Patent ID: 9326886
Filing Date: 2016-05-03
CPC Classification: A61B,A61F

Claim Text:
1. An implant for treating obstructive sleep apnea comprising: a first chamber implantable within soft tissue of an oropharyngeal airway; a second chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber; a fluid transfer assembly in fluid communication with said first and second chambers for transferring fluid between said first and second chambers for modifying the rigidity of said first chamber, wherein said fluid transfer assembly adapted to be is squeezed for drawing fluid from said second chamber and introducing said drawn fluid into said first chamber, wherein said first chamber comprises a flexible chamber and said second chamber comprises an expandable fluid reservoir, and wherein said first chamber becomes more rigid and said expandable fluid reservoir shrinks as said fluid transfer assembly draws said fluid from said second chamber and introduces said fluid into said first chamber, and wherein said first chamber becomes less rigid and said second expandable fluid reservoir expands as said fluid transfer assembly removes said fluid from said first chamber and returns said fluid back to said second chamber.