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:
Sep. 20, 2011
Filed:
Nov. 03, 2006
Joe Paraschac, San Jose, CA (US);
Ryan P. Boucher, San Francisco, CA (US);
Edward M. Gillis, San Jose, CA (US);
Octavian Iancea, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Andrew W. Kramer, San Jose, CA (US);
Brian K. Mccollum, Redwood City, CA (US);
Scott A. Mcgill, San Ramon, CA (US);
Lionel M. Nelson, Los Altos, CA (US);
Andres D. Tomas, Union City, CA (US);
Joe Paraschac, San Jose, CA (US);
Ryan P. Boucher, San Francisco, CA (US);
Edward M. Gillis, San Jose, CA (US);
Octavian Iancea, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Andrew W. Kramer, San Jose, CA (US);
Brian K. McCollum, Redwood City, CA (US);
Scott A. McGill, San Ramon, CA (US);
Lionel M. Nelson, Los Altos, CA (US);
Andres D. Tomas, Union City, CA (US);
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Eindhoven, NL;
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for resisting posterior movement of the tongue during sleep, thereby keeping an airway open. The systems and methods employ a first structure that can be placed either in or on a tongue within an oral cavity and/or in a region of hyoid muscle. The first structure includes a ferromagnetic material. The systems and methods employ a second structure that can be placed either in or on external tissue outside the oral cavity and/or in or on external tissue outside the oral cavity in a desired relationship with the first structure. The second structure includes a magnetic material that magnetically interacts with the ferromagnetic material by attracting the ferromagnetic material, thereby resisting posterior movement of the tongue.