Tongue implant for sleep apnea

Abstract

A patient's obstructive sleep apnea is treated by identifying a patient with sleep apnea attributable at least in part to movement of a base of a tongue of said patient toward a pharyngeal wall of said patient. The method includes identifying a region in the tongue extending from a mandibular-geniohyoid interface to the base of the tongue and stiffening a tissue of the tongue throughout the identified region.

1 . A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea comprising:
 identifying a patient with sleep apnea attributable at least in part to movement of a base of a tongue of said patient toward a pharyngeal wall of said patient;   identifying a region in the tongue extending from a mandibular-geniohyoid interface to the base of the tongue;   stiffening a tissue of the tongue throughout the identified region.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the identified region includes an area of the base of the tongue opposing the pharyngeal wall between an epiglottis and a trailing end of a soft palate. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the identified region includes an area of the base of the tongue between lateral extremities of the base of the tongue. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said stiffening includes placing an implant of fibrosis-inducing material within the tongue with the implant extending throughout said region with the material selected to induce formation of fibrosis along said region. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein said implant is sized for said region to extend substantially between an epiglottis and a soft palate of the patient at the base of the tongue. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein said implant is a substantially planar sheet placed in the tongue with a narrow dimension extending transverse to the tongue and having a proximal end within said region at said mandibular-geniohyoid interface and with a distal end within the tongue at the base and extending between the epiglottis and the soft palate. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  FIG. 4  wherein said implant is a tubular material selected to induce fibrosis formation and with a proximal end at said mandibular-geniohyoid interface and with a distal end at said base of the tongue. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said region includes an area of the base of the tongue between lateral extremities of the base of the tongue and said method includes placing multiples of said implants in a volume of said tongue within said region. 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1  according to  claim 4  wherein said material is selected for said implant to contract and expand with the tongue as the tongue heals.