GLOSSOPEXY TENSION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20080058584A1
• Filed: 06/13/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• 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: Van der Burg, Erik, Frazier, Andrew, Jackson, Jasper, Dineen, Michael, Roue, Chad, Hirotsuka, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/762,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20080058584A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/37
• 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 tensioning a glossopexy system are also disclosed. A tether can include a tether protection element configured to prevent overextension of the tether.

Claims

1. A tongue remodeling system, comprising:

a first body-engaging structure;

a second body-engaging structure;

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

means for preventing overextension of the tether.

2. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the elastic tether comprises a spring.

3. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for preventing overextension of the tether comprises a controlled deflection spring.

4. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for preventing overextension of the tether comprises a shaft configured to have a portion of the tether wrapped over the shaft.

5. The tongue remodeling system of claim 1, wherein the means for preventing overextension of the tether comprises a tether protection element configured to prevent extension of a portion of the tether adjacent to the tether protection element.

6. A tongue remodeling system, comprising:

a first body-engaging structure;

a second body-engaging structure;

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

a tether protection element configured to prevent overextension of the tether.

7. The tongue remodeling system of claim 6, wherein the tether protection element comprises a spring.

8. The tongue remodeling system of claim 6, wherein the spring is a controlled deflection spring.

9. The tongue remodeling system of claim 6, wherein the tether protection element is configured to prevent extension of a portion of the tether spaced apart from the tether protection element.

10. The tongue remodeling system of claim 6, wherein the tether is a spring and the tether protection element is a shaft configured to have a portion of the spring wrapped over the shaft.

11. The tongue remodeling system of claim 6, wherein the tether protection element is configured to limit tether extension to no more than about 150% of an unstretched length of the tether.

12. The tongue remodeling system of claim 6, wherein the first body-engaging structure is a tissue anchor.

13. A method of preventing undesired hyperextension of a tether, comprising:

providing a body-engaging structure;

providing an elastic tether having a tether-protection element operatively engaged with the tether;

implanting the body-engaging structure with the body;

extending the tether with the tether connected to the body-engaging structure; and

limiting further extension of the tether, wherein limiting further extension is accomplished by the tether protection element.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the tether protection element comprises a spring.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the spring is a controlled deflection spring.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the tether protection element prevents extension of a portion of the tether spaced apart from the tether protection element.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the tether comprises a spring and the tether protection element comprises a shaft configured to have a portion of the spring wrapped over the shaft.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the body-engaging structure is implanted within the tongue.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the body-engaging structure is implanted within a bony structure.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the body-engaging structure is implanted within the mandible.

21. A tongue remodeling system, comprising:

a first body-engaging structure;

a second body-engaging structure; and

an elastic tether configured to be connected to the first body-engaging structure and the second body-engaging structure, wherein the elastic tether comprises at least two sections with at least two different spring rates.