Airway implant and methods of making and using

Abstract

An airway implant device for maintaining and / or creating an opening in air passageways is disclosed. Methods of using the device are also disclosed. The airway implant device comprises a deformable element to control the opening of an air passageway. Preferably the deformable element is an electroactive polymer element. Energizing of the electroactive polymer element provides support for the walls of an air passageway, when the walls collapse, and thus, completely or partially opens the air passageway. Methods of treating airway disorders such as sleep apnea and snoring with the airway implant device are disclosed herein.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE [0001] This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 946,435, filed Sep. 21, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Background [0002] Snoring is very common among mammals including humans. Snoring is a noise produced while breathing during sleep due to the vibration of the soft palate and uvula. Not all snoring is bad, except it bothers the bed partner or others near the person who is snoring. If the snoring gets worst overtime and goes untreated, it could lead to apnea. [0003] Those with apnea stop breathing in their sleep, often hundreds of times during the night. Usually apnea occurs when the throat muscles and tongue relax during sleep and partially block the opening of the airway. When the muscles of the soft palate at the base of the tongue and the uvula relax and sag, the airway becomes blocked, making breathing labored and noisy and even stopping it altogether. Sleep apne...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Not all snoring is bad, except it bothers the bed partner or others near the person who is snoring.

If the snoring gets worst overtime and goes untreated, it could lead to apnea.

When the muscles of the soft palate at the base of the tongue and the uvula relax and sag, the airway becomes blocked, making breathing labored and noisy and even stopping it altogether.

Medications are generally not effective in the treatment of sleep apnea.

Nasal CPAP prevents airway closure while in use, but apnea episodes return when CPAP is stopped or it is used improperly.

Many variations of CPAP devices are available and all have the same side effects such as nasal irritation and drying, facial skin irritation, abdominal bloating, mask leaks, sore eyes, and headaches.

Although several surgical procedures are used to increase the size of the airway, none of them is completely successful or without risks.

The long-term side effects and benefits are not known, and it is difficult to predict which patients will do well with this procedure.

Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is done to eliminate snoring but has not been shown to be effective in treating sleep apnea.

Like UPPP, LAUP may decrease or eliminate snoring but not eliminate sleep apnea itself.

Elimination of snoring, the primary symptom of sleep apnea, without influencing the condition may carry the risk of delaying the diagnosis and possible treatment of sleep apnea in patients who elect to have LAUP.

Although this procedure is highly effective, it is an extreme measure that is rarely used.

Stiff implants in the soft palate, however, could hinder patient's normal functions like speech, ability to swallow, coughing and sneezing.

As the current treatments for snoring and / or apnea are not effective and have side-effects, there is a need for additional treatment options.

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