Partially erodable systems for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea
First Claim
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1. A method of maintaining airway patency in an airway of a patient, the method comprising:
- implanting a device having a stretched non-bioerodable portion into airway-forming tissue without affixing the device to the airway-forming tissue; and
permitting a plurality of separate bioerodable portions of the implanted device to bioerode, thereby permitting the stretched portion to unstretch to apply a force to the airway-forming tissue to maintain airway patency.
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Abstract
A method of maintaining airway patency in an airway of a patient. The method includes the steps of implanting a device into airway-forming tissue without affixing the device to the tissue and permitting a bioerodable portion of the device to bioerode to apply a force to the airway-forming tissue to maintain airway patency. The invention also provides devices for practicing the method.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of maintaining airway patency in an airway of a patient, the method comprising:
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implanting a device having a stretched non-bioerodable portion into airway-forming tissue without affixing the device to the airway-forming tissue; and permitting a plurality of separate bioerodable portions of the implanted device to bioerode, thereby permitting the stretched portion to unstretch to apply a force to the airway-forming tissue to maintain airway patency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A device for maintaining patency of an airway of a patient comprising:
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a body having an unstretched at-rest shape and a stretched, deformed shape, the body being adapted to be implanted into airway-forming tissue of the patient; proximal and distal anchors adapted to be implanted into the airway-forming tissue without affixing the device to the airway-forming tissue and to be infiltrated by the airway-forming tissue to affix the anchors to the airway-forming tissue; at least one bioerodable element maintaining the body in the stretched, deformed shape against a return force; the body being configured to return toward the unstretched at-rest shape upon erosion of the at least one bioerodable element, wherein the at least one bioerodable element comprises a coil.
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17. A method of maintaining airway patency in an airway of a patient, the method comprising:
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implanting a device into airway-forming tissue without affixing the device to the airway-forming tissue; and permitting a plurality of separate bioerodable portions of the device to bioerode to apply a force to the airway-forming tissue to maintain airway patency, wherein the implanting step comprises inserting the device into epiglottis tissue.
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18. A device for maintaining patency of an airway of a patient comprising:
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a body having an unstretched at-rest shape and a stretched, deformed shape, the body being adapted to be implanted into airway-forming tissue of the patient; proximal and distal anchors adapted to be implanted into the airway-forming tissue without affixing the device to the airway-forming tissue and to be infiltrated by the airway-forming tissue to affix the anchors to the airway-forming tissue; at least one bioerodable element maintaining the body in the stretched, deformed shape against a return force; the body being configured to return toward the unstretched at-rest shape upon erosion of the at least one bioerodable element, wherein the at least one bioerodable element comprises a C-shaped element.
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19. A device for maintaining patency of an airway of a patient comprising:
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a body having an unstretched at-rest shape and a stretched shape, the body being adapted to be implanted into airway-forming tissue of the patient; spaced apart proximal and distal anchors coupled with the body and adapted to be implanted into the airway-forming tissue without affixing the device to the airway-forming tissue and to be infiltrated by the airway-forming tissue to affix the anchors to the airway-forming tissue; a plurality of separate bioerodable elements maintaining the body in the stretched shape against a return force; the body being configured to return toward the unstretched at-rest shape upon erosion of the separate bioerodable elements. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of maintaining airway patency in an airway of a patient, the method comprising:
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implanting a device having a stretched non-bioerodable portion into airway-forming tissue without affixing the device to the tissue; and permitting bioerodable portions of the implanted device to bioerode, thereby permitting the stretched portion to unstretch to apply a force to the airway-forming tissue to maintain airway patency, wherein the bioerodable portions comprise a coil.
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Specification