Airway implant and methods of making and using

• US 7,836,888 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pavad Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pavad Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Choi, George Y., Hegde, Anant V., Buch, Wally S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bianco; Patricia M
• Assistant Examiner(s): NELSON, KERI JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US10/946,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20060060207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,254 Days
• Field of Search: 128/846, 128/848, 128/897, 128/899, 601/15, 601/21, 601/DIG.3, 600/2, 600/9, 600/12, 600/15
• US Class Current: 128/848
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/248 Operations for treatment of snoring, e.g. uvulopalatoplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/00 Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
• 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 2210/0023 operated at different temperatures whilst inside or touching the human body, heated or cooled by external energy source or cold supply
• 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: A61L 31/125 having a macromolecular matrix
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/14 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0517 Esophageal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0519 Endotracheal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0548 Oral electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 602/902 Antisnoring or mouth closing devices

Abstract

A system and device for maintaining and/or creating patency in airways is disclosed. The methods of using the system and device are also disclosed. The system includes a power source that energizes a electro-active polymer implant. The energized polymer implant provides stiffness and shape to the airway, thereby minimizing collapse or deformation of the airway. A method of making the device is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for maintaining airway patency in a biological subject comprising:

an implantable anode;

an implantable cathode;

an implantable patency element connected with the anode and the cathode, said implantable patency element being adapted and configured for implantation in a subject'"'"'s airway;

an implantable transducer connected with the anode and the cathode;

a removable transducer configured to transfer energy to the implantable transducer; and

a removable power source connected with the removable transducer;

wherein the implantable patency element comprises an implantable electroactive polymer configured to modulate a shape of the subject'"'"'s airway when the implantable patency element is energized.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a removable pulse-width modulation circuit.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the removable transducer and the removable power source are in a mouthpiece.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the removable transducer and the removable power source are in a dermal patch.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable patency element comprises an ion exchange polymer metal composite material.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the implantable patency element comprises an ionomer and a conductive material.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprising perfluorinated polymer.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises polyfluorosulfonic acid.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises perfluorosulfonate.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises polyvinylidene fluoride.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises hydrophilic polyvinylidene fluoride.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises polyethylene.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises polypropylene.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises polystyrene.

16. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises polyaniline.

17. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises polyacrylonitrile.

18. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises cellophane.

19. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises cellulose.

20. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises regenerated cellulose.

21. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises cellulose acetate.

22. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises polysulfone.

23. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises polyurethane.

24. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises polyvinyl alcohol.

25. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises polyvinyl acetate.

26. The system of claim 6, wherein the ionomer comprises polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

27. The system of claim 6, wherein the conductive material comprises platinum.

28. The system of claim 6, wherein the conductive material comprises gold.

29. The system of claim 6, wherein the conductive material comprises silver.

30. The system of claim 6, wherein the conductive material comprises palladium.

31. The system of claim 6, wherein the conductive material comprises copper.

32. The system of claim 6, wherein the conductive material comprises carbon.

33. The system of claim 1, further comprising a coating.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the coating is on an implantable patency element and/or an implantable transducer and/or an implantable lead wire connecting the patency element and the implantable transducer.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the coating is only on the implantable patency element.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the coating comprises a dielectric coating.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the dielectric coating comprises silicone.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the dielectric coating comprises polyurethane.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the dielectric coating comprises polyimide.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the dielectric coating comprises nylon.

41. The system of claim 36, wherein the dielectric coating comprises polyester.

42. The system of claim 36, wherein the dielectric coating comprises polymethylmethacrylate.

43. The system of claim 36, wherein the dielectric coating comprises polyethylmethacrylate.

44. The system of claim 36, wherein the dielectric coating comprises neoprene.

45. The system of claim 36, wherein the dielectric coating comprises styrene butadiene styrene.

46. The system of claim 33, wherein the dielectric coating comprises polyvinyl acetate.

47. The system of claim 33, wherein the coating comprises a tissue growth promoting material.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the tissue growth promoting material comprises poly-L lysine.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the tissue growth promoting material comprises poly-D lysine.

50. The system of claim 47, wherein the tissue growth promoting material comprises polyethylene glycol.

51. The system of claim 47, wherein the tissue growth promoting material comprises polyvinyl alcohol.

52. The system of claim 47, wherein the tissue growth promoting material comprises polyvinyl acetate.

53. The system of claim 47, wherein the tissue growth promoting material comprises hyaluronic acid.

54. The system of claim 47, wherein the tissue growth promoting material comprises methylmethacrylate.

55. The system of claim 33, wherein the coating comprises a tissue growth preventing material.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the tissue growth preventing material comprises polypropylene.

57. The system of claim 55, wherein the tissue growth preventing material comprises polyethylene.

58. The system of claim 55, wherein the tissue growth preventing material comprises polyvinylidene fluoride.

59. The system of claim 1, further comprising a battery charger.