US20050274387A1 - Method and apparatus for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea Download PDF

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Publication number
US20050274387A1
US20050274387A1 US11/102,314 US10231405A US2005274387A1 US 20050274387 A1 US20050274387 A1 US 20050274387A1 US 10231405 A US10231405 A US 10231405A US 2005274387 A1 US2005274387 A1 US 2005274387A1
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Prior art keywords
support member
human
skin
snoring
neck
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Abandoned
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US11/102,314
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English (en)
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John Macken
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Individual
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Individual
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Priority claimed from US10/866,058 external-priority patent/US20050274386A1/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US11/102,314 priority Critical patent/US20050274387A1/en
Priority to CA002509123A priority patent/CA2509123A1/en
Priority to EP05253550A priority patent/EP1604625A1/en
Priority to JP2005171152A priority patent/JP2005349210A/ja
Publication of US20050274387A1 publication Critical patent/US20050274387A1/en
Priority to US11/761,337 priority patent/US20070221231A1/en
Priority to US12/172,132 priority patent/US7793661B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F5/00—Orthopaedic methods or devices for non-surgical treatment of bones or joints; Nursing devices ; Anti-rape devices
    • A61F5/56—Devices for preventing snoring

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  • the present invention relates generally to health and medical devices, and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus for the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea.
  • the method and apparatus for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea of this invention provides a mechanical means to exert a predetermined force on a predetermined area of the neck, causing this area of the neck to expand outward from its normal position. This expansion opens a blockage in the throat of a sleeping person, thereby eliminating snoring and helping some people with obstructive sleep apnea.
  • the mechanical means includes adhesive patches, mechanical clips and magnetic implants which receive a pulling force from an external means.
  • the present invention describes how humans have multiple responsive points within a specific area of the neck (hereafter called the “throat stimulation area”) that exhibit the ability to stimulate the throat in such a way as to open the blockage in the air passage of a sleeping person.
  • This eliminates snoring and sleep apnea in some people.
  • the surface of the skin in at least a portion of the throat stimulation area must be pulled so that the surface of the skin is extended by at least 2.5 mm beyond the normal position.
  • the invention provides an attachment device, such as an adhesive coated patch, that attaches to the skin within the throat stimulation area and preferably over a responsive point. Pulling on this patch (or other attachment device) expands the skin and maintains an open-air passage in a sleeping person. The snoring sound is reduced or eliminated and even some people with obstructive sleep apnea can have their breathing passage opened by this invention.
  • adhesive patches are attached to the skin to cover two responsive points along the left and right edges of the trachea.
  • the pulling force to expand these areas is generated by a separate springy connector that pulls both patches apart with a predetermined force.
  • Other adhesive based embodiments are also disclosed such as an elastic bridge and a cantilevered patch. Additional embodiments include clips that physically grab and pull a portion of the skin and magnetic implants which can be externally pulled to expand the surface of the skin.
  • a further object or feature of the present invention is a new and improved anti-snoring device, which is comfortable in use.
  • An even further object of the present invention is to provide a novel anti-snoring device that expands a portion of the user's neck to facilitate breathing.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a human to illustrate the portion of the neck containing the throat stimulation area and responsive points;
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a human wearing the preferred embodiment of anti-snoring device; a dual adhesive patch with a bow type elastic connector;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bow type elastic connector depicted in FIG. 2 ;
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of one of the adhesive patches depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 ;
  • FIG. 5 is a side view in elevation of the adhesive patch depicted in FIG. 4 showing its coupling relationship to the elastic connector device depicted in FIG. 3 ;
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bridge type anti-snoring device attached parallel to the jawbone;
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bridge type anti-snoring device attached perpendicular to the jawbone;
  • FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the bridge type anti-snoring device depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7 ;
  • FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the bridge type anti-snoring device depicted in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 ;
  • FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a bridge type anti-snoring device constructed with soft support pads
  • FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a cantilever type embodiment of an anti-snoring device of this invention.
  • FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the cantilever type anti-snoring device depicted in FIG. 11 ;
  • FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an elastic connector in a tension pulling on an adhesive patch anti-snoring device
  • FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a clip type anti-snoring device.
  • FIG. 15 is a perspective view of magnetic implants and an elastic connector with magnetic means for pulling on the implants.
  • FIGS. 1 through 15 wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved anti-snoring device.
  • FIG. 1 shows a human 20 with a neck 24 .
  • the lower edge of the jawbone is 21 (hereafter called the “jawbone line”).
  • the left end of the jawbone is 21 L.
  • Within the throat stimulation area there are several points collectively designated as 27 that will be called “responsive points”.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates responsive points 27 A, B, C, E and F that are on the left side of the neck. Each of these points has a comparable point on the right side of the neck, but points on the right side are not illustrated here for simplicity.
  • Point 27 G is in the center of the neck, so there are a total of 11 responsive points (including 5 points on the right not illustrated).
  • Responsive points 27 A, 27 B and 27 C all are located about 1.5 cm below the jawbone line 21 .
  • Responsive point 27 E is located along the left edge of the trachea (windpipe) and about 3 cm below the jawbone line 21 . Point 27 E is most easily located because it is very near the portion of the neck where the carotid artery produces a strong pulse.
  • Point 27 F is also along the left edge of the trachea and about 3 cm below point 27 E.
  • Point 27 G is located on the center of the trachea. Not all the responsive points work the same way and these differences will be discussed later. Points 27 E (left and right side) are believed to be the most important of the 11 responsive points.
  • Throat stimulation area 22 in FIG. 1 encompasses all the responsive points.
  • This throat stimulation area is “T” shaped and the top of the “T” extends from the left end of the jawbone 22 L to the right end of the jawbone (not shown). This top portion of the “T” extends about 3 cm below the jawbone line 21 .
  • the vertical portion of the “T” includes the trachea and extends about 1.5 cm beyond the left and right edge of the trachea.
  • the amount of force required to stop the simulated snoring depended on whether the head was tilted forward or back and also depended on the degree of opening between the lower and upper jaw.
  • the simulated snoring sound stopped for a specific head position when the pulling force reached 0.25 Newton (about 25 gram force).
  • This 120 Pascal pressure reduction is the exact opposite of the 120 Pascal pressure increase sometimes used by CPAP machines to open a blocked air passage.
  • This pressure similarity might not be a coincidence since the internal pressure exerted by CPAP machines also expands the portion of the neck covered by the patch. It is possible that some of the benefit of CPAP machines is the result of expanding this area. In any case, it appears that in some people, lowering the pressure on just the outside surface of the neck has a similar beneficial effect to raising the internal pressure on the entire respiratory system.
  • FIGS. 2 through 5 taken together, show the preferred embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows a human, 20 , with two adhesive anti-snoring patches, 30 J and 30 JJ. These two patches are attached together by an elastic connector, 37 J that will be called either a “bow connector” or an “elastic connector in compression”.
  • the bow connector attempts to separate 30 J and 30 JJ and provides the required pulling force on each patch.
  • the patches 30 J and 30 JJ are illustrated as being placed over previously described responsive points 27 E (left and right). When this placement is used, successful results have been obtained when the bow connector has a pulling force of 0.36 Newton (37 gram force).
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the flexibility of the bow connector, 37 J.
  • the solid line drawing shows bow connector 37 J when no force is being exerted.
  • bow connector 37 J is a springy material and can elastically bent (compressed) into the position shown by the dashed line drawing in FIG. 3 .
  • Successful tests have used strips of either 0.75 mm or 0.62 mm thick polycarbonate plastic for bow connector, 37 J.
  • FIGS. 3, 4 , and 5 illustrate the preferred method of attaching (coupling) the bow connector 37 J with patches 30 J and 30 JJ. It is desirable that the patches can be oriented at different angles to accommodate different size people. This calls for a coupling means that has the characteristic of a ball joint. Another desirable characteristic is the ability to easily attach and remove the patches from the flexible bow connector.
  • FIG. 5 shows a spherical magnet 41 J attached to bow connector 37 J by glue 49 .
  • the letter “N” represents the north pole of the magnet. This implies that the magnetic axis is pointing out of the page.
  • This magnetic orientation means that the spherical magnet 41 J will be drawn towards a hole 48 in the steel disk 31 K.
  • the diameter of hole 48 is optimally slightly smaller than the diameter of the spherical magnet.
  • the size of bow connector, 37 F was adjusted so that it exerted a 0.33 Newton pulling force (about 34 gram force) on patches 31 J and 31 JJ. This force was sufficient to open the blocked air passage for a person who suffers from obstructive sleep apnea. Less force may be required for a person with just a snoring problem.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 taken together, show details of the construction of patches 30 J and 30 JJ. The thicknesses of components in FIG. 5 are exaggerated for clarity.
  • 31 J and 34 J together are a piece of tape.
  • 34 J is the adhesive side of the tape and 31 J is the carrier or support member for the adhesive.
  • 31 JJ and 34 JJ are another piece of tape.
  • 31 K is another type of support member for the adhesive 34 J.
  • 31 K is a steel disk with a hole 48 .
  • the steel disk 31 K provides the desired stiffness and area so that the experimentally determined optimum area is skin is expanded by the pulling action of the connector.
  • the adhesive could have been applied directly to disk 31 K, but it has been experimentally determined that the best adhesion and comfort occurs when the support for the adhesive has both a stiff component 31 K and a flexible component (the portion of 31 J that extends beyond the edge of 31 K).
  • FIG. 9 illustrates the device after the release liner has been removed.
  • 31 J and 34 J together were a piece of tape, 25 mm ⁇ 25 mm ⁇ 0.8 mm thick.
  • Ferromagnetic material 31 K was a 0.75 mm thick steel washer, 16 mm outer diameter and 5.6 mm inner diameter. This steel washer was attached to tape 31 J.
  • the spherical magnet 41 J was 6.35 mm ( 1/4 inch) in diameter and made from the rare earth magnetic material known as NdFeB.
  • the patches 30 J and 30 JJ were attached to the test subject as shown in FIG. 1 . The diamond orientation of the square patches was used because this minimized skin irritation. The patches were applied over points 27 E previously described in FIG. 1 .
  • the bow coupler 37 J was then attached using the magnets previously described.
  • test subject normally sleeps with his jaw completely closed (teeth contacting), and if the blockage is strong, then it is advisable for the subject to also wear a commercially available dental spacer to slightly separate the teeth.
  • This is a plastic device that fits over the front two teeth and is usually used to prevent grinding of the teeth.
  • This device is completely different from oral anti-snoring devices that cause the jaw to jut forward unnaturally. Those oral anti-snoring devices are uncomfortable, and can shift the position of teeth.
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 show a bridge type neck patch type anti-snoring device, 30 A, attached to a human, 20 .
  • This device is used to expand one or more of responsive points 27 A, B, C or E described in FIG. 1 .
  • the orientation of 30 A is generally parallel to the jaw line 21 and in FIG. 7 the orientation is generally perpendicular to 21 .
  • device 30 A consists of a support member 31 A and an adhesive layer.
  • the adhesive not visible in FIG. 6 or 7 , is attached to the skin covering at least a portion of the previously designated throat stimulation area.
  • Pads 33 A and 33 AA push on the skin in the vicinity of the jawbone line 21 in FIG. 6 .
  • pad 33 A pushes on the jawbone 21 and pad 33 AA pushes on a portion of the neck 24 .
  • FIGS. 8 and 9 taken together, show the bridge type anti-snoring device, 30 A, of FIGS. 6 and 7 .
  • Support member, 31 A has an adhesive coating, 34 A, on it's inside surface.
  • This adhesive can be either double coated tape or an adhesive coating directly on member, 31 A.
  • FIG. 9 shows an embodiment where adhesive, 34 A, is double coated tape. This double-coated tape preferably extends beyond two edges of the support member, 31 A as seen in FIG. 8 .
  • FIG. 9 also shows a release liner, 35 A, on the surface of adhesive, 34 A. Normally, this release liner would be present before the neck patch anti-snoring device is used. Just prior to application, the user would peel off liner, 35 A, exposing the adhesive surface, 34 A. The remainder of the discussion of FIG. 9 will presume that the release liner, 35 A, has been removed.
  • FIG. 9 shows this flexibility.
  • Support member, 31 A would have the shape shown by the solid line drawing in FIG. 9 , when there is no force bending this support member. However, pushing on 31 A can cause it to flatten as shown by the dashed line, 31 AA, in FIG. 9 .
  • the member, 31 A in FIG. 9 attempts to spring back to the solid line drawing in FIG. 9 .
  • the flexible support member 31 A can only partly spring back to the starting shape of member 31 A in FIG. 9 . This exerts a predetermined pulling force on the skin that is being adhered to the adhesive, 34 A. This pulling force expands the throat stimulation area and causes the skin of the throat stimulation area to protrude beyond its normal position by at least 2.5 mm.
  • the predetermined pulling force exerted by the flexible support member reduces the height of the arch to considerably less than the arch shown in FIG. 9 .
  • This intentional flexing also straightens out the pressure surfaces, 33 A and 33 AA, in FIG. 9 so that they press approximately flat on the skin over the jawbone.
  • the support member be flexible since the skin is flexible and it is possible to apply even a rigid neck patch anti-snoring device by deforming the skin sufficiently during application.
  • a springy material such as springy plastic, metal, rubber or urethane for support member, 31 A.
  • FIGS. 8 and 9 One successful device had the shape shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 .
  • This device had support member 31 A made of 0.5 mm thick polycarbonate plastic, with dimensions of 7 cm ⁇ 2.8 cm and an unloaded arch height of about 2 cm.
  • the tape, 34 A extended about 6 mm beyond the top and bottom edge of the plastic.
  • the optimum arch height varies with individuals and depends on factors such as the tightness of the skin and the degree of air passage blockage.
  • FIG. 9 the ends of support member, 31 A, are shown as being somewhat flattened and the flattened surfaces are designated 33 A and 33 AA. These will be designated as “pressure surfaces”. Most of the pushing force counteracting the pulling action of the adhesive is transmitted through these pressure surfaces. It is not necessary for them to be flattened, but this is desirable to distribute the pushing force and prevent irritation of the skin.
  • the adhesive area, 34 A is shown extending beyond the edges of support member, 31 A, but not extending over the entire width of the support member, 31 A. This partial width coverage is easier to illustrate and seems to work well.
  • the adhesive, 34 A is depicted as being double coated adhesive tape since it extends beyond the edge of member, 31 A. This adhesive extension is desirable, but not necessary. Extending the tape, beyond the edge of member, 31 A, helps the adhesion of the tape to the skin.
  • FIG. 8 also shows the preferred placement of the anti-snoring device, 30 A, relative to the jawbone line, 21 , and the left end of the jawbone, 21 L. It can be seen that dashed line, 21 , (representing the lower edge of the jawbone) is not centered on device, 30 A. Also, pressure surface, 33 AA, is near the left end of the jawbone, 21 L. This positioning centers part of the arch over one or more of the throat stimulation areas 27 in the throat stimulation area 22 in FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 10 shows another bridge type anti-snoring device, 30 B, which is similar to device 30 A illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 .
  • the support member is designated 31 B
  • the adhesive surface is 34 B
  • the pressure surfaces are 33 B and 33 BB.
  • the adhesive, 34 B is illustrated thicker than normal for clarity.
  • support member, 31 B is shown as a generally flat material, but curved shapes are also possible.
  • Member, 31 B can be either flexible or rigid.
  • the key point in this embodiment is that soft pads, 36 B and 36 BB, have been added to member, 31 B. These pads can be made of any suitable material, but the preferred material is foam rubber or foam urethane.
  • the outer surfaces of these pads form the pressure surfaces, 33 B and 33 BB. These pads can also be removable or applied after the adhesive is attached to the skin.
  • FIG. 10 The design depicted in FIG. 10 is shown with a similar projected shape to the design in FIG. 8 .
  • the design in FIG. 10 could also be positioned as shown in FIG. 6 or 7 .
  • the size and position of both the soft pads and the support member can be modified in any way to accomplish the goal of expanding the throat stimulation area beyond its normal position.
  • soft pads can be substituted for contours in the shape of the support member, 31 , in any figure.
  • bridge type anti-snoring device is used to describe the devices in FIGS. 6 through 9 . This is because the characteristic of a bridge type anti-snoring device is to have a central region positioned above a portion of the throat stimulation area, and between two or more supports.
  • the device depicted in FIGS. 6 , through 9 has an arch shape, while the device depicted in FIG. 10 is planar. However, both devices have the characteristics of a bridge. Other bridging shapes are also possible.
  • FIGS. 11 and 12 taken together, illustrate a cantilever type anti-snoring device, 30 C.
  • a cantilever type anti-snoring device applies a pulling force on the desired region of the throat stimulation area by pushing on the jawbone and pulling on the cheek.
  • FIGS. 11 and 12 there is a support member 31 C, and an adhesive 34 C.
  • This device is illustrated as being bent with fold lines, 38 C and 39 C.
  • the structural material made out of 0.5 mm or 0.75 mm thick polycarbonate plastic. When applied to a person, this flexible material straightens out somewhat compared to the amount of bend illustrated in FIG. 12 .
  • FIG. 11 shows the proper positioning of the anti-snoring device, 30 C, relative to jawbone line, 21 .
  • the left end of the jawbone is 21 L.
  • the lower half of the anti-snoring device, 30 C is cantilevered out past the jawbone line, 21 , and pulls on the skin of the throat stimulation area, preferably over one or more responsive points.
  • region 53 in FIG. 12 applies the pulling force to the desired part of the throat stimulation area.
  • the cheek exerts a counterbalancing pulling force because region 51 is adhered to the cheek and the jawbone acts like a fulcrum.
  • Some individuals with only a slight snoring problem and tight skin may be able to have no fold lines so that support member 31 C is flat. Even a flat support member will exert some pulling force on throat stimulation area, 22 L. This is because a normal weight person has the skin of the throat stimulation area indented below the jawbone line, 21 . Pulling this skin out with a flat surface is actually expanding the throat stimulation area by at least 2.5 mm.
  • FIG. 13 shows an “elastic connector in tension” type anti-snoring device.
  • Adhesive patch, 30 H is a piece of adhesive tape with a connection means such as a 6 mm diameter magnet captured between the tape and the skin.
  • Elastic connector, 37 H, in FIG. 13 is connected to an anchor point, 50 , located on the shoulder, 25 .
  • the elastic connector, 37 H has been stretched so that it is in tension and exerts a pulling force on at least one throat stimulation area in the throat stimulation area (not illustrated, but located under 30 H).
  • the elastic connector in tension, 37 H could be any material or device that can maintain a predetermined pulling force such as a rubber band or a spring. It would also be possible to use a device such as a spring loaded rewind spool similar to a rewind tape measure device.
  • the anchor point, 50 is shown on the shoulder, but this anchor point could be on other parts of the body such as the chest, back, or waist.
  • the exact method of attaching to the anchor point is not important.
  • the anchor point is illustrated in FIG. 13 as if it were a real point. In practice, it could be any attachment means such as a loop under the arm.
  • FIG. 14 shows the use of a mechanical clamp 42 to grab a portion of the skin in the throat stimulation area.
  • An elastic connector, 37 N attached to anchor point 50 expands a portion of the skin in the throat stimulation area by pulling on the clamp and the skin.
  • the anchor point, 50 is shown on the shoulder, but this anchor point could be on other parts of the body such as the chest, back, or waist. The exact method of attaching to the anchor point is not important.
  • clamps similar to 42 in FIG. 14 could be substituted for the adhesive patches 30 J and 30 JJ in FIGS. 2 and 3 .
  • the bow connector 37 J would replace the elastic connector in tension 37 H in FIG. 14 .
  • Tests have been conducted using a spring-loaded miniature clasp normally used to hold women's hair. The holding jaws were covered with foam rubber to improve comfort and reduce slippage. This did work, but it was judged to be less desirable that the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5 .
  • FIG. 15 shows another mechanical way of causing the throat stimulation area to expand.
  • Implants 43 L and 43 R are magnetic devices buried below the surface of the skin. They are depicted in FIG. 15 as being circular disks, however, they could be other shapes such as rods or even multiple pellets. Preferably they would be ferromagnetic or permanent magnets so that they exhibit a magnetic attraction to an external magnet.
  • 41 M and 41 MM are permanent magnets attached to the end of bow connector 37 M.
  • FIG. 15 shows the connector 37 M and magnets 41 M, 41 MM slightly removed from the engaged position.
  • Arrow 52 implies the connection.
  • magnets 41 M and 41 MM would contact the skin over the magnetic implants 43 L and 43 R.
  • the operation of this is very similar to the preferred embodiment previously described in FIGS. 2 and 3 .
  • the previous explanation for FIGS. 2 and 3 applies to the variation shown in FIG. 15 .
  • throat stimulation area 27 F has previously been described as lying along the edge of the trachea.
  • 27 F has the property that it can be used either alone or in combination with other responsive points.
  • FIG. 2 shows patches 20 J and 30 JJ attached to responsive points 27 E (left and right). Adding a second set of patches on top of 27 F (left and right) and pulling on these areas with a second bow coupler can totally eliminate a snoring sound in a test subject that has sleep apnea.
  • Using just the single device illustrated in FIG. 2 eliminates the apnea episodes, but does not totally eliminate any snoring sound. In people with just a snoring problem (without sleep apnea), the single anti-snoring device illustrated in FIG. 2 is probably sufficient.
  • throat stimulation area 27 F has previously been described. This throat stimulation area is different than the others since it cannot open a blocked air passage by itself. However, 27 F has the property that it can more fully open an air passage when used in combination with another throat stimulation area such as 27 E.
  • FIG. 2 shows patches 20 J and 30 JJ attached to responsive points 27 E (left and right). Adding a second set of patches on top of 27 F (left and right) and pulling on these areas with a second bow coupler can totally eliminate a snoring sound in a test subject that has sleep apnea. Using just the single device illustrated in FIG. 2 eliminates the apnea episodes, but does not totally eliminate any snoring sound. In people with just a snoring problem (without sleep apnea), the single anti-snoring device illustrated in FIG. 2 is probably sufficient.
  • Responsive point 27 G in FIG. 1 lies directly over the center of a man's Adam's apple. This point is not too desirable and it probably requires the additional use of points 27 F (left and right). In tests, the best results have experimentally been achieved using responsive points 27 E or those points in combination with 27 F.
  • bias means for providing a predetermined pulling force to cause at least a portion of the throat stimulation area to expand outward by at least 2.5 mm from its normal position.
  • the expansion of the throat stimulation area modifies the throat such that the human exhibits improved ease of breathing while sleeping.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Pulmonology (AREA)
  • Nursing (AREA)
  • Orthopedic Medicine & Surgery (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
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  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)
US11/102,314 2004-06-10 2005-04-08 Method and apparatus for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea Abandoned US20050274387A1 (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/102,314 US20050274387A1 (en) 2004-06-10 2005-04-08 Method and apparatus for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea
CA002509123A CA2509123A1 (en) 2004-06-10 2005-06-03 Method and apparatus for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea
EP05253550A EP1604625A1 (en) 2004-06-10 2005-06-09 Method and apparatus for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea
JP2005171152A JP2005349210A (ja) 2004-06-10 2005-06-10 いびき防止装置及びその方法並びに過少呼吸治療装置
US11/761,337 US20070221231A1 (en) 2004-06-10 2007-06-11 Method and apparatus for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea
US12/172,132 US7793661B2 (en) 2004-06-10 2008-07-11 Method and apparatus for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea

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US10/866,058 US20050274386A1 (en) 2004-06-10 2004-06-10 Method and apparatus for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea
US11/102,314 US20050274387A1 (en) 2004-06-10 2005-04-08 Method and apparatus for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea

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US10/866,058 Continuation-In-Part US20050274386A1 (en) 2004-06-10 2004-06-10 Method and apparatus for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea

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US11/761,337 Continuation-In-Part US20070221231A1 (en) 2004-06-10 2007-06-11 Method and apparatus for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea
US12/172,132 Division US7793661B2 (en) 2004-06-10 2008-07-11 Method and apparatus for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea

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US12/172,132 Expired - Fee Related US7793661B2 (en) 2004-06-10 2008-07-11 Method and apparatus for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea

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Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050274386A1 (en) * 2004-06-10 2005-12-15 John Macken Method and apparatus for treatment of snoring and sleep apnea
US20070293907A1 (en) * 2006-06-14 2007-12-20 Boris Dubnov Respiration apparatus
US20080009915A1 (en) * 2006-06-14 2008-01-10 Zmed Technologies, Inc. Respiration Stimulation
US7644714B2 (en) 2005-05-27 2010-01-12 Apnex Medical, Inc. Devices and methods for treating sleep disorders
US20100275910A1 (en) * 2006-12-15 2010-11-04 Jerome Aarestad Device and method for opening an airway
US8096303B2 (en) 2005-02-08 2012-01-17 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V Airway implants and methods and devices for insertion and retrieval
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CA2509123A1 (en) 2005-12-10
EP1604625A1 (en) 2005-12-14

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