Snoring treatment implant and method

• US 6,523,542 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Snoring Center USA, LLC
• Original Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Knudson, Mark B., Metzger, Anja K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/815,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20010054428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 128/897-98, 128/848, 623/9, 623/11.11, 623/14.11
• US Class Current: 128/897
• 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 2/0077 Special surfaces of prostheses, e.g. for improving ingrowth A61F2/30767 takes precedence
• 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 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 method and apparatus for treating snoring include selecting an implant formed form a sheet of flexible, bio-compatible material. The sheet has a longitudinal length between a proximal edge and a distal edge, a transverse width and a thickness between upper and lower surfaces. The material is sized to be inserted into the soft palate with the longitudinal length extending aligned with an anterior-posterior axis of the soft palate and with the thickness contained within a thickness of the soft palate. The material has a plurality of spaces for accepting tissue growth from the soft palate into the spaces. The implant is inserted into the soft palate with the longitudinal length extending aligned with an anterior-posterior axis of the soft palate and with the thickness contained within the thickness of the soft palate.

Claims

1. A method for treating snoring of a patient attributable at least in part to motion of a soft palate of the patient, the method comprising:

selecting an implant formed form a sheet of flexible, bio-compatible material having a longitudinal length between a proximal edge and a distal edge, a transverse width and a thickness between upper and lower surfaces, said material sized to be inserted into said soft palate with said longitudinal length extending aligned with an anterior-posterior axis of said soft palate and with said thickness contained within a thickness of said soft palate, said material having a plurality of spaces for accepting tissue growth from said soft palate into said spaces;

inserting said implant into said soft palate with said longitudinal length extending aligned with an anterior-posterior axis of said soft palate and with said thickness contained within said thickness of said soft palate.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said material is expanded polytetraflouroethylene.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said material is polyester.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said material is woven.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said implant is inserted into said soft palate with said implant rolled-up about said longitudinal dimension.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said implant is inserted into said soft palate with said implant flattened for a lower surface of said sheet to be substantially parallel to a lower surface of said soft palate.

7. An implant for treating snoring of a patient attributable at least in part to motion of a soft palate of the patient, the implant comprising:

a sheet of flexible, bio-compatible material having a longitudinal length between a proximal edge and a distal edge, a transverse width and a thickness between upper and lower surfaces;

said material sized to be inserted into said soft palate with said longitudinal length extending aligned with an anterior-posterior axis of said palate and with said thickness contained within a thickness of said soft palate; and

said material having a plurality of spaces for accepting tissue growth from said soft palate into said spaces.

8. An implant according to claim 7 wherein said material is expanded polytetraflouroethylene.

9. An implant according to claim 7 wherein said material is polyester.

10. An implant according to claim 7 wherein said material is woven.