Methods and devices for soft palate tissue elevation procedures
OwnerJeffrey M. Gross, Malcolm D. Paulinventors
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Abstract
A self-retaining suture having particular application for treating obstructive sleep apnea and use thereof. The suture includes rising an elongated suture body having a periphery and first and second tissue-penetrating ends each with a bi-curve needle, and a plurality of first retainers on a first segment and oriented to the first end, and a plurality of second retainers a second segment and oriented to the second end, and a retainer-free transition segment disposed between the pluralities of first and second retainers.
Claims27
A method of approximating soft palate tissue using a bidirectional self-retaining suture having first and second tissue-penetrating ends, first and second pluralities of tissue retainers oriented towards the first and second ends, respectively, and separated by a retainer-free transition segment, the method comprising:
- a. inserting the first end of a suture into the soft palate at an insertion point to one side of the palate midline and between the junction of the hard and soft palates and the posterior end of the soft palate;
- b. deploying the first end through the soft palate across the palate midline to a first exit point to the other side of the palate midline and between the junction of the hard and soft palates and the posterior end of the soft palate;
- c. urging the first end out of the soft palate at the first exit point and drawing the suture through the soft palate until the second plurality of tissue retainers engage the tissue;
- d. re-inserting the first end into the first exit point and deploying the first end through the soft palate posteriorly and away from the palate midline to a second exit point;
- e. urging the first end out of the soft palate at the second exit point and drawing the suture out through the second exit point;
- f. inserting the second end into the insertion point and deploying the second end through the soft palate posteriorly and away from the palate midline to a third exit point;
- and
- g. urging the second end out of the soft palate at the third exit point and drawing the suture out through the third exit point.
A surgical kit for soft palate elevation procedures, the kit comprising a suture package including:
- a suture assembly including an elongated suture body having a periphery and first and second tissue-penetrating ends, each of the first and second ends being provided with a needle having a curvature, a plurality of first retainers disposed on a first segment of the elongated body and oriented to the first end, the first plurality of retainers yielding toward the suture body during movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of deployment of the first end, and resisting movement of the suture, when in tissue, in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of deployment of the first end, a plurality of second retainers disposed on a second segment of the elongated body and oriented to the second end, the plurality of second retainers yielding toward the suture body during movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of deployment of the second end, and resisting movement, when in tissue, in a direction substantially opposite the direction of deployment of the second end, and a retainer-free transition segment disposed between the pluralities of first and second retainers, the transition segment having a length of up to 10 mm;
- a needle driver;
- forceps;
- scissors;
- and
- a tongue depressor.
A self-retaining suture comprising:
- a. an elongated suture body having a periphery and first and second tissue-penetrating ends, each of the first and second ends being provided with a bi-curve needle;
- b. a plurality of first retainers disposed on a first segment of the elongated body and oriented to the first end, the first plurality of retainers yielding toward the suture body during movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of deployment of the first end, and resisting movement of the suture, when in tissue, in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of deployment of the first end;
- c. a plurality of second retainers disposed on a second segment of the elongated body and oriented to the second end, the plurality of second retainers yielding toward the suture body during movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of deployment of the second end, and resisting movement, when in tissue, in a direction substantially opposite the direction of deployment of the second end;
- and
- d. a retainer-free transition segment disposed between the pluralities of first and second retainers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.