An Implant for Supporting Soft Tissue

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent describes a medical implant designed to support soft tissue, specifically to treat obstructive sleep apnea by preventing the collapse of the tongue into the airway during sleep. The implant features a distal anchor that can change from a collapsed to a deployed (expanded) state within the tissue, using an expandable balloon-like element. Once deployed, the anchor maintains its expanded shape to securely hold the tissue, while a flexible connection element attaches the anchor to a fixed point (such as the jaw bone). Optional switchable or elastic elements can further adjust the biasing force and tissue mobility, providing both stability and patient comfort.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Treating obstructive sleep apnea by preventing airway collapse caused by tongue blockage during sleep.
• Providing minimally invasive support to other soft tissues in surgical or cosmetic procedures.
• Supporting or repositioning soft tissues in the oral cavity after trauma or surgery.
• Creating adjustable or removable soft-tissue anchors for various medical applications.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Minimally invasive implant procedure reduces surgical trauma and promotes faster patient recovery.
• Reduces complications such as swelling and tissue damage compared to traditional barbed or hooked anchors.
• Allows for reliable, secure anchoring in soft tissue without cutting, tearing, or causing significant injury.
• Enables adjustable biasing force to maintain natural tissue movement (e.g., for speech, swallowing).
• Implant can be customized or switched between states (e.g., more or less tension) even while implanted, enhancing patient comfort and functionality.
• Potentially lower risk, less pain, shorter hospital stays, and improved patient outcomes for sleep apnea.
• Explanted easily if required, with minimal additional trauma.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

An implant for supporting soft tissue, the implant comprising a distal anchor for implantation in the soft tissue, the distal anchor having a collapsed state and a deployed state, the deployed state having a larger lateral extension than the collapsed state; a connection element attached to the distal anchor for supporting the soft tissue according to a biasing force applied along the connection element; and an expandable element, wherein the expandable element is configured to receive a fluid to expand the expandable element to an expanded deployment state for transferring the distal anchor from the collapsed state to the deployed state; wherein the distal anchor is configured to maintain the deployed state against a restoring force of the tissue of the patient when the expandable element is collapsed from the expanded deployment state