SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING CLOSURE OF PASSAGEWAYS

摘要

A system for treating sleep-related breathing disorders. In one embodiment, the system includes a first magnetically susceptible material (125) attached to a left lateral pharyngeal wall (120) and a second magnetically susceptibl e material (135) attached to a right lateral pharyngeal wall (130). The second magnetically susceptible material (135) is positioned opposite the first magnetically susceptible material (125) across an upper airway (100). The system further includes a first magnet (160) disposed outside the body and lateral to the first magnetically susceptible material (125), and a second magnet (170) disposed outside the body and lateral to the second magneticall y susceptible material.