Patent ID: 9265489
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: A61B,A61F

Claim Text:
1. A device for opening a passageway of a patient, the device comprising: a base plate configured to attach to an anterior ring of the patient's cricoid cartilage, and articulate with the patient's cricoid cartilage after attachment thereto; and a post extending from said base plate in an anterior direction, the post being of a sufficient length to protrude through a patient's skin when the base plate is attached to the anterior ring of the patient's cricoid cartilage, the post being further configured with a proximal end to impart a pulling force to the base plate to move the base plate and attached cricoid cartilage and thereby affect opening of the upper sphincter of the esophagus, wherein the base plate and post are non-magnetic, and wherein the base plate is formed to curve away from the post towards a posterior direction such that the base plate has a concave posterior facing surface, wherein the post comprises a first post portion and a second post portion, wherein a distal end of the first post portion is affixed to the base plate and wherein a proximal end of the first post portion is configured to detachably couple to the second post portion.