Systems and methods for tissue suspension and compression

Abstract

Suture passer systems for tissue suspension and tissue compression are described. The system can include a shaft and a needle, wherein the needle is freely rotatable with respect to the shaft. The suture may include an overmolded segment. Methods of placing one or more implants, sutures, fastener, bone anchors and other devices are also described. The methods include moving tissue, including the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle, palatopharyngeal arch, and palatoglossal arch. The methods include hyoid bone suspension.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS[0001]Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. This application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) as a nonprovisional application of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 948,473, filed on Mar. 5, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety Also incorporated by reference in their entireties is U.S. Pat. No. 8,460,322 issued on Jun. 11, 2013, and U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2014 / 0074518 A1 published on Mar. 13, 2014.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field[0003]In some aspects, the invention relates generally to suture passer systems and methods for tissue suspension and tissue compression. Disclosed herein are systems and methods for tissue suspension using one or more sutures, implants, fasteners and / or bone anchors for treating obstructive sleep apne...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0051]Further disclosed herein is a suspension line for tensioning tissue, comprising: a suture having a first thickness dimension; a elastomer surrounding a portion of the suture and defining a central segment of the suspension line having a second thickness dimension greater than the first thickness dimension; and at least one bearing element on the central segment of the suspension line, the bearing element configured to provide a rigid bearing to al

Problems solved by technology

This muscle inhibition may lead to relaxation of certain muscle groups, including but not limited to muscles that maintain the patency of the upper airways, and create a risk of airway obstruction during sleep.

Because muscle relaxation narrows the lumen of the airway, greater inspiratory effort may be required to overcome airway resistance.

Because these arousal episodes typically occur 10 to 60 times per night, sleep fragmentation occurs which produces excessive daytime sleepiness.

In addition to sleep disruption, OSA may also lead to cardiovascular and pulmonary disease.

Some studies suggest that increased catecholamine release in the body due to the low oxygen saturation causes increases in systemic arterial blood pressure, which in turn causes left ventricular hypertrophy and eventually left heart failure.

OSA is also associated with pulmonary hypertension, which can result in right heart failure.

Other studies, however, have suggested that increased compliance of the lateral walls of the pharynx contributes to airway collapse.

Weight loss may reduce the frequency of apnea in some patients, but weight loss and other behavioral changes are difficult to achieve and maintain.

Progesterone, theophylline and acetozolamide have been used as respiratory stimulants, but each drug is associated with significant side effects and their efficacy in OSA is not well studied.

Protriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant that reduces the amount of REM sleep, has been shown to decrease the frequency of apnea episodes in severe OSA, but is associated with anti-cholinergic side effects su

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