US Patent
Patent No. US 06626181
Published on Sep 30, 2003
Application No. 09/872545
Filed on Jun 1, 2001
Priority Date -
Inventor/Applicants
3Knudson, Mark B. - Shoreview, MN (26)
Conrad, Timothy R. - Eden Prairie, MN (23)
Griffin, Jerry C. - Chicago, IL (3)
Abstract
A method and apparatus for treating snoring of a patient includes providing an implant for altering a dynamic response of a soft palate of the patient to airflow past the soft palate. The implant is embedded in the soft palate to alter the dynamic response. For example, the implant has a mass, stiffness or dampening sufficient to alter the dynamic response following the implantation without substantially impairing a function of the soft palate to close a nasal passage of the patient during swallowing.
Classification
A61B 19/00
128/898
128/898
128/897;
600/12;
623/9;
623/11.11;
623/14.11;