Airway implant

• US 7,213,599 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Conrad, Timothy R., Sopp, John P., Erickson, Brian J., Critzer, Susan L., Metzger, Anja K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk; John P.
• Application Number:
  US10/877,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20050092334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 128897-899, 128/846, 128/848, 128859-862, 602/902, 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 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

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for treating a condition of a patient'"'"'s airway. The condition is attributed at least in part to a spacing of tissue from opposing surfaces in the airway. In various embodiments, the base of the tongue including geometry and position of the tongue is altered.

Claims

1. A method for treating a condition of a patient'"'"'s airway wherein said condition is attributed at least in part to a spacing of a tongue from opposing surfaces in said airway;

said method comprising;

placing a tissue tensioner within said tongue, said tensioner including an anterior end and a posterior end joined by a resilient tension member with a spring force resisting motion of said posterior end away from said anterior end while yielding to muscles of the tongue during normal tongue functions;

securing said anterior end to a jaw of said patient and securing said posterior end to tissue of said tongue proximate to a base of said tongue.

2. A method according to claim 1 including shortening a length of said tensioner between said anterior and posterior ends.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said tensioner includes a tensioning member between said anterior and posterior ends with said tensioning member retained in a stretched state by a bio-resorbable member selected to resorb after placement of said tensioner in said tissue.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said condition is snoring.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said condition is sleep apnea.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said posterior end is formed of a tissue growth inducing material to induce tissue in-growth into the posterior end following implantation in the tongue.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein a securing of the anterior end to the jaw bone is performed by accessing the anterior end after initial implantation of the tensioner.