Managing obstructive sleep apnea and/or snoring using local time released agents
First Claim
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1. A method for managing at least one breathing condition, the method comprising:
- storing an agent in nano-spheres configured to dissolve at different rates, the agent operable to cause increased contraction of muscle tissue in the pharyngeal area and including;
acetylcholine;
one or more non-acetylcholine chemicals that slow the rate of degradation of acetylcholine; and
one or more non-acetylcholine chemicals operable to activate nicotinic receptors to cause the contraction of muscle tissue in the pharyngeal area; and
depositing the nano-spheres on the mucosal tissue in the pharyngeal area of a patient, the nano-spheres dissolving at different rates such that the agent is delivered to the pharyngeal area in a time-released manner during a sleep period to cause increased contraction of muscle tissue in the pharyngeal area.
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Abstract
A method for managing at least one breathing condition may include storing an agent near a patient'"'"'s airway and delivering the agent to the mucosal tissue in the pharyngeal area in a time-released manner during a sleep period. The delivered agent may cause increased contraction of muscle tissue in the pharyngeal area.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for managing at least one breathing condition, the method comprising:
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storing an agent in nano-spheres configured to dissolve at different rates, the agent operable to cause increased contraction of muscle tissue in the pharyngeal area and including; acetylcholine; one or more non-acetylcholine chemicals that slow the rate of degradation of acetylcholine; and one or more non-acetylcholine chemicals operable to activate nicotinic receptors to cause the contraction of muscle tissue in the pharyngeal area; and depositing the nano-spheres on the mucosal tissue in the pharyngeal area of a patient, the nano-spheres dissolving at different rates such that the agent is delivered to the pharyngeal area in a time-released manner during a sleep period to cause increased contraction of muscle tissue in the pharyngeal area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for managing at least one breathing condition, the system comprising:
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a volume of nano-spheres containing an agent and operable to deliver the agent to the mucosal tissue in the pharyngeal area, the agent operable to cause increased contraction of muscle tissue in the pharyngeal area and including; acetylcholine; one or more non-acetylcholine chemicals that slow the rate of degradation of acetylcholine; and one or more non-acetylcholine chemicals operable to activate nicotinic receptors to cause the contraction of muscle tissue in the pharyngeal area; and the volume of nano-spheres including nano-spheres configured to dissolve at different rates, thereby providing a time-release mechanism operable to control the delivery of the agent to the mucosal tissue in the pharyngeal area during a sleep period to cause increased contraction of muscle tissue in the pharyngeal area during the sleep period. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification