Devices, systems, and methods to fixate tissue within the regions of body, such as the pharyngeal conduit

• US 7,441,559 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Liu, Jinfang, Nelson, Lionel M., Jones, Lawrence R., Stine, J. Greg, Boucher, Ryan P., Doelling, Eric N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US10/806,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20050004417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: 128/848, 128/859, 128860-862, 433/6, 602/902
• US Class Current: 128/848
• 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 602/902 Antisnoring or mouth closing devices

Abstract

Systems and methods incorporate implant structures, and/or implantation devices, and/or surgical implantation techniques, to make possible the treatment of physiologic conditions, such as sleep disordered breathing, with enhanced effectiveness.

Claims

1. An implant comprising a biocompatible flexible polymer matrix, and a plurality of magnetic particles bound within the biocompatible flexible polymer matrix in a desired ratio of magnetic particles to a biocompatible polymer and being magnetized to possess a desired polarity, the desired ratio providing flexure of the polymer matrix between the magnetic particles, the biocompatible flexible polymer matrix being sized and configured for implanting in a tissue region along a pharyngeal conduit to magnetically interact with a source of magnetic force.

2. An implant according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic particles comprise isotropic or anisotropic materials.

3. An implant according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic particles comprise a material selected from the group of NdFeB, SmCo, ferrite, and alnico.

4. An implant according to claim 1, wherein the biocompatible polymer includes a material selected from the group of polycarbonate, silicone rubber, polyurethane, silicon elastomer, flexible plastic, and semi-flexible plastic.

5. An implant according to claim 1, wherein the biocompatible flexible polymer matrix includes a tissue in-growth region.

6. An implant according to claim 1, wherein the desired ratio forms regions of different magnetic particle densities within the biocompatible flexible polymer matrix.

7. An implant according to claim 1, wherein the desired ratio forms an essentially uniform magnetic particle density within the biocompatible flexible polymer matrix.

8. An implant according to claim 1, further including at least one discrete permanent magnet encapsulated within the biocompatible flexible polymer matrix with the magnetic particles, the biocompatible flexible polymer matrix allowing flexure among the magnetic particles and the at least one discrete permanent magnet.

9. An implant according to claim 8, wherein the permanent magnet and the magnetic particles are magnetized to have a common polarity.

10. An implant according to claim 1, further including at least one polymer-bonded magnet encapsulated within the biocompatible flexible polymer matrix with the magnetic particles, the biocompatible flexible polymer matrix allowing flexure among the magnetic particles and the at least one polymer-bounded magnet.

11. An implant according to claim 10, wherein the polymer-bonded magnet and the magnetic particles are magnetized to have a common polarity.

12. An implant according to claim 1, further including a flux shield comprising a soft ferromagnetic material coupled to the biocompatible flexible polymer matrix.

13. An implant according to claim 1, wherein the desired polarity establishes a desired magnetic pole, and further including at least one stabilization magnet coupled to the biocompatible flexible polymer matrix, the stabilization magnet including a magnetic pole that is the same as the desired magnetic pole and that is oriented normal or at an acute angle to the desired magnetic pole.

14. An implant according to claim 1

wherein the biocompatible flexible polymer matrix is sized and configured for implantation in one of a pharyngeal wall;

a tongue;

a vallecula;

a soft palate;

a uvula;

a palatine tonsil; and

an epiglottis.

15. An implant according to claim 1

wherein the desired polarity establishes a desired magnetic pole.

16. A magnetic force system comprising

an implant comprising a biocompatible flexible polymer matrix, and a plurality of magnetic particles bound within the biocompatible flexible polymer matrix in a desired ratio of magnetic particles to a biocompatible polymer and being magnetized to possess a desired polarity, the desired ratio providing flexure of the polymer matrix between the magnetic particles, the biocompatible flexible polymer matrix being sized and configured for implanting in a tissue region along a pharyngeal conduit to magnetically interact with a source of magnetic force, and

a source of magnetic force sized and configured for placement to magnetically interact with the implant to resist collapse of the tissue region.

17. A system according to claim 16

wherein the biocompatible flexible polymer matrix is sized and configured for implantation in one of a pharyngeal wall;

a tongue;

a vallecula;

a soft palate;

a uvula;

a palatine tonsil; and

an epiglottis.

18. A system according to claim 16

wherein the desired polarity establishes a desired magnetic pole that magnetically interacts with the source of magnetic force.