Patent ID: 8678008

Claim:
A system for treating obstructive sleep apnea comprising: an elongated conduit adapted to be implanted beneath a pharyngeal wall of a pharynx; said elongated conduit having a proximal end adapted to be in communication with a first region of the pharynx and a distal end adapted to be in communication with a second region of the pharynx, wherein a section of said elongated conduit is adapted to extend beneath the pharyngeal wall for bypassing an oropharynx region of the pharynx, and wherein said elongated conduit includes a central lumen defining an inner surface extending along the length of said elongated conduit between the proximal and distal ends thereof; and a mandrel insertable within the central lumen of said elongated conduit, said mandrel having an outer surface that contacts the inner surface of the central lumen of said elongated conduit along the length of said elongated conduit for supporting said elongated conduit when implanted beneath the pharyngeal wall, wherein said mandrel has a length that is greater than or equal to the length of said elongated conduit, and wherein the entire length of said elongated conduit is directly supported by said mandrel via contact between the outer surface of said mandrel and the inner surface of the central lumen of said elongated conduit.