Vidamed, Inc.

Rita Medical Systems, Inc.

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Mederi Therapeutics, Inc.

Zomed International

Apneon, Inc.

Other

Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc.

Curon Medical, Inc.

Neomend, Inc.

Medtronic Vidamed, Inc.

Oratec Interventions, Inc.

Advanced Closure Systems, Inc.

Csm Patents, Inc.

Dorsal Orthopedic Corporation

Ronald G Lax

Stuart D Edwards

Hugh R Sharkey

Ingemar H Lundquist

James Allen Baker, Jr

Eric N Doelling

Lionel M Nelson

David S Utley

Bruno Strul

Theodore R Kucklick

Ryan Boucher

Peter H Muller

Jinfang Liu

Michael Lawrence Reo

Theodore L Parker

Thomas C Wehman

John W Gaiser

Arye Rosen

Phillip R Sommer

Gary S Fanton

Eugene V Skalnyi

James A Baker, Jr

Allan R Will

Paul Walinsky

Larry L Ringle

Scott H West

Roger Alan Stern

Robin B Bek

Edward M Gillis

Craig A Purdy

Joe Paraschac

David Douglass

Jay Chin

A sphincter treatment apparatus includes an energy delivery device introduction member including a proximal end with a first radius of curvature and a distal end with a second radius of curvature. The introduction member is configured to be introduced into the sphincter in a non-deployed state and to be expanded to a deployed state to at least partially expand the sphincter or an adjoining structure. An energy delivery device is coupled to the introduction member. A retainer member is coupled to the energy delivery device introduction member and configured to controllably position the introduction member in an orifice of the sphincter.

Sphincter treatment apparatus

An apparatus to treat a sphincter has a support member. A sphincter electropotential mapping device includes a mapping electrode. The sphincter electropotential mapping device is coupled to the support member and configured to detect aberrant myoelectric activity of the sphincter.

Apparatus to detect and treat aberrant myoelectric activity

Devices, systems and methods develop static and/or kinetic and/or pressure forces to fixate or brace tissue in targeted pharyngeal structures and individual anatomic components within the pharyngeal conduit.

Devices, systems, and methods to fixate tissue within the regions of body, such as the pharyngeal conduit

Magnetic structures develop a magnetic force between a tongue and a posterior pharyngeal wall to stabilize an orientation of the tongue.

Devices, systems and methods using magnetic force systems in the tongue

A method for treating a sphincter provides a polymer material having a liquid state. The method also provides a catheter having a distal end, a tissue piercing device carried by the distal end, and an energy delivery device coupled to the tissue piercing device. The tissue piercing device has a lumen. The method introduces the catheter into an esophagus and pierces an exterior sphincter tissue surface within with the tissue piercing device. The method advances the tissue piercing device into an interior sphincter tissue site and conveys the polymer material while in a liquid state through the lumen into the interior sphincter tissue site. The method delivers energy to the tissue piercing device to transform the polymer material into a less liquid state within the interior sphincter tissue site, to thereby remodel the sphincter.

Method for treating a sphincter

Systems and methods place a first magnetically interactive material in or on a tongue in an airway. The systems and methods place a second magnetically interactive material in or on tissue in a desired relationship with the tongue. The first and second materials magnetically interact to stabilize a preferred orientation of the tongue.

Systems and methods for moving and/or restraining tissue in the upper respiratory system

Systems and methods introduce a closure material to seal a vessel puncture site. The system and methods provide a catheter adapted for passage through a tissue puncture and sized to occupy substantially all the tissue puncture. The catheter includes a lumen in fluid communication with a fluid delivery port adjacent the catheter distal end. One or more dispensers are in fluid communication with the catheter lumen for dispensing first and second fluid compositions in the catheter lumen. An actuator causes the first and second fluid compositions to be dispensed from the dispensers and mixed by flowing the first and second fluid compositions through a static mixer. The first and second fluid compositions are dispensed from the fluid delivery port as a fluid mixture that reacts in situ to form a nonfluent closure composition adjacent the vessel puncture site.

Systems and methods for sealing a vascular puncture

Devices, systems and methods employ magnetic force to resist tissue collapse in targeted pharyngeal structures and individual anatomic components within the pharyngeal conduit during sleep.

Magnetic force devices, systems, and methods for resisting tissue collapse within the pharyngeal conduit

Systems and methods selectively stabilize tissue in the oral cavity. The systems and methods provide a first material sized and configured to be fitted to less mobile tissue in the oral cavity, e.g., the roof of the mouth or upper/lower teeth. The systems and methods provide a second material sized and configured to be releasably fitted to more mobile tissue in the oral cavity, e.g., a region of the tongue. The second material is magnetically attracted toward the first material to stabilize a preferred tissue orientation. During sleep, the systems and methods restrain movement of the more mobile tissue within the oral cavity toward positions in which snoring and/or sleep apnea events can occur, but are capable of otherwise leaving the tongue unaffected during waking hours.

Magnetic force device, systems, and methods for resisting tissue collapse within the pharyngeal conduit

Growing community of inventors

Grass Valley, CA, United States of America

Ronald G Lax