Patent ID: 6601584
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A method for treating snoring of a patient attributable at least in part to motion of a soft palate of the patient, the method comprising:selecting an implant having dimensions including a longitudinal length, a width and a thickness, said material sized to be inserted into said soft palate with said longitudinal length extending aligned with an anterior-posterior axis of said soft palate and with a thickness of said implant contained within a thickness of said soft palate, a tissue growth-inducing material having a plurality of spaces for accepting tissue growth from said soft palate into said spaces, said material selected to contract in at least one of said dimensions in response to implantation; inserting said implant into said soft palate with said longitudinal length extending aligned with an anterior-posterior axis of said soft palate and with said thickness contained within said thickness of said soft palate; permitting tissue in-growth into said material followed by contraction of said material to contract said palate in at least one dimension.