Methods and Devices for Treating Sleep Apnea and Snoring

Abstract

A method for treating a breathing disorder, the method includes providing a tissue retractor that has a shaft having a first end and a second end, an anchor member attached to one of the first end or the second end, and a retractor member attached to the other of the first end or the second end, and inserting the shaft through a soft tissue of a patient's soft palate, wherein the tissue retractor distributes a force on the soft palate thereby changing a size, a stiffness, and/or a shape of the patient's soft palate and preventing obstruction of the patient's airway.

1 . A method of treating a breathing disorder, the method comprising:
 providing a tissue retractor comprising:
 a shaft having a first end and a second end; 
 an anchor member attached to one of the first end or the second end; and 
 a retractor member attached to the other of the first end or the second end; and 
   inserting the shaft through a soft tissue of a patient's soft palate;   wherein the tissue retractor distributes a force on the soft palate thereby changing a size, a stiffness, and/or a shape of the patient's soft palate and preventing obstruction of the patient's airway.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the force thins the patient's soft palate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the force retracts and shortens the patient's soft palate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the force stiffens the patient's soft palate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue retractor is positioned along the mid-line of the soft palate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor member is positioned on an exterior surface of the soft palate on one of an inferior oral side of the soft palate and a superior pharyngeal side of the soft plate and the retractor member is positioned on the exterior surface of the soft palate on the other of the inferior oral side of the soft palate and the superior pharyngeal side of the soft plate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor member is positioned at one of an end of the soft palate adjacent the patient's hard palate and an end of the soft palate adjacent to or in the uvular area, and the retractor member is positioned at the other of an end of the soft palate adjacent the patient's hard palate and an end of the soft palate adjacent to or in the uvular area. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor member is positioned on an exterior surface of an inferior oral side of the soft palate at an end of the soft palate adjacent the patient's hard palate, the shaft passes through the soft palate, and the retractor member is positioned on an exterior surface of a superior pharyngeal side of the soft palate in the uvular area. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor member is positioned on an exterior surface of a superior pharyngeal side of the soft palate at an end of the soft palate adjacent the patient's hard palate, the shaft passes through the soft palate, and the retractor member is positioned on an exterior surface of an inferior oral side of the soft palate in the uvular area. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising connecting a removably attachable adjustment member to the tissue retractor, wherein the attachment of the adjustment member changes the force that is provided to the soft palate by the tissue retractor, rotates the soft palate, or indents the soft palate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the adjustment member is a bolster disposed between the anchor member an external surface of the soft palate. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the bolster includes a recess to accommodate the anchor member such that, after connection of the anchor member to the bolster, the combination of the anchor member and the bolster has a smooth and continuous surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the anchor member is positioned on the inferior oral side of the soft palate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising attaching the anchor member to a connection member located in the oral cavity of the patient. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the anchor member is positioned on the inferior oral side of the soft palate or the superior pharyngeal side of the soft palate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the connection member is a dental appliance. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft extends through the soft palate in a direction extending from an area adjacent the hard palate to an area adjacent the pharynx. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor member and the retractor member are aligned on opposite sides of the soft palate such thereby compressing and thinning the soft tissue of the soft palate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue retractor is totally implanted within the soft tissue of the soft palate. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one restraining shaft connected to the anchor member and the retractor member, wherein the restraining shaft passes around an exterior edge of the soft palate to maintain the position of the anchor member and the retractor member with respect to the shaft and the soft palate.