Braided palatal implant for snoring treatment
AssigneePi Medical, Inc.
InventorsMark B. Knudson, Michael P. Brenzel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for treating snoring of a patient includes providing an implant for altering a dynamic response of a soft palate of the patient to airflow past the soft palate. The implant is embedded in the soft palate to alter the dynamic response. The implant has multiple fibers braided along a length of the implant. The braid includes unbonded ends and air-textured yarns.
Claims21
A method for treating snoring of a patient, said method comprising:
- providing an implant for altering a dynamic response of a soft palate of the patient to air flow past said soft palate;
- implanting said implant into said soft palate to alter said dynamic response;
- said providing including selecting an implant formed as a braid of multiple fibers braided together with fibers at ends of said braid being unbonded.
An apparatus for treating snoring of a patient suffering from snoring attributable, at in least in part, to a snoring sound generated by movement of a soft palate of said patient in response to airflow past said soft palate and where said soft palate has a characteristic dynamic response to said airflow prior to treatment, said apparatus comprising:
- an implant of bio-compatible material sized to be embedded within said soft palate;
- and
- said implant formed as a braid having multiple fibers braided together with fibers at ends of said braid being unbonded.
An apparatus for treating snoring of a patient suffering from snoring attributable, at in least in part, to a snoring sound generated by movement of a soft palate of said patient in response to airflow past said soft palate and where said soft palate has a characteristic dynamic response to said airflow prior to treatment, said apparatus comprising:
- an implant of bio-compatible material sized to be embedded within said soft palate;
- and
- said implant formed as a braid having multiple fibers braided together with at least a portion of said fibers are air-textured.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.