Delivery tools for sleep disorders treatment implant and methods of implantation
First Claim
1. A method for treating snoring and/or apnea of a patient comprising the steps of:
- incising a periosteum inferior to the hard palate with a cavitation tool, wherein the incising creates an incision, and wherein the cavitation tool comprises a needle comprising a posterior end, an anterior end, a channel extending the length of the needle from the posterior end of the needle to the anterior end of the needle, a blade wherein the blade is adapted and configured to slide through the channel and out the posterior end of the needle, and an incising edge at the posterior end of the needle for incising the periosteum inferior to the hard palate and/or for incising the soft palate;
creating a cavity within the periosteum inferior to the hard palate and within a soft palate using the cavitation tool, the creating of the cavity comprisingentering with the needle the periosteum inferior to the hard palate through the incision created by the cavitation tool,extending the blade through the channel of the needle wherein the blade extends posterior to the posterior end of the needle, andcutting a cavity in the hard and soft palate wherein the cutting comprises separating the periosteum from the hard palate and advancing the blade into the soft palate tissue;
entering the cavity created within the periosteum inferior to the hard palate and the soft palate with an implant device loaded on an implant delivery tool, the implant delivery tool comprising an implant support upon which the device rests and a retractable sheath extending over at least a portion of the device and at least a portion of the implant support; and
deploying the implant device into the cavity created within the periosteum inferior to the hard palate and within the soft palate, whereby the deploying comprisespositioning the implant device within the cavity, wherein the implant device is loaded on the implant delivery tool,retracting the delivery tool sheath while keeping the implant device and the implant support fixed relative to each other and in a substantially fixed position within the cavity,removing the delivery tool from the cavity, andleaving the implant device within the cavity.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and tools are disclosed for inserting an implant device that treats snoring and apnea of a patient by altering the position of a soft palate. Methods and tools can make an incision in patient'"'"'s soft and hard palate to create a cavity that can house the implant. The tools can have visually observable markings that can be aligned with the incision, thus controlling the depth of the cavity. A needle having an incision edge can be used to make an incision in patient'"'"'s soft palate. The needle can be bent into a suitable longitudinal shape to allow easier access and visualization of the process. A blade that makes the cavity in the tissue can be housed inside a channel in the needle. The tools may have stoppers to prevent excessive extension and retraction of the blade thus preventing an excessive cavity depth. Some tools may also house the implant device, which may be implanted after the cavity is formed.
54 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for treating snoring and/or apnea of a patient comprising the steps of:
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incising a periosteum inferior to the hard palate with a cavitation tool, wherein the incising creates an incision, and wherein the cavitation tool comprises a needle comprising a posterior end, an anterior end, a channel extending the length of the needle from the posterior end of the needle to the anterior end of the needle, a blade wherein the blade is adapted and configured to slide through the channel and out the posterior end of the needle, and an incising edge at the posterior end of the needle for incising the periosteum inferior to the hard palate and/or for incising the soft palate; creating a cavity within the periosteum inferior to the hard palate and within a soft palate using the cavitation tool, the creating of the cavity comprising entering with the needle the periosteum inferior to the hard palate through the incision created by the cavitation tool, extending the blade through the channel of the needle wherein the blade extends posterior to the posterior end of the needle, and cutting a cavity in the hard and soft palate wherein the cutting comprises separating the periosteum from the hard palate and advancing the blade into the soft palate tissue; entering the cavity created within the periosteum inferior to the hard palate and the soft palate with an implant device loaded on an implant delivery tool, the implant delivery tool comprising an implant support upon which the device rests and a retractable sheath extending over at least a portion of the device and at least a portion of the implant support; and deploying the implant device into the cavity created within the periosteum inferior to the hard palate and within the soft palate, whereby the deploying comprises positioning the implant device within the cavity, wherein the implant device is loaded on the implant delivery tool, retracting the delivery tool sheath while keeping the implant device and the implant support fixed relative to each other and in a substantially fixed position within the cavity, removing the delivery tool from the cavity, and leaving the implant device within the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification