| US 7,481,224 B2 | ||
| Magnetic force device, systems, and methods for resisting tissue collapse within the pharyngeal conduit | ||
| Lionel M. Nelson, Los Altos, Calif. (US); Ronald G. Lax, Tarpon Springs, Fla. (US); Eric N. Doelling, Sunnyvale, Calif. (US); Jinfang Liu, Lancaster, Pa. (US); Peter H. Muller, Woodside, Calif. (US); Ryan P. Boucher, San Francisco, Calif. (US); and Michael L. Reo, Redwood City, Calif. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Eindhoven (Netherlands) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 01, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/888,531. | ||
| Application 11/888531 is a division of application No. 11/638229, filed on Dec. 13, 2006. | ||
| Application 11/638229 is a division of application No. 10/656861, filed on Sep. 06, 2003, granted, now 7,188,627. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/456164, filed on Mar. 20, 2003. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/441639, filed on Jan. 22, 2003. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0270632 A1, Nov. 22, 2007 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. A61B 19/00 (2006.01); A61F 5/56 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 128—897 [128/848; 602/902] | 22 Claims |
| 1. An implant system comprising:
a ferromagnetic material comprising at least one discrete source of magnetism sized and configured for implanting in a tongue;
an anchoring structure implanted in the tongue coupled to the ferromagnetic material; and
a source of magnetic force sized and configured for placement to interact with the ferromagnetic material in the tongue.
|