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Pharyngeal wall treatment

  • US 20100137794A1
  • Filed: 01/29/2010
  • Published: 06/03/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2002
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for treating sleep apnea by treating a pharyngeal airway having a pharyngeal wall of a patient at least partially surrounding and defining said airway, said method comprising;

  • an expander member dimensioned so as to be inserted into said airway with an active portion of said expander member positioned in an interior of said airway and external to a tissue of said pharyngeal wall and in opposition to an airway-defining tissue of portions of said wall to be treated;

    an activator for activating said expander member to urge against said airway-defining tissue of said portions to urge said portions outwardly to an outwardly displaced position;

    an applicator to treat said portions in said outwardly displaced position with a treatment to retain said portions in said outwardly displaced position following deactivation of said expander member for a time sufficient to treat obstructive sleep apnea;

    said expander member adapted to be deactivated while leaving said portions in said outwardly displaced position;

    said expander member further dimensioned so as to be removable from said airway.

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