Methods and devices for forming an auxiliary airway for treating obstructive sleep apnea
First Claim
1. A system for treating obstructive sleep apnea comprising:
- an elongated conduit adapted to be implanted beneath a pharyngeal wall of a pharynx;
said elongated conduit having a proximal end adapted to be in communication with a first region of the pharynx and a distal end adapted to be in communication with a second region of the pharynx, wherein a section of said elongated conduit is adapted to extend beneath the pharyngeal wall for bypassing an oropharynx region of the pharynx, and wherein said elongated conduit includes a central lumen defining an inner surface extending along the length of said elongated conduit between the proximal and distal ends thereof; and
a mandrel insertable within the central lumen of said elongated conduit, said mandrel having an outer surface that contacts the inner surface of the central lumen of said elongated conduit along the length of said elongated conduit for supporting said elongated conduit when implanted beneath the pharyngeal wall, wherein said mandrel has a length that is greater than or equal to the length of said elongated conduit, and wherein the entire length of said elongated conduit is directly supported by said mandrel via contact between the outer surface of said mandrel and the inner surface of the central lumen of said elongated conduit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An auxiliary airway for treating obstructive sleep apnea is formed by implanting an elongated conduit beneath a pharyngeal wall of a pharynx. The elongated conduit has a proximal end in communication with a first region of the pharynx, a distal end in communication with a second region of the pharynx, and a section extending beneath the pharyngeal wall for bypassing an oropharynx region of the pharynx. The system includes a first opening in the pharyngeal wall in communication with a first opening in the elongated conduit, and a second opening in the pharyngeal wall in communication with a second opening in the elongated conduit. The system has a first anastomotic connector for coupling the first opening in the pharyngeal wall with the first opening in the conduit, and a second anastomotic connector for coupling the second opening in the pharyngeal wall with the second opening in the conduit.
206 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for treating obstructive sleep apnea comprising:
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an elongated conduit adapted to be implanted beneath a pharyngeal wall of a pharynx; said elongated conduit having a proximal end adapted to be in communication with a first region of the pharynx and a distal end adapted to be in communication with a second region of the pharynx, wherein a section of said elongated conduit is adapted to extend beneath the pharyngeal wall for bypassing an oropharynx region of the pharynx, and wherein said elongated conduit includes a central lumen defining an inner surface extending along the length of said elongated conduit between the proximal and distal ends thereof; and a mandrel insertable within the central lumen of said elongated conduit, said mandrel having an outer surface that contacts the inner surface of the central lumen of said elongated conduit along the length of said elongated conduit for supporting said elongated conduit when implanted beneath the pharyngeal wall, wherein said mandrel has a length that is greater than or equal to the length of said elongated conduit, and wherein the entire length of said elongated conduit is directly supported by said mandrel via contact between the outer surface of said mandrel and the inner surface of the central lumen of said elongated conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An auxiliary airway for treating obstructive sleep apnea comprising:
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an elongated conduit; said elongated conduit having a first opening adapted to be in communication with a first region of a pharynx and a second opening adapted to be in communication with a second region of the pharynx, said elongated conduit including a central lumen having an inner surface that extends along the length of said elongated conduit; and a mandrel disposed within said elongated conduit, said mandrel having an outer surface that contacts the inner surface of the central lumen of said elongated conduit along the length of said elongated conduit for supporting said elongated conduit when implanting said elongated conduit beneath the pharyngeal wall, wherein said mandrel has a length that is greater than or equal to the length of said elongated conduit, and wherein the entire length of said elongated conduit is directly supported by said mandrel via contact between the outer surface of said mandrel and the inner surface of the central lumen of said elongated conduit. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for treating obstructive sleep apnea comprising:
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an applicator instrument including a flexible outer sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of said flexible outer sheath having a central opening; a flexible stent disposed within said flexible outer sheath and adjacent the distal end of said flexible outer sheath, said flexible stent being adapted for implantation beneath a pharyngeal wall of a pharynx, wherein said flexible stent has a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends thereof; a pusher insertable into said flexible outer sheath, said pusher having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends thereof; and a flexible mandrel insertable within the central lumen of said flexible stent for supporting said flexible stent, said flexible mandrel having a guide wire lumen extending along the length thereof, wherein said flexible mandrel is positioned within said flexible stent so that the guide wire lumen of said flexible mandrel is in communication with the central opening at the distal end of said outer sheath, and the central lumen of said pusher is aligned with both the guide wire lumen of said flexible mandrel and the central opening at the distal end of said flexible outer sheath, the mandrel having an outer surface that continuously contacts an inner surface of the central lumen of said flexible stent, wherein the length of said mandrel is greater than or equal to the length of said flexible stent, and wherein the entire length of said flexible stent is directly supported by said mandrel via contact between the outer surface of said mandrel and the inner surface of the central lumen of said flexible stent.
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Specification