Partially erodable systems for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract

A method of maintaining airway patency in an airway of a patient which includes the steps of implanting a device into tissue adjacent an airway, the device having a bioerodable material wound around a resiliently deformable body to temporarily maintain the deformable body in a stretched, deformed state, and permitting the bioerodable material of the device to bioerode to apply a force to maintain airway patency. The invention also provides devices for practicing the method.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of maintaining airway patency in an airway of a patient, the method comprising:
 implanting a device into tissue adjacent an airway, the device having a bioerodable element maintaining the body in a deformed stretched shape against a return force and at least one soft tissue anchor configured to affix to soft tissue adjacent the airway, the tissue anchor comprising a through hole; and   permitting the bioerodable element of the device to bioerode to release the body from its stretched, deformed state, thereby allowing the body to contract to apply a force from the at least one tissue anchor to the affixed soft tissue adjacent to the airway to maintain airway patency.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising expanding a portion of the device without affixing the device to the tissue. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the expanding step comprises permitting the portion of the device to self-expand. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising permitting newly formed tissue to infiltrate the through hole of the at least one anchor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the newly formed tissue at least partially infiltrates the device prior to applying a force to the tissue adjacent the airway. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the implanting step comprises inserting the device into tongue tissue. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the implanting step comprises inserting the device into soft palate tissue. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising releasing a bioactive agent from the bioerodable portion as it bioerodes. 
     
     
         9 . A device for maintaining patency of an airway of a patient comprising:
 a body having an at-rest shape and a stretched, deformed shape, the body being adapted to be implanted into soft tissue adjacent an airway of the patient;   a bioerodable element configured to maintain the body in the stretched, deformed shape against a return force upon implantation;   at least one soft tissue anchor comprising a through hole, adapted to be implanted into the soft tissue adjacent the airway without affixing the device to the tissue at a time when the device is implanted, and adapted to be infiltrated by tissue to affix the anchor to the soft tissue; and   the body being configured to return toward the at-rest shape upon erosion of the bioerodable element, such that the body applies a force from the at least one tissue anchor to the soft tissue adjacent the airway.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the body is sized and shaped to be inserted into tongue tissue. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the body is sized and shaped to be inserted into soft palate tissue. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the body is sized and shaped to be inserted into pharyngeal tissue. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the bioerodable element comprises a coil. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the bioerodable element comprises a C-shaped element. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the at least one tissue anchor is adapted to expand. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the at least one tissue anchor is adapted to self-expand. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the at least one tissue anchor comprises non woven material. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the at least one tissue anchor comprises a plurality of through holes. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the at least one tissue anchor comprises braided material. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising an elutable bioactive agent.