Abstract: A medical appliance for the treatment of one or more sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea in a patient, the appliance comprising: a biasing member for inserting behind and exerting a force upon the patient's soft palate or tongue, wherein the biasing member is inserted in a reduced or minimized form and then expanded or firms once in place to exert the force. The appliance may be nasally inserted or be placed through the mouth. In a particular configuration, both the soft palate and tongue are biased to prevent obstruction of the flow of air in the nasopharyngeal airway.

Abstract: An expanding sleeve device for fastening a rail to a crosstie comprising a headed bolt threaded into a tapered nut. Positioned between the head and nut is a sleeve having radially expandable pronged portions and a deformable collar. The tapered nut causes the pronged portions and sleeve to expand and fit securely in a hole in the crosstie.