Medtronic Xomed, Inc.

American Cyanamid Company

Restore Medical, Inc.

Cavitron, Inc.

Charles Vassallo

Susan L Critzer

Joseph N Logan

Alan Broadwin

Robert W Hornlein

Richard P Dickerson

A method and apparatus for treating a nasal valve condition including surgically forming an access path to create a pocket on a side of the patient's nose. The pocket is positioned between a soft tissue layer and opposing surfaces of upper and lower cartilages of the nose. The pocket spans a junction between the upper and lower cartilages. An implant is placed through the access path into the pocket with a length oriented to span the junction. A delivery system for placement of the implant includes a surgical tool for forming the access path and for delivering the implant into the access path.

Nasal valve treatment method and apparatus

A method and apparatus for treating a condition of a patient's airway includes identifying a patient with obstructive sleep apnea and identifying a muscle of a tongue of the patient. A first brace is implanted within the tongue at a first implant location near the top of the tongue. A second brace is implanted within the tongue at a second implant location below the upper location. The first and second braces are connected to compress the muscle group.

Implant for tongue

An electrosurgical cord adapter assembly designed for use in conjunction with an electrosurgerical device includes an electrically connecting portion for receiving and electrically connecting an electrical pin of the electrosurgical device and an electrical cord, and an insulating boot with two opposing lateral sides integrally formed with the electrically connecting portion and having a closed back end and an open front end. The boot is designed to cover electrically conductive parts on a handle assembly or surgeon-manipulable portion of the electrosurgical device. Alternatively, the electrical cord can be integrally formed with the electrically connecting portion.

Electrosurgical cord and adapter assemblies

An apparatus having a vibratable tip for ultrasonically disintegrating tissue in a surgical procedure and for aspirating the disintegrated tissue and fluids away from the surgical site through an opening in the tip. A connection to an electrosurgical unit provides for delivery of RF cutting current, RF coagulating current or a blend thereof to the tip so that electrosurgical procedures can be conducted separately or simultaneously with ultrasonic aspiration through the tip. It thus is now possible, for example, to electrocauterize simultaneously with ultrasonic fragmentation with a single handheld surgical device. The simultaneous delivery of ultrasonic vibrations and RF current to the tip also has been found to increase the tissue fragmentation rate.

Growing community of inventors

Oxford, CT, United States of America

Charles Vassallo