Devices, systems and methods for the treatment of sleep apnea

A medical appliance for a patient comprising:

• a nasal tube configured for insertion into a nasal passage of the patient;
• a biasing member disposed about a distal portion of said nasal tube, wherein said biasing member is configured to receive a volume of fluid to expand said biasing member to exert a force upon a soft palate and/or base of a tongue of said patient, wherein the biasing member includes a multi-lobed balloon;
• a membrane about the lobes of the multi-lobed balloon, wherein lumens between the lobes of the multi-lobed balloon and the membrane provide a passageway for a flow of air, and wherein the membrane is resiliently biased in a collapsed state, and wherein the membrane transitions to an expanded state when the biasing member receives the volume of fluid;
• a valve positioned proximal to said biasing member;
• and
• a tube lumen disposed between said valve and said biasing member,
• wherein said valve being in fluid communication with said biasing member,
• wherein said valve is positioned to receive the volume of fluid prior to said biasing member receiving the volume of fluid,
• wherein said valve is capable of maintaining said biasing member in an expanded state,
• wherein the membrane applies a compression force against the multi-lobed balloon,
• wherein a flow of the volume of fluid expands the multi-lobed balloon by overcoming the compression force applied by the membrane, and
• wherein the multi-lobed balloon is compressed by the applied compression force of the membrane when the valve is opened, removed, or deactivated.