Partially erodable systems for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea
AssigneeReVENT Medical, Inc.
InventorsEdward M. Gillis, Octavian Iancea
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of maintaining airway patency in an airway of a patient. The method includes the steps of implanting a device into airway-forming tissue without affixing the device to the tissue and permitting a bioerodable portion of the device to bioerode to apply a force to the airway-forming tissue to maintain airway patency. The invention also provides devices for practicing the method.
Claims31
A method of maintaining airway patency in an airway of a patient, the method comprising:
- implanting a device having a stretched non-bioerodable portion into airway-forming tissue without affixing the device to the airway-forming tissue;
- and
- permitting a plurality of separate bioerodable portions of the implanted device to bioerode, thereby permitting the stretched portion to unstretch to apply a force to the airway-forming tissue to maintain airway patency.
A device for maintaining patency of an airway of a patient comprising:
- a body having an unstretched at-rest shape and a stretched, deformed shape, the body being adapted to be implanted into airway-forming tissue of the patient;
- proximal and distal anchors adapted to be implanted into the airway-forming tissue without affixing the device to the airway-forming tissue and to be infiltrated by the airway-forming tissue to affix the anchors to the airway-forming tissue;
- at least one bioerodable element maintaining the body in the stretched, deformed shape against a return force;
- the body being configured to return toward the unstretched at-rest shape upon erosion of the at least one bioerodable element, wherein the at least one bioerodable element comprises a coil.
A method of maintaining airway patency in an airway of a patient, the method comprising:
- implanting a device into airway-forming tissue without affixing the device to the airway-forming tissue;
- and
- permitting a plurality of separate bioerodable portions of the device to bioerode to apply a force to the airway-forming tissue to maintain airway patency, wherein the implanting step comprises inserting the device into epiglottis tissue.
A device for maintaining patency of an airway of a patient comprising:
- a body having an unstretched at-rest shape and a stretched, deformed shape, the body being adapted to be implanted into airway-forming tissue of the patient;
- proximal and distal anchors adapted to be implanted into the airway-forming tissue without affixing the device to the airway-forming tissue and to be infiltrated by the airway-forming tissue to affix the anchors to the airway-forming tissue;
- at least one bioerodable element maintaining the body in the stretched, deformed shape against a return force;
- the body being configured to return toward the unstretched at-rest shape upon erosion of the at least one bioerodable element, wherein the at least one bioerodable element comprises a C-shaped element.
A device for maintaining patency of an airway of a patient comprising:
- a body having an unstretched at-rest shape and a stretched shape, the body being adapted to be implanted into airway-forming tissue of the patient;
- spaced apart proximal and distal anchors coupled with the body and adapted to be implanted into the airway-forming tissue without affixing the device to the airway-forming tissue and to be infiltrated by the airway-forming tissue to affix the anchors to the airway-forming tissue;
- a plurality of separate bioerodable elements maintaining the body in the stretched shape against a return force;
- the body being configured to return toward the unstretched at-rest shape upon erosion of the separate bioerodable elements.
A method of maintaining airway patency in an airway of a patient, the method comprising:
- implanting a device having a stretched non-bioerodable portion into airway-forming tissue without affixing the device to the tissue;
- and
- permitting bioerodable portions of the implanted device to bioerode, thereby permitting the stretched portion to unstretch to apply a force to the airway-forming tissue to maintain airway patency,
- wherein the bioerodable portions comprise a coil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.