Apparatus and methods for treating sleep apnea
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for treating at least one of sleep apnea and snoring in a human or an animal having an oropharyngeal region, the apparatus comprising:
- an appliance comprising a body portion including end portions spaced apart from one another to define a length of the appliance therebetween, the appliance having a substantially flat configuration defining a plane when the appliance is at rest and deployable in a curved configuration when the end portions are folded or rolled towards one another out of the plane, the appliance configured to return towards the substantially flat configuration to exert a force on the walls of the oropharyngeal region when deployed therein in the curved configuration; and
one or more elements extending from the body portion to enhance secure attachment of the appliance to the posterior wall of the oropharyngeal region,wherein the one or more elements comprises struts including tips that extend out of the plane when the appliance is at rest in the substantially flat configuration.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for treating sleep apnea and/or snoring is provided. The apparatus includes an appliance sized and structured to be placed in the pharyngeal region of a human or animal and being effective in treating sleep apnea and/or snoring, for example in maintaining openness of an oropharyngeal region of a human or animal during natural sleep, advantageously while not interfering with normal functioning of the epiglottis. Preferably, the appliance is non-circumferential in form and includes rounded, spaced apart end portions.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for treating at least one of sleep apnea and snoring in a human or an animal having an oropharyngeal region, the apparatus comprising:
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an appliance comprising a body portion including end portions spaced apart from one another to define a length of the appliance therebetween, the appliance having a substantially flat configuration defining a plane when the appliance is at rest and deployable in a curved configuration when the end portions are folded or rolled towards one another out of the plane, the appliance configured to return towards the substantially flat configuration to exert a force on the walls of the oropharyngeal region when deployed therein in the curved configuration; and one or more elements extending from the body portion to enhance secure attachment of the appliance to the posterior wall of the oropharyngeal region, wherein the one or more elements comprises struts including tips that extend out of the plane when the appliance is at rest in the substantially flat configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15)
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14. An apparatus for treating at least one of sleep apnea and snoring in a human or an animal having an oropharyngeal region, the apparatus comprising:
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an appliance comprising a body portion including end portions spaced apart from one another to define a length of the appliance therebetween, the appliance having a substantially flat configuration defining a plane when the appliance is at rest and deployable in a curved configuration when the end portions are folded or rolled towards one another out of the plane, the appliance configured to return towards the substantially flat configuration to exert a force on the walls of the oropharyngeal region when deployed therein in the curved configuration; and one or more elements extending from the body portion to enhance secure attachment of the appliance to the posterior wall of the oropharyngeal region, wherein the body portion comprises a plurality of wire or ribbon struts extending along a substantial portion of the length of the appliance.
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16. An apparatus, for treating at least one of sleep apnea and snoring in a human or an animal having an oropharyngeal region, the apparatus comprising:
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an appliance comprising a body portion including end portions spaced apart from one another to define a length of the appliance therebetween, the appliance having a substantially flat configuration defining a plane when the appliance is at rest and deployable in a curved configuration when the end portions are folded or rolled towards one another out of the plane, the appliance configured to return towards the substantially flat configuration to exert a force on the walls of the oropharyngeal region when deployed therein in the curved configuration; and one or more elements extending from the body portion to enhance secure attachment of the appliance to the posterior wall of the oropharyngeal region, wherein the body portion and end portions define one or more open interior spaces, and wherein the one or more elements extend at least partially into the one or more interior spaces.
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17. An apparatus for treating at least one of sleep apnea and snoring in a human or an animal having an oropharyngeal region, the apparatus comprising:
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an appliance comprising a body portion including end portions spaced apart from one another to define a length of the appliance therebetween, the appliance having a substantially flat configuration defining a plane when the appliance is at rest and deployable in a curved configuration when the end portions are folded or rolled towards one another out of the plane, the appliance configured to return towards the substantially flat configuration to exert a force on the walls of the oropharyngeal region when deployed therein in the curved configuration; and a plurality of struts extending from the body portion to enhance secure attachment of the appliance to the posterior wall of the oropharyngeal region. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method for treating at least one of sleep apnea and snoring, comprising:
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providing an appliance comprising a body portion including end portions spaced apart from one another; rolling or folding the end portions towards one another to direct the appliance into a curved configuration; introducing the appliance into an oropharyngeal region; releasing the appliance within the oropharyngeal region in the curved configuration such that the appliance extends generally laterally across the posterior wall and the end portions bear against and provide an opening force against lateral walls of the oropharyngeal region; and anchoring the appliance within the oropharyngeal region using one or more elements extending from a central region of the appliance into the posterior wall of the oropharyngeal region. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for treating at least one of sleep apnea and snoring, comprising:
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providing an appliance comprising a body portion including end portions spaced apart from one another; and securing the appliance within an oropharyngeal region using one or more struts thereon such that the appliance extends generally laterally across the posterior wall and the end portions bear against and provide an opening force against lateral walls of the oropharyngeal region. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification