SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATMENT OF SLEEP APNEA

• US 20110226262A1
• Filed: 03/21/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ReVENT Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ReVENT Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Shadduck, John H., Gillis, Edward M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,776,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/848
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/00 Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents as cosmetic articles, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. wigs, hair pieces, A41G3/00, A41G5/00; artificial nails A45D31/00; dental prostheses A61C13/00; materials for prostheses A61L27/00; artificial hearts A61M60/00; artificial kidneys A61M1/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices

Abstract

A system for revisably treating an airway disorder is provided with an implant body configured to conform to an airway-interface tissue site in a manner compatible with normal physiological function of the site. In some embodiments, first and second openings extend through first and second implant ends, respectively, for permitting a tissue plug to grow through each opening. Methods of using and revising such systems are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for revisably treating an airway disorder, comprising:

an implant body configured to conform to an airway-interface tissue site in a manner compatible with normal physiological function of the site,

first and second openings extending through first and second implant ends, respectively, for permitting each of the first and second implant ends to surround a tissue plug.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second openings of the first and second implant ends are configured to allow the tissue plugs to grow through them after the implant body has been implanted in the airway-interface tissue site.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cutting element configured for removal of the implant body from the site.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein a medial portion of the implant body intermediate the first and second end portions comprises an elastomeric material.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the medial portion is configured for implantation in the tissue site in a non-repose condition.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the medial portion is configured to be releasably maintained in the non-repose condition by a bioerodible or biodissolvable material carried by said medial portion.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein the cutting element comprises at least one of a pivotable blade edge, a rotatable sleeve with a blade edge, an axially translatable blade edge, and a cut wire.

8. A method of treating an airway disorder:

providing an implant body having first and second portions configured to surround first and second spaced apart tissue plugs, respectively;

implanting the body in an airway-interface tissue; and

applying tension between the tissue plugs with the implant body to thereby alleviate tissue obstruction of the airway.

9. The method of claim 8 where the first and second tissue plugs grow through the first and second end portions of the implant body, respectively, after the body is implanted.

10. The method of claim 8 where the first and second body portions are provided in the implant body in a releasably tensioned configuration.

11. The method of claim 8 where the implanting step includes releasably maintaining the implant body in a tensioned configuration for a selected time interval.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein a portion of the implant body is releasably maintained in the tensioned configuration by a bioerodible or biodissolvable material.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the bioerodible or biodissolvable material is carried about an exterior of the implant body.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the bioerodible or biodissolvable material is carried within an interior portion of the implant body.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the applying tension step includes releasing the implant body from a tensioned configuration to move toward a non-tensioned configuration.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the releasing step comprises allowing the bioerodible or biodissolvable material to erode or dissolve.

17. The method of claim 8 further including cutting said tissue plugs and extracting the implant from the tissue to revise the treatment.

18. The method of claim 8 further including cutting a portion of the implant body that surrounds said tissue plugs and extracting the implant from the tissue to revise the treatment.

19. A method of treating an airway disorder:

implanting a resilient implant in a releasably tensioned configuration in an airway-interface tissue;

permitting end portions of the implant to surround first and second tissue plugs in the airway-interface tissue to releasably anchor the end portions of the implant; and

releasing the implant from the tensioned configuration to move the implant toward a non-tensioned configuration, thereby alleviating tissue obstruction of the airway;

whereby the resilient implant configuration and method allow for the optional step of cutting the tissue plugs and extracting the implant from the tissue to revise the treatment.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the cutting step includes cutting with a cut wire, at least one blade edge or thermal applicator.