Patent ID: 8864788
Filing Date: 2014-10-21
Classification: A61F,A61M

Abstract:
1. An expander device that treats a patient's pharyngeal airway, the expander device comprising: a spacer bar having first and second free ends; supports located at each of the first and second free ends of the spacer bar; and compression pads provided on the supports, the spacer bar, the supports, and the pads being dimensioned so as to be inserted into the patient's pharyngeal airway such that the compression pads are positioned within the airway in opposition to an external portion of a pharyngeal wall of the airway, wherein the compression pads expand against the external portion of the pharyngeal wall when activated to outwardly displace the external portion of the pharyngeal wall, wherein the compression pads contract from the external portion of the pharyngeal wall when deactivated to permit removal of the spacer bar, the support, and the pads from the airway after treatment of the pharyngeal wall of the patient's pharyngeal airway, and wherein the pads included inflatable bladders.