Abstract: Methods and devices for the treatment of airway obstruction, sleep apnea and snoring, by tongue suspension for treatment of airway obstruction in a human subject, including the steps of inserting a bone anchor into the mandible of the subject, and fastening at least one suture to the bone anchor to suspend the tongue to the mandible. Preferably, the bone anchors used are surgical screws. The sutures are fastened to at least one surgical screw, and are preferably inserted in positions adjacent to the mandible's midline. Alternatively, suspension of the hyoid bone is accomplished.

Abstract: A novel medical stapler and screw inserter device is disclosed herein wherein the medical instrument is formed in a non-linear or "C" or "V" shaped conformation. The non-linear shape allows the physician to accomplish a per vaginal anchor or screw insertion into a patient's pubic bone, while locating the triggering hand outside of the vagina of the patient and employing a pulling force on the inserter/stapler, against the pubic bone of the patient. In addition, the weight of a patient's body may be used to counterweight the recoil effect to minimize stapler recoil during ejection of a staple from the stapler into a patient. Novel bone anchor screws and a related bone screw driver and a method of inserting it into the pubic bone through the vagina are also described for per vaginal bladder neck suspension procedures.

Abstract: A staple and thread assembly to be driven into the bone by a power-driven stapler while the thread is attached thereto, the stapler having a head section at its forward end formed with a pointed tip for penetrating the bone when driven into it, and a shank section rearwardly of the head. The longitudinal axis of the shank section is offset from the axis of the head section and is formed with a pair of transverse holes through which the thread is secured such that the thread exits from the holes. The head section forms a protective shroud shielding the thread when driven with the staple into the bone. The thread is secured to the shank section of the staple at a point closer to the staple tip than the rear end of the staple. The staple is constructed from a metal possessing shape memory characteristics, and deforms from a straight configuration at room temperature, to a curved configuration upon being subject to body heat upon implantation into the body.

Abstract: Medical apparatus includes an external drive magnet mounted for rotation externally of a subject's body, an implantable driven magnet configured and dimensioned to be implantable in the subject's body and mounted for rotation by magnetic coupling with the drive magnet and an implantable device mechanically coupled to the driven magnet to be driven thereby. The driven magnet is mountable for rotation in the subject's body about an axis of rotation which is not collinear with the axis of rotation of the external drive magnet such that the magnetic poles of the external drive magnet are magnetically coupled sequentially with the magnetic poles of the implanted driven magnet to rotate the implanted driven magnet, thereby providing flexibility in the location, design and dimensions of the implanted driven magnet, and in the speed and torque ratios between the two magnets.