System and method for airway manipulation

• US 7,997,266 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2004
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2004
• 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: Dineen, Michael T., van der Burg, Erik J., Frazier, Andrew, Roue, Chad C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bianco; Patricia M
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, NIHIR B
• Application Number:
  US10/958,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20060070626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,507 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.26, 128/207.14, 128/207.15, 128/207.16, 128/200.24, 623/1.15, 623/1.18, 623/1.2, 623/1.22, 623/1.36, 623/11.11, 623/14.11, 623/23.64, 623/23.7
• US Class Current: 128/200.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0453 threaded elements, e.g. set screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06176 with protrusions, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/04 Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; devices, other than stent-grafts, providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body other than stent-grafts, e.g. stents A61F2/82; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/046 Tracheae
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0004 adjustable

Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed for manipulating the airway, such as to treat obstructive sleep apnea. An implant is positioned within the body with respect to the airway. The spatial orientation of the airway is manipulated, directly or indirectly, to affect the configuration of the airway. In general, the implant is manipulated to displace the trachea in an inferior direction, resist superior displacement of the trachea and/or to alter the tracheal wall tension. The implant restrains the trachea in the manipulated configuration.

Claims

1. A method of treating apnea, comprising the steps of:

positioning a device in a body using a delivery tool;

securing a device with respect to a trachea, the trachea having a superior direction and an inferior direction;

manipulating the device to contract at least a portion of the trachea longitudinally in the inferior direction; and

removing the delivery tool wherein the device is implanted in the body.

2. A method of treating apnea as in claim 1, wherein the securing step comprises securing the device to the trachea.

3. A method of treating apnea as in claim 1, additionally comprising the step of positioning the device within the trachea.

4. A method of treating apnea as in claim 1, wherein the securing step comprises securing the device to tissue adjacent the trachea.

5. A method of treating apnea as in claim 4, wherein the securing step comprises securing the device to the esophagus.

6. A method of treating apnea as in claim 1, wherein the manipulating step comprises placing the device under tension to pull the trachea inferiorly.

7. A method of treating apnea as in claim 1, wherein the manipulating step comprises radially expanding the device within the trachea.

8. A method of treating apnea as in claim 1, wherein the trachea divides into a first and second bronchial tubes having an angle therebetween, and the manipulating step comprises adjusting the device to change the angle.

9. A method of treating apnea as in claim 1, comprising securing a first portion of the device at a first attachment point, securing a second portion of the device at a second attachment point and reducing the distance between the first and second attachment points.

10. A method of treating apnea as in claim 1, wherein the manipulating step comprises expanding the device at the apex of the pleural cavity.

11. A method of treating apnea, comprising the steps of positioning a device in a body using a delivery tool;

securing the device with respect to a trachea, the trachea having a superior direction and an inferior direction;

manipulating the device to longitudinally shorten the trachea and resist movement of at least a portion of the trachea in the superior direction; and

removing the delivery tool wherein the device is implanted in the body.

12. A method of treating apnea, comprising the steps of:

positioning a device into a body using a delivery tool;

securing the device with respect to a trachea, the trachea having a first wall tension and a second wall tension;

manipulating the device to longitudinally shorten the trachea and alter at least a portion of the trachea from the first wall tension to the second wall tension; and

removing the delivery tool wherein the device is implanted in the body.

13. A method of treating a patient, comprising the steps of

providing a tracheal device having a first end with a first attachment structure, and a second end with a second attachment structure;

attaching the first attachment structure to a first attachment point on the trachea;

attaching the second attachment structure to a second attachment point on the trachea; and

shortening the trachea longitudinally between the first and second attachment points.

14. A tracheal implant, comprising:

an elongate body, adapted for positioning with respect to the trachea of a patient;

a first attachment structure on the body; and

a second attachment structure on the body, spaced apart from the first attachment structure;

wherein the implant is configured for positioning with respect to the trachea and attaching to a trachea wall at a first attachment point on the tracheal wall and a second attachment point on the tracheal wall to reduce the effective length of the trachea longitudinally between the first and second attachment points.

15. The tracheal implant of claim 14, wherein the implant comprises at least one helical spring.

16. The tracheal implant of claim 14, wherein the elongate body of the implant is configured for placement on the external surface of the trachea.