Patent ID: 7669603

Claim:
A method for treating sleep apnea by treating a pharyngeal airway having a pharyngeal wall of a patient at least partially surrounding and defining said airway, said method comprising; identifying a patient with sleep apnea; inserting an expander member into said airway and positioning an active portion of said expander member in an interior of said airway of said patient and external to a tissue of said pharyngeal wall and in opposition to an airway-defining tissue of portions of said wall to be treated; activating said expander member to urge against said airway-defining tissue of said portions to urge said portions outwardly to an outwardly displaced position; treating said portions to retain said portions in said outwardly displaced position following deactivation of said expander member for a time sufficient to treat obstructive sleep apnea; deactivating said expander member while leaving said portions in said outwardly placed position; and removing said expander member from said airway.