Magnetic implants for treating obstructive sleep apnea and methods therefor
First Claim
1. An implant for treating sleep disorders comprising:
- a first anchor;
a first magnet coupled to said first anchor;
a tongue anchor;
a second magnet coupled to said tongue anchor;
and a support for aligning said first and second magnets so that a repelling force is generated between said magnets for urging said second magnet away from said first magnetwherein said repelling force urges said second magnet toward said first anchor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic implant for treating sleep disorders includes a first anchor, a first magnet coupled to the first anchor, a tongue anchor, a second magnet coupled to the tongue anchor, and a support for aligning the first and second magnets so that a repelling force is generated between the magnets for urging the second magnet away from the first magnet. In one embodiment, the support aligns a magnetic pole of the first magnet with a repelling magnetic pole of the second magnet, guides movement of the first and second magnets relative to one another, and maintains the first magnet at a fixed distance from the first anchor. In one embodiment, the repelling force urges the second magnet toward the first anchor. The first anchor may be connected to bone or soft tissue.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An implant for treating sleep disorders comprising:
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a first anchor; a first magnet coupled to said first anchor; a tongue anchor;
a second magnet coupled to said tongue anchor;and a support for aligning said first and second magnets so that a repelling force is generated between said magnets for urging said second magnet away from said first magnet wherein said repelling force urges said second magnet toward said first anchor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An implant for treating sleep disorders comprising:
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first and second magnets; a support for holding said first magnet at a fixed distance from a first anchor, aligning a magnetic pole of said first magnet with a repelling magnetic pole of said second magnet and guiding movement of said first and second magnets relative to one another; and a tongue anchor coupled with said second magnet wherein the repelling magnetic pole of said second magnet urges said second magnet toward the first anchor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An implant for treating sleep disorders comprising:
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first and second magnets; a support for holding said first magnet at a fixed location relative to a first anchor point;
said support being adapted for aligning a magnetic pole of said first magnet with a repelling magnetic pole of said second magnet and for guiding movement of said first and second magnets relative to one another; and
a tongue anchor coupled with said support and said second magnet;wherein the repelling magnetic pole of said second magnet urges said second magnet toward the first anchor point. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An implant for treating sleep disorders comprising:
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a first anchor; a tether; a first magnet coupled to said first anchor by said tether; a tongue anchor; a second magnet coupled to said tongue anchor; and a support for aligning said first and second magnets so that a repelling force is generated between said magnets for urging said second magnet away from said first magnet; wherein said second magnet has an opening extending therethrough, and said tether passes through the opening in said second magnet.
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26. An implant for treating sleep disorders comprising:
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first and second magnets; a support for holding said first magnet at a fixed distance from a first anchor, aligning a magnetic pole of said first magnet with a repelling magnetic pole of said second magnet and guiding movement of said first and second magnets relative to one another; and a tongue anchor coupled with said second magnet; wherein said support further comprises a tether adapted to hold said first magnet at the fixed distance from said first anchor, said tether having a first end secured to said first anchor and a second end secured to said first magnet, and wherein said second magnet has an opening extending therethrough and said tether passes through the opening in said second magnet.
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27. An implant for treating sleep disorders comprising:
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first and second magnets; a support for holding said first magnet at a fixed location relative to an anchor point;
said support being adapted for aligning a magnetic pole of said first magnet with a repelling magnetic pole of said second magnet and for guiding movement of said first and second magnets relative to one another; and
a tongue anchor coupled with said support and said second magnet;wherein said second magnet has an opening extending therethrough, and wherein a tether connected to said first magnet passes through the opening in said second magnet.
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Specification