Systems and methods for treatment of sleep apnea
First Claim
1. An implant system for treating a sleep disorder comprising a bioerodable material and an elongate long term implant, wherein the bioerodable material at least partially envelops the elongate long term implant and resists a compressive force of the long term implant, the bioerodable material comprising a plurality of first regions having a first flexibility and a plurality of second regions having a second, flexibility that is less than the first flexibility.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of maintaining airway patency in an airway of a patient. A method includes the steps of wrapping a bioerodable material at least partway around an axis to create a wound bioerodable implant, and coupling two points on the bioerodable material to each other. The invention also provides systems for maintaining airway patency in an airway of a patient that may be used with the methods.
164 Citations
32 Claims
- 1. An implant system for treating a sleep disorder comprising a bioerodable material and an elongate long term implant, wherein the bioerodable material at least partially envelops the elongate long term implant and resists a compressive force of the long term implant, the bioerodable material comprising a plurality of first regions having a first flexibility and a plurality of second regions having a second, flexibility that is less than the first flexibility.
- 8. An implant system for implanting in airway forming tissue comprising a bioerodable material and an elongate long term implant, wherein the bioerodable material at least partially envelops the elongate long term implant and is linked between a first set of two points on the bioerodable material to form a first bridge, wherein the bioerodable material comprises a spring having a first set of at least two coils and a plurality of points, and the first bridge connects a first set of two points on the spring.
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14. A method of manufacturing a bioerodable implant comprising the steps of:
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wrapping a bioerodable material at least partway around an axis to create a wound bioerodable implant, the bioerodable material comprising two points along the bioerodable material; and coupling the two points to each other. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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- 19. An implant system for treating a sleep disorder comprising a bioerodable material and an elongate long term implant, wherein the bioerodable material at least partially envelops the elongate long term implant and resists a compressive force of the long term implant, the bioerodable material comprising a first region having a first flexibility and a second region having a second flexibility, the first flexibility greater than the second flexibility, the greater flexibility caused by discontinuities in the first region.
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23. An implant system for treating an airway disorder, comprising:
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a resilient elongate implant body having a first insertion shape and a second therapeutic shape; and a bioerodable material comprising two coils that at least partially envelop the resilient elongate implant body, wherein the coils are coupled together to form a coupled coil structure. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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- 27. An implant system for implanting in airway forming tissue comprising a bioerodable material and an elongate long term implant, wherein the bioerodable material at least partially envelops the elongate long term implant and is linked between a first set of two points along the bioerodable material to form a first bridge configured to limit radial expansion of the bioerodable material relative to the implant.
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30. A method of manufacturing an implant system, the implant having an elongate implant body and a bioerodable support material configured to hold the elongate implant body in a first, elongate shape, the method comprising the steps of:
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wrapping the bioerodable support material at least partway around the implant body; and coupling two points along the bioerodable material with each other to create a coupled bioerodable support material.
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31. A method of manufacturing a bioerodable implant comprising the steps of:
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wrapping a bioerodable material at least partway around an axis to create a wound bioerodable implant, the bioerodable material comprising two points; and coupling the two points to each other, the coupling comprising heating the bioerodable material to thereby melt the two points together.
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32. A method of manufacturing a bioerodable implant comprising the steps of:
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wrapping a bioerodable material at least partway around an axis to create a wound bioerodable implant, the bioerodable material comprising two points; and coupling the two points, wherein the wound bioerodable implant comprises a helix and the coupling comprises heating the helix to thereby fuse the two points.
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Specification