The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 09, 1999
Filed:
Apr. 22, 1996
George J Magovern, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An apparatus and method for reversibly modifying the shape of a selected portion of the body such as the pharynx, to produce a desired result, for example, to overcome obstructive sleep apnea by urging open the pharynx. The apparatus includes a preconfigured structure having a shape-memory with an activated shape and a quiescent shape. The preconfigured structure is shaped to conform to the selected portion of the body. The shape-memory is responsive to activation energy and urges the preconfigured structure from the quiescent shape to the activated shape. Furthermore, the activated shape of the preconfigured structure exerts a force on the selected portion, thereby modifying the shape of the selected portion. The preconfigured structure can be attached to an exterior surface of, or can be implanted within the body proximate to, the selected portion of the body. The apparatus can include an energy source coupled to the preconfigured structure for providing the activation energy, responsive to a predetermined stimulus and can be attached external to, or implanted within, the body. The invention also provides a method for reversibly modifying the shape of a selected portion of a body. The method includes attaching a preconfigured shape-memory structure to the selected portion of the body; and applying the activation energy to the preconfigured structure with an energy source, thereby the preconfigured shape-memory structure from the quiescent shape to the activated shape.
Data source: USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) public patent records. Weekly synchronization. How IDiyas builds this profile