Devices, systems, and methods to fixate tissue within the regions of body, such as the pharyngeal conduit
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising a structure sized and configured for implantation in tissue within a tongue along an airway, the structure comprising a shape memory material dynamically changeable, when activated by external stimulus, from a first kinetic phase state having mechanical properties not significantly affecting native tongue tissue conditions to a second kinetic phase state different than the first kinetic phase state and comprising an elastically loaded condition having mechanical properties that fixate native tongue tissue conditions to resist collapse of the tongue in the airway.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices, systems and methods develop static and/or kinetic and/or pressure forces to fixate or brace tissue in targeted pharyngeal structures and individual anatomic components within the pharyngeal conduit.
244 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. An apparatus comprising a structure sized and configured for implantation in tissue within a tongue along an airway, the structure comprising a shape memory material dynamically changeable, when activated by external stimulus, from a first kinetic phase state having mechanical properties not significantly affecting native tongue tissue conditions to a second kinetic phase state different than the first kinetic phase state and comprising an elastically loaded condition having mechanical properties that fixate native tongue tissue conditions to resist collapse of the tongue in the airway.
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10. A method comprising
providing at least one structure sized and configured for implantation in tissue within a tongue along an airway, the structure comprising a shape memory material dynamically changeable, when activated by external stimulus, from a first kinetic phase state having mechanical properties not significantly affecting native tongue tissue conditions to a second kinetic phase state different than the first kinetic phase state and comprising an elastically loaded condition having mechanical properties that fixate native tongue tissue conditions to resist collapse of the tongue in the airway, implanting the structure in a tongue when in the first kinetic phase state, and resisting collapse of the tongue in the airway by applying the external stimulus to change the first kinetic phase state to the second kinetic phase state.
Specification