Patent ID: 8316856

Claim:
An implant system comprising a first magnetically interactive material sized and configured for placement on a tongue in an airway, a second magnetically interactive material sized and configured for placement in or on tissue outside the airway in a desired relationship with the tongue, the first and second materials magnetically interacting to stabilize a preferred orientation of the tongue, at least one stud, and a flexible backing, wherein the first magnetically interactive material is a magnetically interactive plate sized and configured to be affixed to an anterior external surface of an epiglottis by said at least one stud, which is sized and configured to pass through said epiglottis, and by said flexible backing, which is sized and configured to engage a posterior external surface of said epiglottis opposite said anterior external surface, and wherein the magnetically interactive plate is structured to place pressure on a base of the tongue in the airway.