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:
Feb. 08, 2011
Filed:
Feb. 15, 2006
Nikhil D. Bhat, Fremont, CA (US);
Anant V. Hegde, Neward, CA (US);
George Yoseung Choi, Redwood City, CA (US);
Nikhil D. Bhat, Fremont, CA (US);
Anant V. Hegde, Neward, CA (US);
George Yoseung Choi, Redwood City, CA (US);
Pavad Medical, Inc., Freemont, CA (US);
Abstract
An airway implant device for maintaining and/or creating an opening in air passageways is disclosed. Methods of using the device are also disclosed. The airway implant device comprises a deformable element to control the opening of an air passageway. Preferably the deformable element is an electroactive polymer element. Energizing of the electroactive polymer element provides support for the walls of an air passageway, when the walls collapse, and thus, completely or partially opens the air passageway. Some embodiments of the invention include a sensor capable of sensing the possible occurrence of an apneic event and activating the deformable element of the airway implant device. Methods of treating airway disorders such as sleep apnea and snoring with the airway implant device are disclosed herein.