Stiffening pharyngeal wall treatment

US8413662B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Medtronic Xomed, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Anja Metzger · Lake Elmo, US
• Brian J. Erickson · Woodbury, US
• John P. Sopp · Forest Lake, US
• Mark B. Knudson · Shoreview, US
• Timothy R. Conrad · Eden Prairie, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 18, 2011
• Grant date: Apr 9, 2013
• Expiry date: Oct 18, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M37/00
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

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.