APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR TREATING SLEEP APNEA

• US 20100000550A1
• Filed: 09/10/2009
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quiescence Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quiescence Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Thompson, Christopher Paul, Pflueger, D. Russell
• Granted Patent: US 8,578,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/848
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/20 Epiglottis; Larynxes; Tracheae combined with larynxes or for use therewith tracheae, bronchi per se A61F2/04 ; tracheostomy tubes A61M16/0465
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/203 comprising an air passage from trachea to oesophagus or to pharynx; Artificial epiglottis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 602/902 Antisnoring or mouth closing devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/902 Method of implanting

Abstract

An apparatus and method for treating sleep apnea and/or snoring is provided. The apparatus includes an appliance sized and structured to be placed in the pharyngeal region of a human or animal and being effective in treating sleep apnea and/or snoring, for example in maintaining openness of an oropharyngeal region of a human or animal during natural sleep, advantageously while not interfering with normal functioning of the epiglottis. The appliance may be made of a super elastic material, for example, Nitinol, and may be submucosally implanted in the pharyngeal walls.

Claims

1. An apparatus for maintaining the patency of an airway that is attached to an airway inner surface comprising one or more protrusions and/or air passageways, wherein the flow or air through said airway is preserved by said protrusion(s) or air passageways during posterior collapse of the tongue.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising an elongate element including first and second end portions, the one or more protrusions located between the end portions, the elongate element sized such that, when the elongate element is attached to an airway inner surface, the one or more protrusions are disposed on a posterior wall of the airway and the end portions extend around opposite lateral regions of the airway.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elongate element has a length sufficiently long to position the elongate element around the airway such that the end portions traverse a base of a tongue adjacent the airway.

4-7. -7. (canceled)

8. An apparatus for maintaining the patency of an airway that is implanted in an airway wall comprising one or more tongue movement resisting members, wherein the tongue movement resisting members become progressively more resistant as the tongue approaches the posterior pharyngeal wall.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, comprising an elongate element including first and second end portions, the end portions comprising the one or more tongue movement resisting members.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the elongate element is sized such that, when the elongate element is implanted in an airway inner surface, the elongate element extends along a posterior wall of the airway and the end portions extend around opposite lateral regions of the airway to support a tongue adjacent the airway.

11. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the elongate element has a length sufficiently long to position the elongate element around the airway such that the end portions traverse a base of the tongue to support the tongue.

12. A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:

a) providing an arcuate support structure that is adapted for implant in an airway comprising a tongue movement resisting member; and

b) implanting said support member into the pharynx; and

;

c) preventing the complete closure of the airway by stopping the tongue from complete collapse and blockage of substantially all airflow.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the support structure comprises first and second end portions, each end portion comprising a tongue movement resisting member.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the support structure comprises one or more protrusions located between the end portions, and wherein the elongate element is implanted into the pharynx such that the one or more protrusions are disposed on a posterior wall of the pharynx.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the end portions extend around opposite lateral walls of the pharynx to support the tongue sufficiently to stop the tongue from complete collapse and blockage of substantially all airflow.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the support structure extends around the pharynx such that the end portions traverse a base of the tongue to stop the tongue from complete collapse and blockage of substantially all airflow.

17-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:

a) providing an arcuate support structure defining a lumen comprising one or more flexible members, and;

b) implanting said support structure into the airway of a patient; and

;

c) wherein said flexible member(s) flex allowing adjacent tissue or organs to encroach on the lumen of said support structure while preventing the complete closure of the airway while allowing the tongue to contact the wall of the pharynx.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more flexible members comprises first and second end portions of the support structure.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the end portions extend around opposite lateral walls of the pharynx to support the tongue sufficiently to prevent the complete closure of the airway.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the support structure extends around the pharynx such that the end portions traverse a base of the tongue to prevent complete closure of the airway.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the support structure comprises one or more protrusions located between the end portions, and wherein the elongate element is implanted into the pharynx such that the one or more protrusions are disposed on a posterior wall of the pharynx.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the flexible members are sufficiently flexible such that, upon contraction of the pharynx during swallowing, the flexible members are temporarily forced toward one another.

25. A method for maintaining the patency of an airway of a patient, comprising:

introducing an appliance into an oropharyngeal region of the patient; and

securing the appliance within the oropharyngeal region such that the appliance extends at least partially around the oropharyngeal region and pushes the tongue forward to hold the airway patent.

26. A method for treating at least one of sleep apnea and snoring, comprising:

introducing an appliance into an oropharyngeal region of a patient; and

securing the appliance within the oropharyngeal region such that the appliance extends around opposite lateral walls of the oropharyngeal region to support the tongue sufficiently to stop the tongue from complete collapse and blockage of substantially all airflow through the airway.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the appliance comprises first and second end portions, the appliance secured within the oropharyngeal region such that the end portions extend around opposite lateral walls of the oropharyngeal region and support the tongue.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein, upon contraction of the oropharyngeal region, the end portions are temporarily forced towards one another, the end portions biased to move away from one another to open the oropharyngeal region.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the end portions push the tongue forward to hold the airway patent.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the appliance extends around the airway such that the end portions traverse a base of the tongue.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein the appliance is secured to the oropharyngeal region by suturing the appliance to the pharyngeal region.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the appliance is secured to the oropharyngeal region using an adhesive.

37. The method of claim 26, wherein the appliance is secured to the oropharyngeal region by implanting the appliance at least partially submucosally.

27-30. -30. (canceled)