Suture holes on a flexible implant

摘要

A device according to some embodiments may include an implant unit which may include a flexible carrier, an antenna arranged on the flexible carrier, at least one pair of modulation electrodes on the flexible carrier, at least one implantable circuit electrically connected to the at least one pair of modulation electrodes and the antenna; and at least one pair of suture holes passing through the flexible carrier. The at least one pair of suture holes may be arranged on the flexible carrier such that the flexible carrier may be configured to conform to tissue in a subject's body, and such that each suture hole of the at least one pair of suture holes may be positioned to allow suturing to tissue adjacent to the suture holes.

主权项

1. A device for treating sleep apnea, the device comprising:
a flexible carrier configured for implantation on a genioglossus muscle of a subject; an antenna arranged on the flexible carrier; at least one pair of modulation electrodes on the flexible carrier; at least one implantable circuit electrically connected to the at least one pair of modulation electrodes and the antenna; and at least one pair of suture holes passing through the flexible carrier, the at least one pair of suture holes being arranged on the flexible carrier such that the flexible carrier is configured to conform to portions of the genioglossus muscle, such that each suture hole of the at least one pair of suture holes is positioned to allow suturing to tissue of the genioglossus muscle adjacent to the suture hole, wherein the flexible carrier is configured to position the modulation electrodes adjacent to terminal fibers of a hypoglossal nerve and to permit the modulation electrodes to modulate the terminal fibers when the flexible carrier is conformed to the portions of the genioglossus muscle.