Injection sleep apnea treatment

• US 20050268923A1
• Filed: 08/03/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Knudson, Mark B., Tweden, Katherine S., Conrad, Timothy R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,255,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0059 Cosmetic or alloplastic implants A61F2/10 - A61F2/16, A61F2/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00

Abstract

A patient'"'"'s upper airway condition such as snoring and sleep apnea is treated by selecting a particulate material selected for limited migration within tissue and for encouraging a fibrotic response of tissue to the material. A bolus of the particulate material is injected into the tissue area to structurally stiffen the tissue.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. An apparatus to brace or fixate tissue in targeted pharyngeal structures and/or individual anatomic components within the pharyngeal conduit to treat obstructive sleep apnea comprising a material including one or more liquid components that is injected into tissue as a liquid or slurry and that sets in situ to create a non-liquid mechanical implant structure.

14. A system comprising at least two apparatuses, at least one of the apparatuses comprising an apparatus as defined in claim 13.

15. A method for implanting an apparatus in targeted pharyngeal structures and/or individual anatomic components within the pharyngeal conduit to treat obstructive sleep apnea comprising the steps of providing at least one apparatus as defined in claim 13, and injecting the apparatus in targeted pharyngeal structures and/or individual anatomic components within the pharyngeal conduit.