Snoring diagnostic and treatment

• US 6,439,238 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zhao, Hugh Qinghong, Brenzel, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCROSKY, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US09/608,651
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600/529, 128/897-925, 128/848
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/00 Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges protective face masks A41D13/11; surgeon's or patient's gowns or dresses A41D13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M1/00
• 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 2/0059 Cosmetic or alloplastic implants A61F2/10 - A61F2/16, A61F2/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices

Abstract

A diagnostic method is for indicating a patient'"'"'s susceptibility to treatment of snoring by stiffening a region of the patient'"'"'s a naso-pharyngeal area includes applying a stiffening agent to an outer surface of the region of the naso-pharyngeal area. The stiffening agent is left in place on the outer surface for at least a temporary period of time. During the temporary period of time, observation is made of any abatement of snoring.

Claims

1. A diagnostic method for indicating a patient'"'"'s susceptibility to treatment of snoring by stiffening a region of a naso-pharyngeal area of the patient, said method comprising:

applying a stiffening agent to an outer surface of said region of said naso-pharyngeal area;

leaving said stiffening agent on said surface for at least a temporary period of time with a stiffness of said agent on said outer surface imparting an increased stiffness to said region;

observing any abatement of snoring of the patient during said period of time.

2. A diagnostic method according to claim 1 wherein the stiffening agent is an adhering coating applied to said outer surface of said region of said naso-pharyngeal area.

3. A diagnostic method according to claim 2 wherein said coating is bio-resorbable.

4. A diagnostic method according to claim 2 wherein the coating is a cyanoacrylate.

5. A diagnostic method according to claim 2 wherein the coating is an absorbable biocompatible adhesive.

6. A diagnostic method according to claim 2 wherein the coating is a fibrin sealant.

7. A diagnostic method according to claim 2 wherein the coating is a hydrogel.

8. A diagnostic method according to claim 7 wherein the coating is photo-curing.

9. A diagnostic method according to claim 2 wherein the coating is applied by swabbing the coating on the outer surface of said region.

10. A diagnostic method according to claim 2 wherein the coating is applied by spraying the coating on the outer surface of said region.

11. A diagnostic method according to claim 2 wherein the coating is a tape adhered to the outer surface of said region.

12. A diagnostic method according to claim 1 wherein said naso-pharyngeal area is a soft palate of said patient.

13. A diagnostic method according to claim 12 wherein said outer surface is a lower surface of said soft palate.

14. A diagnostic method according to claim 12 wherein said outer surface is an upper surface of said soft palate.

15. A diagnostic method according to claim 1 wherein said naso-pharyngeal area is a nasal concha of said patient.

16. A diagnostic method according to claim 1 wherein said naso-pharyngeal area is a pharyngeal wall of said patient.

17. A method for treating snoring of a patient comprising:

identifying a region of a naso-pharyngeal area of the patient as a probable source of said snoring;

applying a stiffening agent to an outer surface of said region in an amount sufficient to abate vibration of said region with a stiffness of said agent on said outer surface imparting an increased stiffness to said region.