Systems and methods for treatment of sleep apnea

Abstract

A system for revisably treating an airway disorder is provided with an implant body configured to conform to an airway-interface tissue site in a manner compatible with normal physiological function of the site. In some embodiments, first and second openings extend through first and second implant ends, respectively, for permitting a tissue plug to grow through each opening. Methods of using and revising such systems are also provided.

1 . A method for treating an airway disorder comprising:
 providing an implant body having elastomeric first and second end portions;   implanting the body in an airway-interface tissue;   allowing a tissue plug to grow through at least one of the first and second end portions such that the at least one end portion can be later cut and pulled from around the tissue plug to extract the implant from the tissue, if desired, with minimal impact to the tissue plug; and   applying tension between the first and second end portions and attached tissue with the implant body to draw the attached tissue closer together to thereby alleviate tissue obstruction of the airway.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising maintaining the implant body in a tensioned configuration using a bioerodible or biodissolvable material carried by a medial portion of the implant body. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the applying tension is caused by bioerosion of the bioerodible or biodissolvable material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the bioerodible or biodissolvable material is carried about an exterior of the implant body. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the bioerodible or biodissolvable material is carried within an interior portion of the implant body. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying tension includes releasing the implant body from a tensioned configuration to move toward a non-tensioned configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising cutting the at least one of the first or second end portions to disengage the implant body from the airway-interface tissue. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein tissue plugs are allowed to grow through both the first and second end portions such that the first and second end portions can be later cut and pulled from around the tissue plugs to extract the implant from the tissue, if desired, with minimal impact to the tissue plugs, and wherein tension is applied between the tissue plugs with the implant body to draw the tissue plugs closer together to thereby alleviate tissue obstruction of the airway. 
     
     
         9 . A method of treating an airway disorder:
 implanting a resilient implant in a releasably tensioned configuration in an airway-interface tissue, the resilient implant comprising a medial portion and flexible first and second encircling end portions;   permitting the flexible first and second encircling end portions of the implant to surround first and second tissue plugs in the airway-interface tissue to releasably attach the end portions of the implant to the tissue plugs; and   releasing the implant from the tensioned configuration to move the implant toward a non-tensioned configuration, thereby alleviating tissue obstruction of the airway, whereby at least one of the flexible first and second encircling end portions comprises a small cross-section element that can optionally be cut, severed, decoupled, or dissolved to disengage the implant from the first or second tissue plug in the airway-interface tissue.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising cutting the small cross-section element, forming a cut end, and pulling the cut end from around the first or second tissue plug. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising maintaining the implant body in the releasably tensioned configuration using a bioerodible or biodissolvable material carried by the medial portion of the implant body. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein releasing the implant from the tensioned configuration comprises bioerosion of the bioerodible or biodissolvable material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the bioerodible or biodissolvable material is carried about an exterior of the implant body. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the bioerodible or biodissolvable material is carried within an interior portion of the implant body. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible first and second encircling end portions each comprise a small cross-section element that can optionally be cut, severed, decoupled, or dissolved to disengage the implant from the first or second tissue plug in the airway-interface tissue. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising cutting each of the small cross-section elements, forming a cut end, and pulling the cut end from around the first or second tissue plug.