Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Abbott Laboratories Corporation

Joseph Francis Paraschac

Lionel M Nelson

Scott A McIntosh

Ryan Boucher

Edward M Gillis

Scott Anthony McGill

Andres D Tomas

Andrew W Kramer

Scott A McGILL

Ryan P Boucher

Devices and methods for securing a pair of suture lengths together or for using a single strand of suture to secure tissue(s) together at an operative site in a patient without necessarily tying a knot. The suture lock device includes a suturing securing device having an outer body member having a lumen extending therethrough. The lumen defines a suture path through the outer body. An inner wedge member is axially insertable into the outer body member to secure a portion of a suture between the wedge and the interior surface of the lock member. An outer tube has a proximal end and a distal end. The outer tube carries the outer body member at the distal end of the outer tube. The outer tube carries the wedge proximal to the outer body member.

Suture locking device and methods

At least one implant structure is sized and configured for implantation in, on, or near an extrinsic muscle region affecting movement and/or shape of a tongue, e.g., a genioglossus muscle. The position of the implant structure is stabilized relative to the extrinsic muscle region to maintain the tongue in a desired orientation, e.g., to maintain patency of an airway.

Implantable devices, systems, and methods for maintaining desired orientations in targeted tissue regions

Systems and methods resist posterior movement of both the tongue and the soft palate/uvula during sleep, thereby keeping an airway open. The systems and methods employ first, second, and third structures. The first structure is sized and configured for placement in or on a tongue. The second structure is sized and configured for placement in or on a region of a soft palate or uvula. The third structure is sized and configured for placement in or on tissue in a desired relationship. anterior of the first and second structures. The first and second structures each includes a ferromagnetic material. The third structure includes a magnetic material that magnetically interacts with both the first and second ferromagnetic materials by attracting both the first and second ferromagnetic materials, thereby resisting posterior movement of both the tongue and the soft palate/uvula.

Devices, systems and methods using magnetic force systems affecting both the tongue and the soft palate/uvula in the upper airway

The present invention relates to devices and methods for securing a pair of suture lengths together or for using a single strand of suture to secure tissue(s) together at an operative site in a patient without necessarily tying a knot. The suture lock device may include a suturing securing device having an outer body member having a lumen extending therethrough, the lumen defining a suture path through the outer body, an inner wedge member axially insertable into the outer body member to secure a portion of a suture between the wedge and the interior surface of the lock member, an outer tube carrying the outer body member at the distal end of the outer tube, the outer tube carrying the wedge proximal to the outer body member, and a pusher member slidable within the outer tube to push the wedge into the lock member.

At least one elongated body is sized and configured for implantation in a desired orientation in a tissue region in an airway. An array of projections extends from the elongated body and is resiliently coupled to the elongated body. The array or projections is in a normally biased outward extending condition sized and configured to engage tissue and resist a reorientation of the elongated body within the tissue region out of the desired orientation after implantation of the elongated body in the tissue region. The array of projections is sized and configured to resiliently yield by flexing inward against the elongated body during implantation of the elongated body in the tissue region.

At least one elongated body is sized and configured for implantation in a desired orientation in an epiglottis and/or in a muscle along an upper respiratory tract. An array of projections extends from the elongated body, which is sized and configured to engage tissue and resist a reorientation of the elongated body within the tissue region out of the desired orientation.

An electrosurgical hemostatic instrument is provided in which the coagulation status of tissue engaged by two elements delivering an electrosurgical energy to tissue may be observed, and in which damage from thermal spread may be minimized. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a bipolar endoscopic clamping, coagulation and cutting device. In this device, the outer conductive surface of the tissue engaging elements is substantially covered by an insulative coating which confines current flow to the clamped tissue and limited regions around the tissue engaging elements. Coagulation may be observed by watching the region around the tissue engaging elements. Coagulation around the tissue engaging elements may be controlled by selectively coating the outside of the elements with insulation to control current flow from the surface of the engaging elements.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Joseph Francis Paraschac