Surgical procedure and related apparatus for treating sleep apnea by lifting, suspending and stiffening the soft palate

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for lifting, suspending and stiffening a patient's tissue are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of lifting and stiffening a patient's tissue includes inserting at least one suture into the patient's tissue in a first direction, pulling the suture in a second direction so as to lift and suspend the tissue in a lifted position and stiffen the tissue in the lifted position, and cutting the suture so that the tissue remains in the lifted position. Preferably, the patient's tissue is the patient's soft palate.

1 - 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 : A suture insertion device, comprising:
 a body configured to be gripped by a user;   a shaft extending longitudinally from the body, the shaft including an outer surface that extends to a piercing end, the outer surface including an indented notch; and   a suture loaded into the indented notch for insertion into the patient's tissue,   wherein the shaft is configured insert the suture into the patient's tissue by: (i) piercing the patient's tissue with the piercing end at an insertion point into the patient's tissue; (ii) entering the patient's tissue at the insertion point such that the indented notch passes the insertion point into the patient's tissue; and (iii) withdrawing from the patient's tissue at the insertion point, leaving the suture at least partially in the patient's tissue such that the suture only protrudes from the patient's tissue at the insertion point after the shaft is withdrawn.   
     
     
         62 : The suture insertion device of  claim 61 , wherein the shaft includes a straight portion and curved portion, and wherein the curved portion is located proximal to the piercing end and the straight portion is located between the curved portion and the body. 
     
     
         63 : The suture insertion device of  claim 61 , wherein the body includes a mechanism enabling the suture to be tightened against the shaft after the suture is loaded into the notch. 
     
     
         64 : The suture insertion device of  claim 61 , wherein the suture is a barbed suture, and wherein the shaft includes at least one groove extending along a longitudinal length of the outer surface of the shaft between the notch and the body, the groove configured to prevent barbs from the suture from grabbing the patient's tissue as the shaft enters the patient's tissue at the insertion point. 
     
     
         65 : The suture insertion device of  claim 61 , wherein the shaft is directly connected to the body. 
     
     
         66 : The suture insertion device of  claim 61 , wherein the suture includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion loaded into the indented notch, the second portion attaching to the body to pull the first portion against the shaft for insertion into the patient's tissue. 
     
     
         67 : The suture insertion device of  claim 61 , wherein the suture includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion loaded into the indented notch, the second portion protruding from the patient's tissue at the insertion point after the shaft is withdrawn. 
     
     
         68 : The suture insertion device of  claim 61 , wherein the suture is pre-loaded into the indented notch for implantation into the patient's tissue. 
     
     
         69 : A method of using the suture insertion device of  claim 61  to implant the suture into the patient's tissue. 
     
     
         70 : A suture insertion device, comprising:
 a body configured to be gripped by a user;   a shaft including a straight portion extending longitudinally from the body and a curved portion extending from the straight portion to a piercing end; and   a suture loaded onto the curved portion for insertion into the patient's tissue,   wherein the shaft is configured insert the suture into the patient's tissue by: (i) piercing the patient's tissue with the piercing end at an insertion point into the patient's tissue; (ii) entering the patient's tissue at the insertion point such that the suture is at least partially inserted into the patient's tissue; and (iii) withdrawing from the patient's tissue at the insertion point, leaving the suture at least partially in the patient's tissue such that the suture only protrudes from the patient's tissue at the insertion point after the shaft is withdrawn.   
     
     
         71 : The suture insertion device of  claim 70 , wherein the body includes a mechanism enabling the suture to be tightened against the shaft after the suture is loaded onto the curved portion. 
     
     
         72 : The suture insertion device of  claim 70 , wherein the suture is a barbed suture, wherein the shaft includes at least one groove extending along a longitudinal length of the shaft, the groove configured to prevent barbs from the suture from grabbing the patient's tissue as the shaft enters the patient's tissue at the insertion point. 
     
     
         73 : The suture insertion device of  claim 70 , wherein the shaft is directly connected to the body. 
     
     
         74 : The suture insertion device of  claim 70 , wherein the suture includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion loaded onto the curved portion, the second portion attaching to the body to pull the first portion against the shaft for insertion into the patient's tissue. 
     
     
         75 : The suture insertion device of  claim 70 , wherein the suture includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion loaded onto the curved portion, the second portion protruding from the patient's tissue at the insertion point after the shaft is withdrawn. 
     
     
         76 : The suture insertion device of  claim 70 , wherein the suture is pre-loaded into the indented notch for implantation into the patient's tissue. 
     
     
         77 : A method of using the suture insertion device of  claim 70  to implant the suture into the patient's tissue. 
     
     
         78 : A suture insertion device, comprising:
 a body configured to be gripped by a user; and   a shaft including an outer surface extending longitudinally from the body to a piercing end, the outer surface including
 an indented notch proximal to the piercing end, the notch configured to receive a barbed suture, and 
 an indented groove extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the shaft between the notch and the body, the indented groove configured to prevent barbs from the barbed suture from grabbing a patient's tissue as the shaft enters the patient's tissue. 
   
     
     
         79 : The suture insertion device of  claim 78 , wherein the shaft is configured to: (i) enter the patient's tissue at an insertion point pierced by the piercing end; and (ii) leave the barbed suture at least partially in the patient's tissue such that the barbed suture only protrudes from the patient's tissue at the insertion point. 
     
     
         80 : The suture insertion device of  claim 78 , wherein the shaft includes a straight portion and curved portion, and wherein the curved portion is located proximal to the piercing end and the straight portion is located between the curved portion and the body.