Abstract: A carrier is sized and configured for placement in or on a tissue region. The carrier includes at least one interior compartment. At least one ferromagnetic material is carried within the compartment. The compartment and the ferromagnetic material are mutually sized and configured to allow movement of the ferromagnetic material within the compartment in response to magnetic interaction with a magnetic material located outside the carrier. The magnetic interaction can include either a magnetic attracting force or a magnetic repelling force. The carrier can be used in association with a source of magnetism sized and configured for placement in or on a tissue region outside the carrier for magnetic interaction with the ferromagnetic material carried within the compartment, e.g., to stabilize the orientation of a tissue region within an airway.

Abstract: A magnetic force system uses a magnetic implant sized and configured to be inserted in the pharynx and another magnetic implant sized and configured to be inserted in the tongue, palate, or pharynx. The system establishes different regions of magnetic interaction between the two implants across the airway, attracting and repelling, such that attractive interaction in one region of the implants combines with repelling interaction in another region of the implants, to provide a “hinge” structure. Alternatively, a magnetic force system that uses three magnetic implants sized and configured to be inserted in the tongue, pharynx, and palate, respectively. The tongue implant is attracted to the palatal implant, and repels the pharyngeal implant, forming a modified “hinge” structure. Forces of magnetic attracting bring tissue together to form a magnetic hinge joint, providing an anchor to stabilize the regions where repelling forces work to separate tissue to keep the airway open.

Abstract: Magnetic structures develop a magnetic force between a tongue and a posterior pharyngeal wall to stabilize an orientation of the tongue.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods resist posterior movement of the tongue during sleep, thereby keeping an airway open. An implant device has a ferromagnetic structure that, when implanted, occupies only one lateral side of the tongue when implanted. The ferromagnetic structure magnetically interacts with a magnetized material placed in a desired relationship with the tongue to stabilize a preferred tongue orientation.

Abstract: Systems and methods place a first structure and a second structure in or on different tissue regions for magnetic interaction. The first structure comprises at least one ferromagnetic component, and the second structure comprises an array of magnetic components. The first and second structures are separated during use by a distance, which is defined as a separation between the centers of mass of the ferromagnetic and magnetic components. The distance varies within a working range as a result of native movement of the tissue regions on which the first and second structures are placed. The systems and methods titrate the size and orientation of the magnetic and ferromagnetic components to maintain a relatively constant magnetic field between the two structures within the working range, thereby accommodating relative movement of the tissue regions in the normal performance of bodily functions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for resisting posterior movement of the tongue during sleep, thereby keeping an airway open. The systems and methods employ a first structure that can be placed either in or on a tongue within an oral cavity and/or in a region of hyoid muscle. The first structure includes a ferromagnetic material. The systems and methods employ a second structure that can be placed either in or on external tissue outside the oral cavity and/or in or on external tissue outside the oral cavity in a desired relationship with the first structure. The second structure includes a magnetic material that magnetically interacts with the ferromagnetic material by attracting the ferromagnetic material, thereby resisting posterior movement of the tongue.

Abstract: Magnetic structures develop a magnetic force between a tongue and a posterior pharyngeal wall to stabilize an orientation of the tongue. The magnetic structures include magnetic materials that are sized, configured, and arranged on at least one of the first and second magnetic structures, to maintain a substantially mutually repelling orientation between the first and second magnetic structures during a native range of movement of the tongue relative to the pharyngeal wall, i.e., during swallowing and/or drinking/and or speech.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for resisting posterior movement of the tongue during sleep, thereby keeping an airway open. The systems and methods employ a first structure that can be placed either in or on a tongue within an oral cavity and/or in a region of hyoid muscle. The first structure includes a ferromagnetic material. The systems and methods employ a second structure that can be placed either in or on external tissue outside the oral cavity and/or in or on external tissue outside the oral cavity in a desired relationship with the first structure. The second structure includes a magnetic material that magnetically interacts with the ferromagnetic material by attracting the ferromagnetic material, thereby resisting posterior movement of the tongue.

Abstract: Systems and methods prevent magnetic implant migration and extrusion in the upper airway. The systems and methods relate both to surgical techniques as well as structural features to address the problem of magnetic implant migration.

Abstract: Systems and methods include magnetic structures for placement in or on tissues in an airway. The magnetic structures carry sources of magnetism, which generate magnetic fields having directions. The magnetic fields interact to provide magnetic forces that provide a desired therapeutic effect, e.g., maintaining separation between the soft palate and/or tongue and the posterior pharyngeal wall. The systems and methods size and configure the directions of the magnetic fields to provide stability, which makes possible the achievement of the desired therapeutic effect in a straightforward and elegant manner.

Abstract: An implant system places magnetic structures in or on tissue that develop a magnetic repelling force between a soft palate a posterior pharyngeal wall. The magnetic repelling force has a magnitude F-mag, where F-mag=f (F-sep, F-nat), and where F-sep is a force required to separate soft palate tissue from pharyngeal wall tissue during sleep, and F-nat is a force exerted by native muscle on the soft palate during swallowing and/or drinking and/or speech. In another embodiment, a palate implant uses attractive magnetic force to keep the airway open.

Abstract: A magnetic force system uses a magnetic implant sized and configured to be inserted in the pharynx and another magnetic implant sized and configured to be inserted in the tongue, palate, or pharynx. The system establishes different regions of magnetic interaction between the two implants across the airway, attracting and repelling, such that attractive interaction in one region of the implants combines with repelling interaction in another region of the implants, to provide a “hinge” structure. Alternatively, a magnetic force system that uses three magnetic implants sized and configured to be inserted in the tongue, pharynx, and palate, respectively. The tongue implant is attracted to the palatal implant, and repels the pharyngeal implant, forming a modified “hinge” structure. Forces of magnetic attracting bring tissue together to form a magnetic hinge joint, providing an anchor to stabilize the regions where repelling forces work to separate tissue to keep the airway open.

Abstract: Systems and methods prevent magnetic implant migration and extrusion in the upper airway. The systems and methods relate both to surgical techniques as well as structural features to address the problem of magnetic implant migration.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods resist posterior movement of the tongue during sleep, thereby keeping an airway open. An implant device has a ferromagnetic structure that, when implanted, occupies only one lateral side of the tongue when implanted. The ferromagnetic structure magnetically interacts with a magnetized material placed in a desired relationship with the tongue to stabilize a preferred tongue orientation.

Abstract: Systems and methods place a first structure and a second structure in or on different tissue regions for magnetic interaction. The first structure comprises at least one ferromagnetic component, and the second structure comprises an array of magnetic components. The first and second structures are separated during use by a distance, which is defined as a separation between the centers of mass of the ferromagnetic and magnetic components. The distance varies within a working range as a result of native movement of the tissue regions on which the first and second structures are placed. The systems and methods titrate the size and orientation of the magnetic and ferromagnetic components to maintain a relatively constant magnetic field between the two structures within the working range, thereby accommodating relative movement of the tissue regions in the normal performance of bodily functions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for resisting posterior movement of the tongue during sleep, thereby keeping an airway open. The systems and methods employ a first structure that can be placed either in or on a tongue within an oral cavity and/or in a region of hyoid muscle. The first structure includes a ferromagnetic material. The systems and methods employ a second structure that can be placed either in or on external tissue outside the oral cavity and/or in or on external tissue outside the oral cavity in a desired relationship with the first structure. The second structure includes a magnetic material that magnetically interacts with the ferromagnetic material by attracting the ferromagnetic material, thereby resisting posterior movement of the tongue.

Abstract: Magnetic structures develop a magnetic force between a tongue and a posterior pharyngeal wall to stabilize an orientation of the tongue.

Abstract: Systems and methods include magnetic structures for placement in or on tissues in an airway. The magnetic structures carry sources of magnetism, which generate magnetic fields having directions. The magnetic fields interact to provide magnetic forces that provide a desired therapeutic effect, e.g., maintaining separation between the soft palate and/or tongue and the posterior pharyngeal wall. The systems and methods size and configure the directions of the magnetic fields to provide stability, which makes possible the achievement of the desired therapeutic effect in a straightforward and elegant manner.

Abstract: Magnetic structures develop a magnetic force between a tongue and a posterior pharyngeal wall to stabilize an orientation of the tongue. The magnetic structures include magnetic materials that are sized, configured, and arranged on at least one of the first and second magnetic structures, to maintain a substantially mutually repelling orientation between the first and second magnetic structures during a native range of movement of the tongue relative to the pharyngeal wall, i.e., during swallowing and/or drinking/and or speech.

Abstract: Systems and methods place a magnetic structure in or on a single tissue mass in an airway. A first magnetic region on a given structure magnetically interacts with a second magnetic region on the structure to shape the structure within the single tissue mass and thereby stabilize a desired orientation for the single tissue mass. The first magnetic region can magnetically interact with the second magnetic region, e.g., by generating magnetic attracting forces.