Patent ID: 7237554

Claim:
A method for treating a condition of a patient's airway wherein the condition is attributed at least in part to a spacing of a base of a tongue from opposing pharyngeal wall surfaces in the airway; the method comprising: placing a tissue contractor within the tongue of the patient, the contractor including a tissue-engaging end connected to a member; the tissue-engaging end formed of a tissue growth inducing material to induce tissue in-growth into the tissue-engaging end following implantation in the tongue; the placing including placing the tissue-engaging end within an interior of said tongue near the base of the tongue and with the member extending from the tissue engaging end to an end near a jaw bone of the patient; anchoring the end of the member to the jaw bone for the member to resist movement of the tissue-engaging member away from the jaw bone; and wherein the anchoring is performed after at least partially securing the tissue-engaging end to the tissue.