APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SECURING UVULA
A method and apparatus for securing a uvula to a soft palate. The uvula may be attached to either the nasopharyngeal side or the oral side of the soft palate with a uvula securement device. The uvula may be secured to the nasopharyngeal side of the soft palate with a suture.
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This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/566,010 filed Aug. 3, 2012 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,925,552), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/209,976 filed on Sep. 12, 2008 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,235,050), which claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/972,500, filed Sep. 14, 2007, the contents of each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present disclosure relates generally to apparatus and methods for securing a patient's uvula. The present disclosure relates more specifically to apparatus and methods for securing a patient's uvula to the nasopharyngeal or oral side of the soft palate.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn certain instances, it may be desirable to secure a patient's uvula as a result of medical or environmental conditions. One such example is when a patient snores excessively so that the uvula becomes traumatized and elongated.
Snoring is a prevalent condition in our society, with an incidence rate as high as 20% of the adult population. Snoring can cause not only difficulty in social environments, but also can be the harbinger of more serious health problems such as obstructive sleep apnea. Snoring can be caused by the oscillation of the oropharyngeal soft tissue during the inspiratory phase of breathing during sleep. Increased negative intrathoracic pressure can lead to collapse of the soft tissue causing apposition of the soft palate and uvula with the surrounding structures. The uvula, as time progresses, can become hypertrophic with increased fat content. The enlarged uvula can then cause worsening snoring, which further affects the uvula and creates a cycle of problems.
Snoring treatment can be first targeted on weight loss to reduce the soft tissue in the oropharynx. Weight loss is often a difficult challenge for these patients and the time required for a change in snoring habits are often not well tolerated. It can therefore be desirable to secure the patient's uvula to relieve the snoring symptoms. If adequate weight loss is achieved, the uvula can be released so that it returns to its normal position; or, if necessary, the uvula can be permanently secured to relieve the snoring symptoms.
While snoring is provided as one example of a medical condition that may warrant securement of the patient's uvula, other medical conditions warranting securement also exist such as obstructive sleep apnea, velopharyngeal insufficiency and nasopharyngeal stenosis.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONCertain embodiments of the present disclosure comprise a method of securing a uvula. The method may comprise: providing a securement device or a suture; positioning the uvula so that the uvula is proximal to a nasopharyngeal side of a soft palate; and securing the uvula to the nasopharyngeal side of a soft palate with either the securement device or the suture. The method may also comprise providing a securement device; positioning the uvula so that the uvula is proximal to an oral side of a soft palate; and securing the uvula to the oral side of the soft palate with the securement device. Other exemplary embodiments may comprise providing a securement device; engaging the securement device with the uvula; positioning the uvula so that the uvula is proximal to a soft palate; and engaging the securement device with the soft palate to secure the uvula to the soft palate. In still other exemplary embodiments the uvula may be positioned proximal to the nasopharyngeal side of the soft palate or the oral side of the soft palate.
In certain exemplary embodiments, the securement device may engage the posterior portion of the uvula, while in other embodiments, it may engage the nasopharyngeal side of the soft palate. In certain embodiments, the securement device may initially engage the uvula and subsequently engage the soft palate, while in other embodiments, the securement device may initially engage the soft palate and subsequently engage the uvula.
In certain exemplary embodiments, the securement device may comprise a central portion having a first side with a first barb, and securing the securement device to the uvula may comprise penetrating the uvula with the first barb. In certain embodiments, securing the securement device to the soft palate comprises penetrating the soft palate with the first barb. In certain exemplary embodiments, the central portion of the securement device may comprise a second side with a second barb, and securing the securement device to the soft palate comprises penetrating the soft palate with the second barb.
In certain exemplary embodiments, securing the securement device to the uvula may comprise providing an attachment tool comprising a first shaft with a first end having a first slot, a second shaft with a second end, and an actuator configured to move the second end closer to the first end. Securing the securement device to the uvula may comprise placing the securement device in the first slot; positioning the attachment tool so that the uvula is positioned between the first end and the second end; actuating the actuator so that the second end engages the uvula and the uvula engages the first end; actuating the actuator to move the second end away from the first end; and moving the attachment tool so that the securement device slides out of the first slot.
In other exemplary embodiments, securing the securement device to the soft palate may comprise: providing a securement tool comprising a handle, a shaft, and a curved end distal to the handle; utilizing the securement tool to position the uvula so that the securement device is proximal to the nasopharyngeal side of the soft palate; engaging the curved end with the uvula and exerting a force on the uvula in the direction of the nasopharyngeal side of the soft palate to secure the securement device the nasopharyngeal side of the soft palate.
Other exemplary embodiments comprise an apparatus for securing a uvula. The apparatus may comprise: a main body having a first side and a second side; a first extension extending from first side of the main body, wherein the first extension has a first end distal from the main body; and a first barb proximal to the first end of the first extension. Other exemplary embodiments may comprise a second extension extending from the second side of the main body, wherein the second extension has a second end distal from the main body, and a second barb that is proximal to the second end of the second extension.
Certain embodiments comprise a method of securing a uvula, the method comprising: providing a securement device; positioning the uvula so that the uvula is proximal to a side of a soft palate; and securing the uvula to the nasopharyngeal side of a soft palate with either the securement device. The uvula may be positioned proximal to the nasopharyngeal or oral side of the soft palate. In certain embodiments, the securement device comprises a barb. The securement device comprises may comprise a suture and a suture anchor member.
In certain embodiments, the securement device is selected from the group consisting of a staple, tack, rivet and suture comprising a bio-absorbable or a non-bioabsorbable material.
In certain embodiments, securing the securement device to the uvula comprises: providing an attachment tool comprising: a first shaft with a first end having a first slot; a second shaft with a second end; and an actuator configured to move the second end closer to the first end. Embodiments may also comprise placing the securement device in the first slot; positioning the attachment tool so that the uvula is positioned between the first end and the second end; actuating the actuator so that the second end engages the uvula and the uvula engages the first end; actuating the actuator to move the second end away from the first end; and moving the attachment tool so that the securement device slides out of the first slot.
In certain embodiments, securing the securement device to the soft palate comprises: providing a securement tool comprising a handle, a shaft, and a curved portion distal to the handle; utilizing the securement tool to position the uvula so that the securement device is proximal to the nasopharyngeal side of the soft palate; engaging the curved portion with the uvula and exerting a compressive force on the uvula to secure the securement device the nasopharyngeal side of the soft palate. In certain embodiments, exerting the compressive force on the uvula comprises extending an actuation member from the securement tool.
Certain embodiments comprise a method of securing a uvula, the method comprising: providing a securement device; engaging the securement device with the uvula; positioning the uvula so that the uvula is proximal to a soft palate; and engaging the securement device with soft palate to secure the uvula to the soft palate. In certain embodiments, the uvula is positioned proximal to the nasopharyngeal side of the soft palate. In other embodiments, the uvula is positioned proximal to the oral side of the soft palate. In certain embodiments, the securement device engages the posterior portion of the uvula. The securement device may engage the nasopharyngeal side of the soft palate. In certain embodiments, the securement device initially engages the uvula and subsequently engages the soft palate. In certain embodiments, the securement device initially engages the soft palate and subsequently engages the uvula.
In certain embodiments, the securement device comprises a central portion having a first side with a first barb, and securing the securement device to the uvula comprises penetrating the uvula with the first barb. In certain embodiments, securing the securement device to the soft palate comprises penetrating the soft palate with the first barb.
In certain embodiments, the central portion of the securement device comprises a second side with a second barb and securing the securement device to the soft palate comprises penetrating the soft palate with the second barb.
Certain embodiments comprise an apparatus for securing a uvula, the apparatus comprising: a main body having a first side and a second side; a first extension extending from first side of the main body, wherein the first extension has a first end distal from the main body; and a first barb proximal to the first end of the first extension. Certain embodiments comprise a second extension extending from the second side of the main body, wherein the second extension has a second end distal from the main body; and a second barb proximal to the second end of the second extension.
The term “coupled” is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more” or “at least one.” The term “about” means, in general, the stated value plus or minus 5%. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternative are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.”
The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements, possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Likewise, a step of a method or an element of a device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more features, possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating specific embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
Referring initially to the exemplary embodiment shown in
Similarly, a pair of extensions 140 and 150 extend from a second side 114 of central portion 110. Extension 140 comprises a barb 145 at the end of extension 140 that is distal from second side 114, and extension 150 comprises a barb 155 at the end of extension 150 that is distal from second side 114.
Referring now to the exemplary embodiment in
As shown in
Referring now to
As shown in the exemplary embodiment of
Attachment tool 200 can then be moved (down in the orientation shown in
In this manner, uvula 400 can be attached to the nasopharyngeal side 410 of the soft palate 415 to provide relief from medical conditions including, for example, snoring. In certain exemplary embodiments, USD 100 can be made from a material that is not bio-degradable or bio-absorbable so that the attachment of uvula 400 is relatively permanent. In other exemplary embodiments, USD 100 can be made from a material that will eventually dissolve (such as a bio-degradable or bio-absorbable material) so that the attachment of uvula 400 is not permanent. For example, uvula 400 could be attached for a period of time until the patient loses a desired amount of weight.
Referring now to
After USD 500 has been secured to uvula 400 in the manner shown in
Other embodiments may comprise variations in the configuration of the uvula securement device or the location within the patient's mouth of the initial installation of the uvula securement device. In the embodiment shown in
In other exemplary embodiments, a uvula securement device can be used to secure a uvula to the oral side of a patient's soft palate. Referring to the exemplary embodiment shown in
As shown in
While exemplary embodiments are described herein, it will be understood that various modifications to the method and apparatus can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, different numbers of barbs or extensions may be used. In addition, the initial placement of uvula securement device may be altered from that shown in the exemplary embodiments. Furthermore, the sequential recitation of steps in any claim is not a requirement that the steps be performed in any particular order, unless otherwise so stated.
Claims
1. An apparatus for securing a uvula, the apparatus comprising:
- a securement device having a main body with a first side and a second side;
- a first extension extending from first side of the main body, wherein the first extension has a first end distal from the main body;
- a first barb proximal to the first end of the first extension; and
- a securement tool having a first shaft with a first slot configured to receive the securement device and an actuation member configured to extend from or retract into securement tool such that the first barb and first extension are advanced distally from the actuation member.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
- a second extension extending from the second side of the main body, wherein the second extension has a second end distal from the main body; and
- a second barb proximal to the second end of the second extension.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the securement device is selected from the group consisting of a staple, tack, rivet, and suture.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the securement device is sized for insertion into or through a uvula.
5. A method of securing a uvula, comprising:
- providing a securement device having a main body with a first side and a first barb extending from the first side;
- folding the uvula over towards a nasopharyngeal or oral side of a soft palate via a securement tool so that the uvula is positioned in proximity to the soft palate; and
- advancing the first barb from the securement tool into or through the uvula such that the first barb passes through the uvula and is retained in proximity to the nasopharyngeal or oral side of the soft palate via the main body.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein folding the uvula comprises folding the uvula towards the nasopharyngeal side of the soft palate.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein folding the uvula comprises folding the uvula towards the oral side of the soft palate.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein advancing a securement device comprises extending an actuation member from the securement tool such that the first barb is advanced distally from the actuation member.
9. The method of claim 5 wherein the securement device is selected from the group consisting of a staple, tack, rivet, and suture.
10. The method of claim 5 wherein the securement tool has a first shaft with a curved portion and an actuation member configured to extend from the securement tool while urging the securement device distally from the securement tool.
11. The method of claim 5 wherein folding the uvula further comprises positioning the securement tool so that the uvula is positioned in proximity to the first barb.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 31, 2014
Publication Date: Apr 23, 2015
Applicant: MimOSA Medical, Inc. (Menlo Park, CA)
Inventor: Donald A. GONZALES (San Antonio, TX)
Application Number: 14/587,684
International Classification: A61F 5/56 (20060101);