Injectable snoring implant

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.

1 - 13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus to brace or fixate tissue in targeted pharyngeal structures and/or individual anatomic components within the pharyngeal conduit comprising a material including one or more liquid components that is injected into tissue as a liquid or slurry and that sets in situ to create a non-liquid mechanical implant structure.  
   
   
       15 . A system comprising at least two apparatuses, at least one of the apparatuses comprising an apparatus as defined in  claim 14 .  
   
   
       15 . A method for implanting an apparatus in targeted pharyngeal structures and/or individual anatomic components within the pharyngeal conduit comprising the steps of providing at least one apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , and injecting the apparatus in targeted pharyngeal structures and/or individual anatomic components within the pharyngeal conduit.