IMPLANTABLE DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR MAINTAINING DESIRED ORIENTATIONS IN TARGETED TISSUE REGIONS

• US 20150013687A1
• Filed: 04/28/2014
• Published: 01/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: NELSON, Lionel M., PARASCHAC, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US14/263,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20150013687A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/848
• 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

At least one implant structure is sized and configured for implantation in, on, or near an extrinsic muscle region affecting movement and/or shape of a tongue, e.g., a genioglossus muscle. The position of the implant structure is stabilized relative to the extrinsic muscle region to maintain the tongue in a desired orientation, e.g., to maintain patency of an airway.

Claims

1. An implant system comprising:

at least one implant structure sized and configured for surgical implantation in, on, or near an extrinsic muscle region affecting movement and/or shape of a tongue, and

means for stabilizing the position of the implant structure relative to the extrinsic muscle region to maintain the tongue in a desired orientation, wherein the means for stabilizing is adapted to be surgically implemented.