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:
Jun. 11, 2013
Filed:
Mar. 31, 2011
Erik Van Der Burg, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Peter Martin, Mountain View, CA (US);
Chris Feezor, San Jose, CA (US);
Mark Hirotsuka, San Jose, CA (US);
Jasper Jackson, Newark, CA (US);
Christopher T. Cheng, Los Altos, CA (US);
Michael Kolber, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Adam H. Liston, Davis, CA (US);
Erik van der Burg, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Peter Martin, Mountain View, CA (US);
Chris Feezor, San Jose, CA (US);
Mark Hirotsuka, San Jose, CA (US);
Jasper Jackson, Newark, CA (US);
Christopher T. Cheng, Los Altos, CA (US);
Michael Kolber, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Adam H. Liston, Davis, CA (US);
Siesta Medical, Inc., Los Gatos, CA (US);
Abstract
Suture passer systems for tissue suspension and tissue compression, and more particularly for tongue suspension, are described. The system can include at least a first elongate tubular body or shaft, a needle having a lateral bias carried by the elongate body, and a retrieval element operably connected to the elongate tubular body. The needle can have a substantially straight configuration when located within the elongate tubular body, and be configured to exit an opening at or near a distal end of the elongate tubular body and assume a laterally biased or curved shape to form a path through tissue. The needle is configured to carry a suture. The retrieval element can be configured to retrieve the suture carried by the needle after the needle has formed a curved or otherwise angled path through tissue. The system can also include one or more bone anchors to secure the suture loops. Methods of placing one or more suture loops into tissue, such as the base of the tongue, are also described.