Abstract: Systems and related methods treat snoring and other sleep related disorders by stabilizing the position of a tongue in an oral cavity. The systems and methods employ an operative element sized and configured to be fitted to less mobile tissue in the oral cavity. The operative element is further constructed and arranged to interact with a tongue in the airway to stabilize a preferred tissue orientation. The operative element can comprise a suction source sized and configured to draw more mobile tongue tissue toward the suction source. The operative element can comprise a magnetic source sized and configured to magnetically attract material fitted to more mobile tongue tissue in the airway.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 6, 2002
Publication date:
March 11, 2004
Applicant:
Swan Medical
Inventors:
Lionel M. Nelson, Ronald G. Lax, Eric N. Doelling
Abstract: Systems and related methods stabilize tissue in an airway using material which is sized and configured to be fitted to surface tissue in the airway and which is magnetically attracted toward a magnetized material to stabilize a preferred tissue orientation. The systems and related methods can be used, e.g., to treat snoring and other sleep related disorders.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 6, 2002
Publication date:
March 11, 2004
Applicant:
Swan Medical
Inventors:
Lionel M. Nelson, Ronald G. Lax, Eric N. Doelling
Abstract: Systems and related methods stabilize tissue in the oral cavity and airway, e.g., the soft palate/uvula and/or tongue. The systems and methods employ an operative element sized and configured to be fitted to less mobile tissue in the oral cavity. The operative element is further constructed and arranged to interact with more mobile tissue in the airway to stabilize a preferred tissue orientation. The operative element can comprise a suction source sized and configured to draw more mobile tissue toward the suction source. Alternatively, the operative element can comprise a magnetic source sized and configured to magnetically attract material fitted to more mobile tissue in the airway.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 6, 2002
Publication date:
March 11, 2004
Applicant:
Swan Medical
Inventors:
Lionel M. Nelson, Ronald G. Lax, Eric N. Doelling