Stiffening pharyngeal wall treatment
US7322993B2 · kind B2 · utility
119Cited by
43References
7Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 14, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jan 29, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 14, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M37/00
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A pharyngeal airway having a pharyngeal wall of a patient at least partially surrounding and defining the airway is treated by selecting an implant dimensioned so as to be implanted at or beneath a mucosal layer of the pharyngeal wall and extending transverse to said wall. The implant has mechanical characteristics for the implant, at least in combination with a fibrotic tissue response induced by the implant, to stiffen said pharyngeal wall to resist radial collapse. The implant is implanted into the pharyngeal wall transverse to a longitudinal axis of the airway.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.