Devices, systems, and methods to fixate tissue within the regions of body, such as the pharyngeal conduit

• US 20050159637A9
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Apneon, Inc.
• Inventors: Liu, Jinfang, Nelson, Lionel M., Jones, Lawrence R., Stine, J. Greg, Boucher, Ryan P., Doelling, Eric N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,441,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/00 Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents as cosmetic articles, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. wigs, hair pieces, A41G3/00, A41G5/00; artificial nails A45D31/00; dental prostheses A61C13/00; materials for prostheses A61L27/00; artificial hearts A61M60/00; artificial kidneys A61M1/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 602/902 Antisnoring or mouth closing devices

Abstract

Systems and methods incorporate implant structures, and/or implantation devices, and/or surgical implantation techniques, to make possible the treatment of physiologic conditions, such as sleep disordered breathing, with enhanced effectiveness.

Claims

1. An implant comprising a biocompatible polymer matrix sized and configured to be implanted in animal tissue and magnetic particles bound with the biocompatible polymer matrix and being magnetized to possess a desired polarity.

2. An implant according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic particles comprise isotropic or anisotropic materials.

3. An implant according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic particles comprise a material selected from the group of NdFeB, SmCo, ferrite, and alnico.

4. An implant according to claim 1, wherein the biocompatible polymer matrix includes a material selected from the group of polycarbonate, silicone rubber, polyurethane, silicon elastomer, flexible plastic, and semi-flexible plastic.

5. An implant according to claim 1, wherein the biocompatible polymer matrix includes a flexible material.

6. An implant according to claim 1, wherein the biocompatible polymer matrix includes a tissue in-growth region.

7. An implant according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic particles form regions of different particle densities within the biocompatible polymer matrix.

8. An implant according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic particles comprise an essentially uniform particle density within the biocompatible polymer matrix.

9. An implant according to claim 1, further including at least one discrete permanent magnet encapsulated within the biocompatible polymer matrix with the magnetic particles.

10. An implant according to claim 9, wherein the permanent magnet and the magnetic particles are magnetized to have a common polarity.

11. An implant according to claim 1, further including at least one polymer-bonded magnet encapsulated within the biocompatible polymer matrix with the magnetic particles.

12. An implant according to claim 11, wherein the polymer-bonded magnet and the magnetic particles are magnetized to have a common polarity.

13. An implant according to claim 1, further including a flux shield comprising a soft ferromagnetic material coupled to the biocompatible polymer matrix.

14. An implant according to claim 1, wherein the desired polarity establishes a desired magnetic pole, and further including at least one stabilization magnet coupled to the biocompatible polymer matrix, the stabilization magnet including a magnetic pole that is the same as the desired magnetic pole and that is oriented normal or at an acute angle to the desired magnetic pole.

24. A magnetic force system comprising an implant as defined in claim 1 or 15 or 20 implanted in animal tissue, and a source of magnetic force sized and configured for placement to interact with the implant when implanted in tissue.

25. A method for treating sleep disordered breathing comprising (i) placing at least one implant as defined in claim 1 or 15 or 20 in a targeted tissue region comprising at least one pharyngeal structure or at least one anatomic component within a pharyngeal conduit, and (ii) orienting a source of magnetic force to interact with the implant to resist collapse of the tissue region.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein step (i) includes placing the implant into a surgical pocket.

27. A method according to claim 25, wherein step (i) includes placing a receptacle into a surgical pocket and placing the implant into the receptacle.

28. A method according to claim 25, wherein step (i) includes placing the implant in an implantation site through a surgical tissue flap.

29. A method according to claim 25, wherein step (i) includes placing the implant in an implantation site through a percutaneous access path.

30. A method according to claim 25, wherein step (i) includes stabilizing the implant within a mucosa, or a submucosa, or against a fascia, or against or within a muscle.

31. A method according to claim 25, wherein step (i) includes stabilizing the implant against a submucosa, a fascia, or against or within a muscle, without stabilizing through a mucosa.

32. A method according to claim 25, wherein step (i) includes encouraging tissue in-growth on the implant.

15. An implant comprising a structure sized and configured to be implanted in animal tissue, the structure including at least one magnet made from a hard ferromagnetic material and a flux shield comprising a soft ferromagnetic material overlaying at least a portion of the magnet.

16. An implant according to claim 15, wherein the magnet comprises a rare earth permanent magnet or a polymer-bonded magnet.

17. An implant according to claim 15, wherein the structure includes a flexible carrier for the magnet and flux shield.

18. An implant according to claim 15, wherein the structure includes a tissue in-growth region.

19. An implant according to claim 15 wherein the magnet includes a desired magnetic pole, the structure further including at least one stabilization magnet having a magnetic pole that is the same as the desired magnetic pole and that is oriented normal or at an acute angle to the desired magnetic pole.

20. An implant comprising a structure sized and configured to be implanted in animal tissue, the structure including at least one magnet made from a hard ferromagnetic material having a desired magnetic pole, and at least one stabilization magnet having a magnetic pole that is the same as the desired magnetic pole and that is oriented normal or at an acute angle to the desired magnetic pole.

21. An implant according to claim 20, wherein the magnet comprises a rare earth permanent magnet or a polymer-bonded magnet.

22. An implant according to claim 20, wherein the structure includes a flexible carrier for the magnet and the stabilization magnet.

23. An implant according to claim 20, wherein the biocompatible polymer matrix includes a tissue in-growth region.

33. An implant system comprising an implant sized and configured to be implanted in a targeted tissue region comprising at least one pharyngeal structure or at least one anatomic component within a pharyngeal conduit, and means for forming a percutaneous access path for placing the implant in the tissue region.

36. An implant system according to claim 33 or 34 or 35, further including means for stabilizing the implant within a mucosa, or a submucosa, or against a fascia, or against or within a muscle.

37. An implant system according to claim 33 or 34 or 35, further including means for stabilizing the implant against a submucosa, or a fascia, or against or within a muscle, without stabilizing through a mucosa.

34. An implant system comprising an implant sized and configured to be implanted in a targeted tissue region comprising at least one pharyngeal structure or at least one anatomic component within a pharyngeal conduit, and means for forming a surgical flap for placing the implant in the tissue region.

35. An implant system comprising an implant sized and configured to be implanted in a targeted tissue region comprising at least one pharyngeal structure or at least one anatomic component within a pharyngeal conduit, and means for forming a surgical pocket for placing the implant in the tissue region.

38. A method for providing treatment for a physiologic condition comprising (i) providing an implant sized and configured to be implanted in a targeted tissue region comprising at least one pharyngeal structure or at least one anatomic component within a pharyngeal conduit, and (ii) providing at least one tool and/or instructions for placing the implant in the tissue region through a percutaneous access path.

41. A method according to claim 38 or 39 or 40, further including providing at least one tool and/or instructions for stabilizing the implant within a mucosa, a submucosa, or against a fascia, or against or within a muscle.

42. A method according to claim 38 or 39 or 40, further including providing at least one tool and/or instructions for stabilizing the implant against a submucosa, or a fascia, or against or within a muscle, without stabilizing through a mucosa.

39. A method for providing treatment for a physiologic condition comprising (i) providing an implant sized and configured to be implanted in a targeted tissue region comprising at least one pharyngeal structure or at least one anatomic component within a pharyngeal conduit, and (ii) providing at least one tool and/or instructions to form a surgical flap for placing the implant in the tissue region.

40. A method for providing treatment for a physiologic condition comprising (i) providing an implant sized and configured to be implanted in a targeted tissue region comprising at least one pharyngeal structure or at least one anatomic component within a pharyngeal conduit, and (ii) providing at least one tool and/or instructions to form a surgical pocket for placing the implant in the tissue region.

43. An implant comprising an implant body sized and configured to be implanted in a targeted tissue region comprising at least one pharyngeal structure or at least one anatomic component within a pharyngeal conduit, and stabilization elements carried by the implant body to anchor the implant in the targeted tissue region.

44. An implant according to claim 43, wherein the stabilization elements including at least one elastic member.