Airway implant

• US 7,401,611 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2007
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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:
  US11/800,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20070204866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 600 36- 37, 602/902, 623/11.11, 623/14.11, 623/9, 128897-899, 128/846, 128/848, 128859-862, 128/200.24
• 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 base of a tongue from opposing surfaces of a pharyngeal wall of said airway;

said method comprising;

selecting at least one implant of fibrosis-inducing material having a longitudinal dimension from a proximal and to a distal end and a transverse dimension narrower than said longitudinal dimension;

placing said implant within said tongue with said longitudinal dimension extend from the proximal end near a jaw bone of said patient to the distal end near the base of the tongue.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said selecting includes selecting a plurality of implants having structure similar to said at least one implant;

said placing including placing each of said plurality in said tongue with proximal ends near a jaw bone of said patient and said longitudinal dimensions extending radially outwardly for said distal ends near the base of the tongue.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinal dimension is aligned with an axis of a genioglossus muscle of the tongue.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said implant is adapted to contract over time.

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

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

7. A method according to claim 2 wherein said implants are spaced apart for fibrosis to interconnect between said members.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said implant is placed extending along an anterior-posterior axis of the tongue.