Methods and devices for treating sleep apnea and snoring
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for treatment of a breathing disorder, the method comprising:
- a) positioning a shaft having a first end and a second end in a patient'"'"'s oral cavity or pharynx;
b) connecting one of a retractor member and an anchor member at or near the first end and in the region of the pharyngoglossal fold;
c) connecting the other of the retractor member and the anchor member at or near the second end of the shaft,wherein at least one of the shaft, the retractor member, and the anchor member interact to distribute a force on at least one of a tongue base, a lateral pharyngeal wall, a tonsillar fold, or a soft palate and the force prevents obstruction of the patient'"'"'s airway and wherein at least a portion of the retractor member or at least a portion of the anchor member is positioned on an external surface of the pharyngoglossal fold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices to prevent and/or treat breathing disorders (e.g., upper airways disorders) in mammals related to impaired airflow are described. Methods and devices apply force to soft tissue that avoids obstruction of airflow in the mammel'"'"'s airway. Breathing disorders that are avoided by the methods and/or devices include apnea.
85 Citations
58 Claims
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1. A method for treatment of a breathing disorder, the method comprising:
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a) positioning a shaft having a first end and a second end in a patient'"'"'s oral cavity or pharynx; b) connecting one of a retractor member and an anchor member at or near the first end and in the region of the pharyngoglossal fold; c) connecting the other of the retractor member and the anchor member at or near the second end of the shaft, wherein at least one of the shaft, the retractor member, and the anchor member interact to distribute a force on at least one of a tongue base, a lateral pharyngeal wall, a tonsillar fold, or a soft palate and the force prevents obstruction of the patient'"'"'s airway and wherein at least a portion of the retractor member or at least a portion of the anchor member is positioned on an external surface of the pharyngoglossal fold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for treatment of a breathing disorder, the method comprising:
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a) positioning a shaft having a first end and a second end in a patient'"'"'s oral cavity or pharynx; b) connecting one of a retractor member and an anchor member at or near the first end and in the region of the pharyngoglossal fold; c) connecting the other of the retractor member and the anchor member at or near the second end of the shaft, wherein at least one of the shaft, the retractor member, and the anchor member interact to distribute a force on at least one of a tongue base, a lateral pharyngeal wall, a tonsillar fold, or a soft palate and the force prevents obstruction of the patient'"'"'s airway and wherein at least a portion of the retractor member or at least a portion of the anchor member is positioned behind the pharyngoglossal fold. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for treatment of a breathing disorder, the method comprising:
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a) implanting a first portion of a retractor member into a soft tissue located in a patient'"'"'s oral cavity or pharynx, wherein a second portion of the retractor member is exterior to the soft tissue; b) connecting a first end of a shaft to the retractor member, wherein the shaft is external to the soft tissue; and c) connecting an anchor member to a second end of the shaft, wherein at least one of the retractor member, the shaft, and the anchor member interact to exert a pressure that prevents deformation of at least a portion of the soft tissue that prevents obstruction of the patient'"'"'s airway. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for treatment of a breathing disorder with a retractor member connected at or near a first end of a shaft and an anchor member connected at or near a second end of the shaft, the method comprising:
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a) inserting the shaft into a patient'"'"'s tongue between the superior layer and the middle layer; b) attaching one of the retractor member and the anchor member to the mucosa tissue fascia; and c) attaching the other of the retractor member and the anchor member to the midline septum tissue fascia, wherein at least one of the shaft, the retractor member and the anchor member interact to exert a counterforce pressure that prevents a portion of the patient'"'"'s tongue from obstructing the patient'"'"'s oral cavity or pharynx. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for treatment of a breathing disorder, the method comprising:
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a) implanting at least a portion of a shaft having a first end and a second end into a tonsillar fold in a patient'"'"'s oral cavity or pharynx; b) connecting one of a retractor member and an anchor member at or near the first end; and c) connecting the other of the retractor member and the anchor member at or near the second end, wherein at least one of the retractor member and the anchor member is external to the tonsillar fold and at least one of the shaft, the retractor member, and the anchor member interact to distribute a force that prevents obstruction of the patient'"'"'s airway. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
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46. A method for treatment of a breathing disorder, the method comprising:
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a) implanting a first portion of a retractor member into a soft tissue located in a patient'"'"'s oral cavity or pharynx, wherein a second portion of the retractor member is exterior to the soft tissue; b) connecting a first end of a shaft to the retractor member; and c) connecting an anchor member to a second end of the shaft, wherein the anchor member comprises a band surrounding at least a portion of the external diameter of a patient'"'"'s tongue, wherein at least one of the retractor member, the shaft and the anchor member interact to exert a pressure that prevents deformation of at least a portion of the soft tissue that prevents obstruction of the patient'"'"'s airway. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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49. A method for treatment of a breathing disorder, the method comprising:
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a) positioning a first anchor member in a first region of soft tissue located in a patient'"'"'s oral cavity or pharynx; b) positioning a second anchor member in a second region of soft tissue located in the patient'"'"'s oral cavity or pharynx; c) inserting a first portion of a retractor member into a third region of soft tissue located in the patient'"'"'s oral cavity or pharynx, wherein a second portion of the retractor member is exterior to the third region of soft tissue; and d) connecting a first end of a shaft at or near the first anchor member and connecting a second end of the shaft at or near the second anchor member, wherein at least one of the first anchor member, the second anchor member, the refractor member, and the shaft interact to exert a pressure that prevents deformation of at least a portion of soft tissue to prevent obstruction of the patient'"'"'s airway. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51)
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52. A method for treatment of a breathing disorder, the method comprising:
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a) positioning a first anchor member in the region of a first pharyngoglossal fold; b) positioning a second anchor member in the region of a second pharyngoglossal fold; and c) connecting a first end of a shaft at or near the first anchor member and connecting a second end of the shaft at or near the second anchor member, wherein at least one of the first anchor member, the second anchor member and the shaft interact to distribute a force on at least a portion of a tongue that prevents obstruction of the patient'"'"'s airway and wherein the first anchor member comprises a first magnet, the first end of the shaft comprises a second magnet that attracts to the first magnet, the second anchor member comprises a third magnet, and the second end of the shaft comprises a fourth magnet that attracts to the third magnet. - View Dependent Claims (53)
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54. A method for treatment of a breathing disorder, the method comprising:
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a) positioning a first anchor member in the region of a first pharyngoglossal fold; b) positioning a second anchor member in the region of a second pharyngoglossal fold. c) connecting a first end of a shaft at or near the first anchor member and connecting a second end of the shaft at or near the second anchor member, wherein at least one of the first anchor member, the second anchor member and the shaft interact to distribute a force on at least a portion of a tongue that prevents obstruction of the patient'"'"'s airway; and d) inserting a first portion of a retractor member in the tongue, wherein a second portion of the retractor member is exterior to the tongue, and at least a portion of the shaft contacts the second portion of the retractor member. - View Dependent Claims (55)
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56. A method for treatment of a breathing disorder, the method comprising:
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a) positioning a first anchor member in the region of a first pharyngoglossal fold; b) positioning a second anchor member in the region of a second pharyngoglossal fold; c) connecting a first end of a shaft at or near the first anchor member and connecting a second end of the shaft at or near the second anchor member, wherein at least one of the first anchor member, the second anchor member and the shaft interact to distribute a force on at least a portion of a tongue that prevents obstruction of the patient'"'"'s airway; and
wherein a first portion of a retractor member is inserted in the tongue, a second portion of the retractor member is exterior to the tongue, and at least a portion of the shaft contacts the second portion of the retractor member, wherein at least one of the first anchor member, the second anchor member, the retractor member, and the shaft interact to distribute a force on at least a portion of the tongue that prevents obstruction of the patient'"'"'s airway. - View Dependent Claims (57)
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58. A method for treatment of a breathing disorder, the method comprising:
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a) implanting a first portion of a retractor member into a soft tissue located in a patient'"'"'s oral cavity or pharynx, wherein a second portion of the retractor member is exterior to the soft tissue; b) connecting a first end of a shaft to the retractor member; and c) connecting an anchor member to a second end of the shaft, the anchor member comprises a stud on an external surface of the patient'"'"'s tongue, wherein at least one of the retractor member, the shaft and the anchor member interact to exert a pressure that prevents deformation of at least a portion of the soft tissue that prevents obstruction of the patient'"'"'s airway.
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Specification