Pharyngeal wall treatment

• US 8,864,788 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2013
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Knudson, Mark B., Conrad, Timothy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dowe, Katherine
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENDOZA, MICHAEL G
• Application Number:
  US13/852,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20130213410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 606/196, 604/46, 604/506
• 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 spacer bar having first and second free ends;

supports located at each of the first and second free ends of the spacer bar; and

compression pads provided on the supports,

the spacer bar, the supports, and the pads being dimensioned so as to be inserted into the patient'"'"'s pharyngeal airway such that the compression pads are positioned within the airway in opposition to an external portion of a pharyngeal wall of the airway,

wherein the compression pads expand against the external portion of the pharyngeal wall when activated to outwardly displace the external portion of the pharyngeal wall,

wherein the compression pads contract from the external portion of the pharyngeal wall when deactivated to permit removal of the spacer bar, the support, and the pads from the airway after treatment of the pharyngeal wall of the patient'"'"'s pharyngeal airway, and

wherein the pads included inflatable bladders.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladders are connected to a tube that activates and deactivates the compression pads.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the compression pads are activated and deactivated by pressurized fluid.

4. The device of claim 2, further including an applicator located adjacent to each compression pad that administers the treatment to the pharyngeal wall, the applicator being in fluid communication with the tube.

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

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

a spacer bar having first and second free ends;

supports located at each of the first and second free ends of the spacer bar; and

compression pads provided on the supports,

the spacer bar, the supports, and the pads being dimensioned so as to be inserted into the patient'"'"'s pharyngeal airway such that the compression pads are positioned within the airway in opposition to an external portion of a pharyngeal wall of the airway;

wherein the compression pads expand against the external portion of the pharyngeal wall when activated to outwardly displace the external portion of the pharyngeal wall;

wherein the compression pads contract from the external portion of the pharyngeal wall when deactivated to permit removal of the spacer bar, the support, and the pads from the airway after treatment of the pharyngeal wall of the patient'"'"'s pharyngeal airway; and

an applicator located adjacent to each compression pad that administers the treatment to the pharyngeal wall.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the applicator is a needle.

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

9. The device of claim 8, wherein at least two needles of the plurality of needles have different lengths.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the applicator is constructed to deposit the treatment within the pharyngeal wall at varying depths.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the applicator is constructed to administer a biocompatible adhesive.

12. The device of claim 6, wherein the applicator is constructed to administer a fibrosis-inducing agent.

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

a plurality of spacer bars having first and second free ends;

supports located at each of the first and second free ends of the plurality of spacer bars;

compression pads provided on the supports,

the plurality of spacer bars, the supports, and the pads being dimensioned so as to be inserted into the patient'"'"'s pharyngeal airway such that the compression pads are positioned within the airway in opposition to an external portion of a pharyngeal wall of the airway;

wherein the compression pads expand against the external portion of the pharyngeal wall when activated to outwardly displace the external portion of the pharyngeal wall;

wherein the compression pads contract from the external portion of the pharyngeal wall when deactivated to permit removal of the plurality of spacer bars, the supports, and the pads from the airway after treatment of the pharyngeal wall of the patient'"'"'s pharyngeal airway.

14. The device of claim 13, including the plurality of spacer bars and three compression pads.

15. The device of claim 13, including the plurality of spacer bars and four compression pads.