Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110245850 | SUTURE PASSER SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TONGUE OR OTHER TISSUE SUSPENSION AND COMPRESSION - Suture passer systems for tissue suspension and tissue compression, and more particularly for tongue suspension, are described. The system can include at least a first elongate tubular body or shaft, a needle having a lateral bias carried by the elongate body, and a retrieval element operably connected to the elongate tubular body. The needle can have a substantially straight configuration when located within the elongate tubular body, and be configured to exit an opening at or near a distal end of the elongate tubular body and assume a laterally biased or curved shape to form a path through tissue. The needle is configured to carry a suture. The retrieval element can be configured to retrieve the suture carried by the needle after the needle has formed a curved or otherwise angled path through tissue. The system can also include one or more bone anchors to secure the suture loops. Methods of placing one or more suture loops into tissue, such as the base of the tongue, are also described. | 10-06-2011 |
20130345724 | SUTURE PASSER SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TONGUE OR OTHER TISSUE SUSPENSION AND COMPRESSION - Suture passer systems for tissue suspension and tissue compression, and more particularly for palate or tongue suspension, are described. The system can include at least a first elongate tubular body or shaft, a needle having a lateral bias carried by the elongate body, and a retrieval element operably connected to the elongate tubular body. The needle can have a substantially straight configuration when located within the elongate tubular body, and be configured to exit an opening at or near a distal end of the elongate tubular body and assume a laterally biased or curved shape to form a path through tissue. The needle is configured to carry a suture. The retrieval element can be configured to retrieve the suture carried by the needle after the needle has formed a curved or otherwise angled path through tissue. The system can also include one or more bone anchors to secure the suture loops. Methods of placing one or more suture loops into tissue, such as the base of the palate or tongue, are also described. | 12-26-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090286761 | Anti-Proliferative and Anti-Inflammatory Agent Combination for Treatment of Vascular Disorders with an Implantable Medical Device - A drug-delivery system is provided including at least 100 μg of everolimus and clobetasol, such that the ratio of everolimus to clobetasol is at least 10:1 (w/w) or the amount of everolimus by weight is at least 10 times more than clobetasol. The system can be a stent. Also provided a method of treating restenosis or vulnerable plaque of a blood vessel, the method includes locally administering to a patient a first drug selected from a group consisting of rapamycin (sirolimus), Biolimus A9, deforolimus, AP23572, tacrolimus, temsirolimus, pimecrolimus, zotarolimus (ABT-578), 40-O-(2-hydroxy)ethylrapamycin (everolimus), 40-O-(3-hydroxy)propylrapamycin, 40-O-[2-(2-hydroxy)ethoxy]ethylrapamycin, 40-O-tetrazolylrapamycin and 40-epi-(N1-tetrazolyl)rapamycin, and locally administering to a patient a second drug consisting of clobetasol, wherein the minimum amount of the first drug that is locally administered is 100 μg, and wherein the ratio of the first drug to the second drug is, for example, 10:1 to 100:1 (w/w). | 11-19-2009 |
20100063542 | KNOTLESS SUTURE ANCHOR FOR SOFT TISSUE REPAIR AND METHOD OF USE - A knotless suture anchor provides a method for securing soft tissue to a rigid structure such as bone. The anchor has an inner member that receives suture thread and rotates within an outer tubular member. As the inner member rotates, the suture thread is wrapped onto the inner member thereby increasing contact with the outer tubular member which applies pressure to the wrapped suture thread to retain it in position on the inner member while simultaneously and adjustably tensioning the suture thread. A ratchet prevents undesirable counter-rotation, although the ratchet can be released to permit loosening of the suture thread. Also described is a suture bridge and suture platform for providing further stabilization of a tendon. A method for repairing rotator cuff tears is also described. | 03-11-2010 |
20100121348 | INSERTION TOOL FOR KNOTLESS SUTURE ANCHOR FOR SOFT TISSUE REPAIR AND METHOD OF USE - An insertion tool is used to implant a knotless suture anchor to secure soft tissue to a rigid structure such as bone. The anchor has an inner member that receives suture thread and rotates within an outer tubular member. An inner shaft on the insertion tool engages the inner tubular member and is used to rotate the inner tubular member so that the suture thread is wrapped onto the inner tubular member thereby increasing contact with the outer tubular member of the anchor which applies pressure to the wrapped suture thread to retain it in position on the inner tubular member while simultaneously and adjustably tensioning the suture thread. The insertion tool has an outer shaft that engages the outer tubular member of the anchor and prevents the outer tubular member from rotating as the inner shaft on the insertion tool rotates the inner tubular member on the anchor. | 05-13-2010 |
20130072975 | KNOTLESS SUTURE ANCHOR FOR SOFT TISSUE REPAIR AND METHOD OF USE - In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for holding soft tissue in apposition with a bone using a suture, the method including engaging the soft tissue with an engaging portion of a suture thread; engaging an end of the suture thread with a rotatable shaft of an anchor; implanting the rotatable shaft in the bone; and rotating the shaft in a first direction to wrap the engaged suture thread onto the shaft thereby increasing tension on the suture and on the soft tissue. | 03-21-2013 |
20130072976 | KNOTLESS SUTURE ANCHOR FOR SOFT TISSUE REPAIR AND METHOD OF USE - In one embodiment, the present invention includes a knotless suture anchor for implanting in bone including an outer tubular member having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer wall, and an at least one aperture through the outer wall; an inner member being rotatably disposed within the outer tubular member, the inner member having an at least one aperture for receiving at least one suture thread; a pointed tip configured to facilitate impaction of the anchor into the bone; and at least one suture thread guide positioned on the outer tubular member, wherein the at least one suture thread is positioned through the at least one suture thread guide, the at least one aperture of the outer tubular member, and the at least one aperture of the inner member. | 03-21-2013 |
20130289708 | STENT WITH ANCHORS TO PREVENT VULNERABLE PLAQUE RUPTURE DURING DEPLOYMENT - A stent for implantation in a body lumen for protecting from rupture a fibrous cap in order to treat vulnerable plaque. One embodiment of the stent achieves staged expansion through stronger and weaker circumferential regions, and includes optional anchors positioned at the circumferential transition between the stronger and weaker regions. During the first stage expansion, the weaker region expands moving the anchors laterally apart. The anchors straddle the fibrous cap and embed into the vessel wall. The second stage expansion of the stent exerts gentler stresses by the weaker region against the fibrous cap while the stronger region exerts greater stresses on the remainder of the vessel wall to open the vessel. | 10-31-2013 |
20140074158 | TETHER LINE SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TONGUE OR OTHER TISSUE SUSPENSION OR COMPRESSION - Systems and methods of placing one or more suture loops into tissue, such as the base of the tongue, are described. A system can include a variable-thickness suspension line for suspending tissue, including a suture having a first thickness dimension; an elastomer surrounding a portion of the suture and defining a central segment of the suspension line having a second thickness dimension greater than the first thickness dimension, and at least one transition zone extending from the central segment of the suspension line to a lateral end of the suspension line, the transition zones having a thickness dimension that tapers from the second thickness dimension to the first thickness dimension. | 03-13-2014 |
20150250476 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TISSUE SUSPENSION AND COMPRESSION - Suture passer systems for tissue suspension and tissue compression are described. The system can include a shaft and a needle, wherein the needle is freely rotatable with respect to the shaft. The suture may include an overmolded segment. Methods of placing one or more implants, sutures, fastener, bone anchors and other devices are also described. The methods include moving tissue, including the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle, palatopharyngeal arch, and palatoglossal arch. The methods include hyoid bone suspension. | 09-10-2015 |