Systems and methods for moving and/or restraining tissue in the upper respiratory system
First Claim
1. A method for treating snoring comprisingfitting an appliance inside a mouth, the appliance having a first component that includes a first component material,attaching a second component to or within a soft palate tissue region separate from the appliance, the second component including a second component material that magnetically interacts with the first component material, andstabilizing a preferred orientation of the soft palate tissue region within the mouth by magnetic interaction between the first and second components.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and related methods stabilize tissue in the oral cavity and airway, e.g., the soft palate/uvula and/or tongue. The systems and methods employ an operative element sized and configured to be fitted to less mobile tissue in the oral cavity. The operative element is further constructed and arranged to interact with more mobile tissue in the airway to stabilize a preferred tissue orientation. The operative element can comprise a suction source sized and configured to draw more mobile tissue toward the suction source. Alternatively, the operative element can comprise a magnetic source sized and configured to magnetically attract material fitted to more mobile tissue in the airway.
79 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for treating snoring comprising
fitting an appliance inside a mouth, the appliance having a first component that includes a first component material, attaching a second component to or within a soft palate tissue region separate from the appliance, the second component including a second component material that magnetically interacts with the first component material, and stabilizing a preferred orientation of the soft palate tissue region within the mouth by magnetic interaction between the first and second components.
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2. A method for treating upper airway resistance syndrome comprising
fitting an appliance inside a mouth, the appliance having a first component that includes a first component material, attaching a second component to or within a soft palate tissue region separate from the appliance, the second component including a second component material that magnetically interacts with the first component material, and stabilizing a preferred orientation of the soft palate tissue region within the mouth by magnetic interaction between the first and second components.
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3. A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea comprising
fitting an appliance inside a mouth, the appliance having a first component that includes a first component material, attaching a second component to or within a soft palate tissue region separate from the appliance, the second component including a second component material that magnetically interacts with the first component material, and stabilizing a preferred orientation of the soft palate tissue region within the mouth by magnetic interaction between the first and second components.
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4. A method for treating a breathing disorder comprising
fitting an appliance inside a mouth, the appliance having a first component that includes a first component material, attaching a second component to or within a soft palate tissue region separate from the appliance, the second component including a second component material that magnetically interacts with the first component material, and stabilizing a preferred orientation of the soft palate tissue region within the mouth by magnetic interaction between the first and second components.
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5. A method for moving and/or restraining tissue comprising
fitting an appliance inside a mouth, the appliance having a first component that includes a first component material, attaching a second component to or within a soft palate tissue region separate from the appliance, the second component including a second component material that magnetically interacts with the first component material, and stabilizing a preferred orientation of the soft palate tissue region within the mouth by magnetic interaction between the first and second components.
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17. A system comprising
an appliance sized and configured to be worn inside a mouth, the appliance including a body shaped to releasably engage a hard tissue region within the mouth so that the appliance can be selectively fitted into and removed from the mouth, the body having a first component that, when the appliance is fitted into the mouth, is oriented toward a soft palate tissue region within the mouth, the component of the body including a first component material, a second component sized and shaped to be attached to or implanted within the soft palate tissue region separate from the appliance, the second component including a second component material that magnetically interacts with the first component material so that, when the appliance is worn within the mouth, magnetic interaction between the first and second component materials stabilizes a preferred orientation of the soft palate tissue region within the mouth, the body also including a third component that, when the appliance is fitted into the mouth, is oriented toward a posterior tongue tissue region within the mouth, the third component including a third component material, and a fourth component sized and shaped to be attached to or implanted within the posterior tongue tissue region, the fourth component including a fourth component material that magnetically interacts with the third component material so that, when the appliance is worn within the mouth, magnetic interaction between the third and fourth component materials stabilizes a preferred orientation of the posterior tongue tissue region within the mouth.
Specification