal handle, a sharpened distal end, and a lumen therebetween in which the body movably resides.

28. The system for performing glossopexy as in claim 27, wherein the cannula comprises indicia on an outer surface of the cannula.

29. The system for performing tongue suspension as in claim 22, wherein the adjustable tensioning member comprises a clamp.

30. The system for performing tongue suspension as in claim 22, wherein the clamp is configured to clamp either the cannula or the body of the tissue-engaging assembly.

31. The system for performing tongue suspension as in claim 22, wherein the body is a rigid body.