Pharyngeal wall treatment

• US 8,430,900 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2010
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Knudson, Mark B., Conrad, Timothy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENDOZA, MICHAEL G
• Application Number:
  US12/657,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20100137794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.26, 606/191, 606/192, 606/196, 604/46, 604/47, 604/48, 604/500, 604/506, 604/93.01
• US Class Current: 606/196
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0077 Special surfaces of prostheses, e.g. for improving ingrowth A61F2/30767 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/20 Epiglottis; Larynxes; Tracheae combined with larynxes or for use therewith tracheae, bronchi per se A61F2/04 ; tracheostomy tubes A61M16/0465
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04

Abstract

A patient'"'"'s pharyngeal wall is treated by inserting an expander member into the airway and positioning an active portion of the expander member in opposition to portions of the pharyngeal wall to be treated. The expander member is activated to urge the wall portions outwardly to an outwardly displaced position. The expander member is then deactivated while leaving the wall portions in the outwardly placed position and the expander member is removed from said airway. A further aspect of the treatment includes stabilization of at least a portion of the pharyngeal wall after compression of portions of the wall.

Claims

1. An expander device that treats a patient'"'"'s pharyngeal airway, the expander device comprising:

a curved bar member defining a support surface;

a compression pad provided on the support surface of the curved bar member, the curved bar member and the compression pad being dimensioned so as to be inserted into the patient'"'"'s pharyngeal airway such that the compression pad is positioned within the airway in opposition to an external portion of a pharyngeal wall of the airway;

wherein the compression pad expands against the external portion of the pharyngeal wall when activated to outwardly displace the external portion of the pharyngeal wall;

wherein the compression pad contracts from the external portion of the pharyngeal wall when deactivated to permit removal of the curved bar member and the pad from the airway after treatment of the pharyngeal wall of the patient'"'"'s airway;

wherein the compression pad includes an inflatable bladder;

wherein the inflatable bladder is connected to a tube that activates and deactivates the compression pad; and

an applicator located adjacent to the compression pad that administers the treatment to the pharyngeal wall, the applicator being in fluid communication with the tube.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the compression pad is activated and deactivated by pressurized fluid.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the applicator is a needle.

4. The device of claim 1, further including an applicator located adjacent to the compression pad that administers the treatment to the pharyngeal wall.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the applicator is a needle.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the applicator is a plurality of needles.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the needles of the plurality of needles have different lengths.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein the applicator is constructed to deposit the treatment within the pharyngeal wall at varying depths.

9. The device of claim 4, wherein the applicator is constructed to administer a biocompatible adhesive.

10. The device of claim 4, wherein the applicator is constructed to administer a fibrosis-inducing agent.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein curved bar member is U-shaped.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the curved bar member is annular-shaped, the annular-shaped member defining a central opening that permits patient respiration during treatment of the patient'"'"'s pharyngeal airway.