Methods and devices for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea
First Claim
1. A method for surgically treating obstructive sleep apnea, the method comprising the steps of:
- delivering an implantable device having first and second ends into tissue located beneath a pharyngeal wall, including introducing the implantable device orally and through the pharyngeal wall into the tissue beneath the pharyngeal wall, further including;
positioning a distal end of a trocar proximate the pharyngeal wall, wherein the implantable device is covered by a protective sheath, the protective sheath having a trocar sleeve at one end and wherein the trocar sleeve covers the distal end of the trocar;
inserting the distal end of the trocar at a first location in the pharyngeal wall;
passing the implantable device through the tissue beneath the pharyngeal wall;
further advancing the trocar to exit the pharyngeal wall through a second location; and
removing the protective sheath from the implantable device by pulling the trocar sleeve until the sheath exits the pharyngeal wall.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pharyngeal retractor device and implantation methods are provided for use in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The device includes a retracting element and a tissue engaging element that promotes tissue ingrowth around or onto the retracting element. The device is implanted in tissue space beneath the pharyngeal wall to alter the shape of the wall. The device may be implanted through the oral cavity alone or by using a trocar or a hand-held delivery system to deliver the device through the pharyngeal wall. Alternatively, the device may be implanted using an open, direct visualization approach from the side of a patient'"'"'s neck.
213 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for surgically treating obstructive sleep apnea, the method comprising the steps of:
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delivering an implantable device having first and second ends into tissue located beneath a pharyngeal wall, including introducing the implantable device orally and through the pharyngeal wall into the tissue beneath the pharyngeal wall, further including; positioning a distal end of a trocar proximate the pharyngeal wall, wherein the implantable device is covered by a protective sheath, the protective sheath having a trocar sleeve at one end and wherein the trocar sleeve covers the distal end of the trocar; inserting the distal end of the trocar at a first location in the pharyngeal wall; passing the implantable device through the tissue beneath the pharyngeal wall; further advancing the trocar to exit the pharyngeal wall through a second location; and removing the protective sheath from the implantable device by pulling the trocar sleeve until the sheath exits the pharyngeal wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for surgically treating obstructive sleep apnea, the method comprising steps of:
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delivering a retractor having first and second ends into tissue located beneath a pharyngeal wall, including introducing the retractor orally and through the pharyngeal wall into the tissue beneath the pharyngeal wall, further including; creating an a medial incision in the lateral aspect of the pharyngeal wall; positioning the first end of the retractor in and through the medial incision; positioning the second end of the retractor in and through the medial incision; advancing the first end of the retractor in a first lateral orientation through the tissue beneath the pharyngeal wall; and advancing the second end of the retractor in a second lateral orientation through the tissue beneath the pharyngeal wall; wherein the steps of advancing the retractor'"'"'s first and second ends places tension on the pharyngeal wall thereby retracting the pharyngeal wall. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification