Patents Assigned to Restore Medical, Inc.
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Patent number: 8037885Abstract: A pharyngeal airway having a pharyngeal wall of a patient at least partially surrounding and defining the airway is treated by selecting an implant dimensioned so as to be implanted at or beneath a mucosal layer of the pharyngeal wall and extending transverse to said wall. The implant has mechanical characteristics for the implant, at least in combination with a fibrotic tissue response induced by the implant, to stiffen said pharyngeal wall to resist radial collapse. The implant is implanted into the pharyngeal wall transverse to a longitudinal axis of the airway.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2005Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc.Inventors: Anja K. Metzger, Brian J. Erickson, John P. Sopp, Mark B. Knudson, Timothy R. Conrad
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Publication number: 20100059066Abstract: A patient's obstructive sleep apnea is treated by identifying a patient with sleep apnea attributable at least in part to movement of a base of a tongue of the patient toward a pharyngeal wall of the patient. The tongue is stiffened by an implant sized to be placed within the tongue. A distal portion of the implant is sized to extend within the tongue from a first end near a mandibular-geniohyoid interface to a second end near a base of the tongue. A proximal portion is attached to the first end and adapted to be secured to a jaw bone of the patient following a period of healing after placement of the implant in the tongue.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2009Publication date: March 11, 2010Applicant: Restore Medical, Inc.Inventors: Paul J. Buscemi, Kurt D. Krueger, Paula Bushendorf
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Patent number: 7401611Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for treating a condition of a patient's airway. The condition is attributed at least in part to a spacing of tissue from opposing surfaces in the airway. In various embodiments, the base of the tongue including geometry and position of the tongue is altered.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2007Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc.Inventors: Timothy R. Conrad, Susan L. Critzer, Brian J. Erickson, Anja K. Metzger, John P. Sopp
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Patent number: 7337781Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a condition of a patient's airway includes identifying a patient with obstructive sleep apnea and identifying a muscle of a tongue of the patient. A first brace is implanted within the tongue at a first implant location near the top of the tongue. A second brace is implanted within the tongue at a second implant location below the upper location. The first and second braces are connected to compress the muscle group.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2005Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc.Inventor: Charles Vassallo
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Patent number: 7322993Abstract: A pharyngeal airway having a pharyngeal wall of a patient at least partially surrounding and defining the airway is treated by selecting an implant dimensioned so as to be implanted at or beneath a mucosal layer of the pharyngeal wall and extending transverse to said wall. The implant has mechanical characteristics for the implant, at least in combination with a fibrotic tissue response induced by the implant, to stiffen said pharyngeal wall to resist radial collapse. The implant is implanted into the pharyngeal wall transverse to a longitudinal axis of the airway.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2004Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Restore Medical Inc.Inventors: Anja K. Metzger, Brian J. Erickson, John P. Sopp, Mark B. Knudson, Timothy R. Conrad
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Patent number: 7322356Abstract: A method for treating a patient diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea includes identifying a patient as having sleep apnea susceptible to a first positive airway treatment which is at a first operating pressure level in excess of that which is otherwise tolerable to the patient. The patient is treated with an airway treatment selected to alter a portion of an airway tissue of the patient. The patient is then treated with a second positive airway pressure treatment at a second pressure level, which is below the pressure threshold.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2005Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc.Inventors: Susan L. Critzer, Timothy R. Conrad
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Publication number: 20070233276Abstract: An airway condition of a patient's is treated by selecting an implant sized to be implanted within a tongue of the patient. The implant has a tissue-engaging member sized to be implanted within the tongue near a base of the tongue to oppose relative movement between the tissue-engaging member and surrounding tissue of the tongue. The implant further has an elongated tether member with a first end secured to the tissue-engaging member. The implant is placed within the tongue with the tissue-engaging member implanted within tissue of the tongue near the base and with the tether member extending from the first end to a second end near a jaw bone of the patient. The second end of the tether is secured to the jaw bone.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Applicant: Restore Medical, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Conrad, Susan Critzer, Brian Erickson, Anja Metzger, John Sopp
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Publication number: 20070227545Abstract: An airway condition of a patient is treated by selecting an implant sized to be implanted within a soft palate of the patient. The implant has a tissue-engaging member sized to be implanted within the soft palate near a trailing end of the soft palate to oppose relative movement between the tissue-engaging member and surrounding tissue of the soft palate. The implant further has an elongated tether member with a first end secured to the tissue-engaging member. The implant is placed within the soft palate with the tissue-engaging member implanted within tissue of the soft palate near the trailing end and with the tether member extending from the first end to a second end near a hard palate of the patient. The second end of the tether is secured to the hard palate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Applicant: Restore Medical, Inc.Inventors: TIMOTHY CONRAD, Susan Critzer, Brian Erickson, Anja Metzger, John Sopp
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Publication number: 20070204866Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for treating a condition of a patient's airway. The condition is attributed at least in part to a spacing of tissue from opposing surfaces in the airway. In various embodiments, the base of the tongue including geometry and position of the tongue is altered.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2007Publication date: September 6, 2007Applicant: Restore Medical, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Conrad, Susan Critzer, Brian Erickson, Anja Metzger, John Sopp
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Patent number: 7255110Abstract: A patient's upper airway condition such as snoring and sleep apnea is treated by selecting a particulate material selected for limited migration within tissue and for encouraging a fibrotic response of tissue to the material. A bolus of the particulate material is injected into the tissue area to structurally stiffen the tissue.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2005Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Knudson, Katherine S. Tweden, Timothy R. Conrad
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Patent number: 7255109Abstract: 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. For example, the implant has a mass, stiffness or dampening sufficient to alter the dynamic response following the implantation without substantially impairing a function of the soft palate to close a nasal passage of the patient during swallowing.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2004Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Knudson, Timothy R. Conrad, Jerry C. Griffin
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Patent number: 7237553Abstract: An apparatus for use in treating snoring of a patient suffering from snoring includes an implant of bio-compatible material sized to be embedded within the soft palate. The implant is disposed within a bore of a distal tip of a needle for penetration into the soft palate. The bore is sized to receive a rod from a proximal end of the needle with the rod opposing the implant to eject the implant from the distal tip upon relative sliding movement of said needle and said rod. The needle at the distal tip is perforated for fluid to flow through a wall of the needle into engagement with the implant. The implant is selected to altering a dynamic response of the soft palate to airflow past the soft palate.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2003Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Knudson, Timothy R. Conrad
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Patent number: 7237554Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating a condition of a patient's airway. The condition is attributed at least in part to a spacing of tissue from opposing surfaces in the airway. In one embodiment, the method and apparatus include placing a tissue contractor within the tissue. The contractor includes a static end and a tissue in-growth engaging end. The static end is secured to a bony structure adjacent to tissue to be contracted. The tissue in-growth engaging end is secured to the tissue and spaced from the bony structure. A spacing between the tissue engaging end and a bony end is contracted in order to place the tissue under tension.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2003Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc.Inventors: Timothy R. Conrad, Susan L. Critzer, Brian J. Erickson, Anja K. Metzger, John P. Sopp
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Patent number: 7213599Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for treating a condition of a patient's airway. The condition is attributed at least in part to a spacing of tissue from opposing surfaces in the airway. In various embodiments, the base of the tongue including geometry and position of the tongue is altered.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2004Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc.Inventors: Timothy R. Conrad, Susan L. Critzer, Brian J. Erickson, Anja K. Metzger, John P. Sopp
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Patent number: 7146981Abstract: A patient's pharyngeal wall is treated by inserting an expander member into the airway and positioning an active portion of the expander member in opposition to portions of the pharyngeal wall to be treated. The expander member is activated to urge the wall portions outwardly to an outwardly displaced position. The expander member is then deactivated while leaving the wall portions in the outwardly placed position and the expander member is removed from said airway. A further aspect of the treatment includes stabilization of at least a portion of the pharyngeal wall after compression of portions of the wall.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2002Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Knudson, Timothy R. Conrad
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Publication number: 20060235462Abstract: A patient's pharyngeal wall is treated by inserting an expander member into the airway and positioning an active portion of the expander member in opposition to portions of the pharyngeal wall to be treated. The expander member is activated to urge the wall portions outwardly to an outwardly displaced position. The expander member is then deactivated while leaving the wall portions in the outwardly placed position and the expander member is removed from said airway. A further aspect of the treatment includes stabilization of at least a portion of the pharyngeal wall after compression of portions of the wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2006Publication date: October 19, 2006Applicant: Restore Medical Inc.Inventors: Mark Knudson, Timothy Conrad
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Patent number: 7100613Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2004Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: Restore Medical Inc.Inventors: Timothy R. Conrad, Mark B. Knudson
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Patent number: 7077144Abstract: A patient's upper airway condition such as snoring and sleep apnea is treated by selecting a particulate material selected for limited migration within tissue and for encouraging a fibrotic response of tissue to the material. A bolus of the particulate material is injected into the tissue area to structurally stiffen the tissue.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2004Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: Restore Medical Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Knudson, Katherine S. Tweden, Timothy R. Conrad
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Patent number: 7077143Abstract: A patient's upper airway condition such as snoring and sleep apnea is treated by selecting a particulate material selected for limited migration within tissue and for encouraging a fibrotic response of tissue to the material. A bolus of the particulate material is injected into the tissue area to structurally stiffen the tissue.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2004Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: Restore Medical Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Knudson, Katherine S. Tweden, Timothy R. Conrad
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Patent number: D536792Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2005Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: Restore Medical, Inc.Inventors: Kurt D. Krueger, John P. Sopp, Brian J. Erickson, John R. Frigstad, Larry A. Walter