An embodiment of a system for treating sleep apnea includes a collar, pump, motor, sensor, memory, and controller, which is configured to store, in the memory, information related to sleep-apnea events or sleep-apnea treatment, experienced by the subject. For example, the controller can obtain, and store in the memory, information related to sleep-apnea events, and the controller, or another computing system, can correlate this information with the subject's lifestyle choices, and can recommend lifestyle changes to improve the subject's sleep apnea. Furthermore, the controller can obtain and store, in the memory, information related to usage and settings of the sleep-apnea system, and the controller, or another computing system, can correlate this information with the subject's wellbeing, and can recommend changes in the usage or the settings of the sleep-apnea system that can improve the subject's wellbeing.

An embodiment of a system for treating sleep apnea includes a collar, a pump, a motor, a sensor, and a controller. The collar is configured to maintain an airway of a subject open while the subject is sleeping by applying, to a throat of the subject, a negative pressure having a magnitude, and the pump is configured to generate the negative pressure. The motor is configured to drive the pump, and the sensor is configured to generate a sense signal that is related to a degree to which the airway is open. And the controller is configured to vary the magnitude of the negative pressure in response to the sense signal. For example, one or more of the pump, motor, sensor, and controller can be secured to the collar such that the system is self-contained, i.e., the entire sleep-apnea system can be worn by the subject.

An oral airway includes a first component having a first guiding surface and a second component having a second guiding surface. The first component and the second component are adapted to be removably coupled together such that the first guiding surface and the second guiding surface collectively define and encompass an interior passage through the oral airway that is dimensioned to direct, for example, a fiber-optic scope or an endotracheal tube extending through the interior passage for tracheal intubation. The first and second components are configured to be decoupled and independently removed from a patient's mouth without disrupting an endotracheal tube that has been extended through the conduit for tracheal intubation. The first and second components may be maintained in coupled disposition by an interlocking mechanical structure. The first and second components also may be maintained in coupled disposition by magnetism.

A system includes an apparatus and a controller, according to an embodiment. The apparatus is configured to maintain an airway of a subject open while the subject is sleeping by applying to the airway a pressure having a magnitude, and the controller is configured to cause the apparatus to change the magnitude of the pressure over a period that begins at a settable start time. For example, the system can be configured to treat a subject's sleep apnea with positive or negative pressure, and to function as an alarm clock by beginning to change the pressure magnitude at a settable start time, and to continue changing the pressure over a period with a settable duration (or settable stop time) to gently awaken the subject by the end of the period.

A dilation system includes a balloon catheter and a puncturing assembly. The balloon catheter includes a shaft, a dilator coupled to a distal end of the shaft, and a lumen extending through the shaft and the dilator. The dilator is expandable from a collapsed state to an expanded state. The puncturing assembly includes at least one cutting member. The puncturing assembly is positionable within the lumen of the balloon catheter or along an exterior of the shaft when the puncturing assembly is in a first position. The puncturing assembly transitions to a second position to puncture the lumen of the balloon catheter and/or to puncture the dilator, to thereby drain fluid from the dilator.

An intubation apparatus and, method of use, for intubating a patient. The apparatus includes an airway ventilation device having tubing located between an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end being configured to be locatable in the airway of a patient, intermediary tubing having a first end releasably connectable to the inlet end of the airway ventilation device and a second end having a fitting configured to connect to a gas supply, and an introducer having a first end that is alternatively releasably connectable to the first end of the intermediary tubing and a second end having a blunt tip.

Systems and methods for delivering a therapeutic agent to target tissue using a plurality of drug delivery platforms each having a polymer scaffold and the therapeutic agent contained within the polymer scaffold. Each drug delivery platform of the plurality of drug delivery platforms is implanted into the target tissue, allowing the therapeutic agent to elute from each drug delivery platform of the plurality of drug delivery platforms for a target period of time, delivering a therapeutic dose of the therapeutic agent for the target period of time. Each drug delivery platform of the plurality of drug delivery platforms is allowed to biodegrade within the target tissue.

Systems and methods for delivering a therapeutic agent to target tissue using a plurality of drug delivery platforms each having the therapeutic drug embedded as part of the drug delivery platform. Each drug delivery platform is implanted into a target tissue, and the active agent elutes out of the drug delivery platform for a target period of time, delivering a therapeutic dose of the drug for that period of time. The duration of therapy for an implant can be from 3 to 12 months, longer, or shorter.

The invention is a laryngeal mask, comprising a head portion (10) and a tube portion (14), an annular cushion (25) connected to the head portion (10), and a cover element (12) for the annular cushion (25), having a second puller portion (47), made of a through-breathable material, and a release element fixing the cover element (12) to the head portion (10), having a first puller portion (48), the puller portions (47, 48) are pullable at the tube proximal end of the tube portion (14), and the release element releases fixing of the cover element (12) in case the first puller portion (48) is pulled,
wherein the puller portions (47, 48) are configured so that in case of joint pulling thereof, fixing of the cover element (12) to the head portion (10) is releasable and thereby making the cover element (12) removable.

A silicone implant is fixed onto the thyroid cartilage and the implant has a guide channel extending therethrough. The placement allows fixation to the cartilage by blade portions on opposite sides of the implant, with the guide channel being positioned in front of the muscles to be treated. The implant enables safe, accurate, and repeatable injections into internal laryngeal muscles under local anesthesia, and simplifies surgical access, increases accuracy, and reduces risks associated with traditional techniques.