# US 2019/0167264 A1 · Suture passer systems and methods for tongue or other tissue suspension and compression

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2019/0167264 A1
- Document ID: US20190167264A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/128,816
- Filed: 2018-09-12
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-03-05
- Assignees: Siesta Medical, Inc.
- Applicants: Siesta Medical, Inc.
- Inventors: Christopher Feezor; Erik van der Burg; Peter Martin; Jason van Tassel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167264A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/06166: {Sutures (suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M)}
- A61B 17/0401: {Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811)}
- A61B 17/0469: {Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery}
- A61B 17/0482: {Needle or suture guides (guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; guides for puncturing needles A61B17/3403)}
- A61B 17/0485: {Devices or means, e.g. loops, for capturing the suture thread and threading it through an opening of a suturing instrument or needle eyelet}
- A61B 17/064: Surgical staples, {i.e. penetrating the tissue}
- A61B 17/24: for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose (for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00); Tongue scrapers
- A61B 2017/00814: {Surgery of the tongue, e.g. glossoplasty}
- A61B 2017/00991: {Telescopic means}
- A61B 2017/0414: {having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening}
- A61B 2017/044: {with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws}
- A61B 2017/0496: {for tensioning sutures}
- A61B 2017/06009: {having additional means for releasably clamping the suture to the needle, e.g. actuating rod slideable within the needle}
- A61B 2017/06023: {Multiple eyelets}
- A61B 2017/06042: {located close to needle tip}
- A61B 2017/061: {hollow or tubular}
- A61B 2017/06176: {with protrusions, e.g. barbs}
- A61B 2017/0618: {elastic, e.g. stretchable}
- A61B 2017/0641: {having at least three legs as part of one single body}
- A61B 2017/0647: {having one single leg, e.g. tacks}
- A61B 2017/0649: {Coils or spirals}
- A61F 2/0059: {Cosmetic or alloplastic implants (A61F2/10 - A61F2/16, A61F2/28 take precedence)}
- A61F 2250/0007: for adjusting length
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

Suture passer systems for tissue suspension and tissue compression are described. The system can include a shaft and a needle, wherein the needle is freely rotatable with respect to the shaft. The suture may include an overmolded segment. Methods of placing one or more implants, sutures, fastener, bone anchors and other devices are also described. The methods include moving tissue, including the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle, palatopharyngeal arch, and palatoglossal arch. The methods include hyoid bone suspension.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-14. (canceled)

### Claim 15

An method comprising:
forming a loop around the hyoid bone; and
securing the loop to a bone anchor, wherein the bone anchor is located on the mandible.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the loop is a girth hitch.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the loop is formed by an implant comprising a longitudinally extending tail and an implant head.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the implant comprises a ratchet for tensioning the loop.

### Claim at position 6

19-40. (canceled)

### Claim 41

A method of using a suture passer comprising:
providing a suture passer comprising a first section with a first distal tip, a second section with a first distal tip, and a first interior lumen extending through a portion of the first section;
advancing the suture passer around a hyoid bone; and
passing a plunger into the first interior lumen.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The method of claim 41, further comprising engaging the plunger with a suture.

### Claim 43 (depends on 42)

The method of claim 42, further comprising engaging the suture with a snare.

### Claim 44 (depends on 42)

The method of claim 42, further comprising engaging the suture with a feature of the second section.

### Claim 45 (depends on 42)

The method of claim 42, further comprising disengaging the suture as the plunger is retracted through the first interior lumen.

### Claim 46 (depends on 41)

The method of claim 41, further comprising protruding the plunger from the first interior lumen toward the second distal tip.

### Claim at position 13

47-54. (canceled)

### Claim 55

An method comprising:
providing a suture having a first strand, a second strand, and an arc between the first strand and the second strand;
placing the arc on one side of the hyoid bone;
placing the first strand and the second strand on the other side of the hyoid bone;
forming a girth hitch around the hyoid bone; and
securing the first strand and the second strand to a bone anchor

### Claim 56 (depends on 55)

The method of claim 55, wherein the bone anchor is located on the mandible.

### Claim 57 (depends on 55)

The method of claim 55, further comprising a second suture comprising a third strand, a fourth strand, and a second arc between the third strand and the fourth strand.

### Claim 58 (depends on 57)

The method of claim 57, further comprising coupling the third strand to the first strand.

### Claim 59 (depends on 58)

The method of claim 58, further comprising pulling the third strand to form the girth hitch.

### Claim 60 (depends on 57)

The method of claim 57, further comprising placing the second arc under the first arc

### Claim 61 (depends on 57)

The method of claim 57, further comprising pulling the suture such that the second arc is on one side of the hyoid bone and both the third and fourth strands are on other side of the hyoid bone.

### Claim 62 (depends on 55)

The method of claim 55, further comprising an elastomer surrounding a portion of the suture.

### Claim 63 (depends on 55)

The method of claim 55, further comprising at least one bearing element on the suture.

### Claim 64 (depends on 63)

The method of claim 63, wherein the at least one bearing element is at least partially covered by the elastomer.