Importance

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Abstract

An airway implant device for maintaining and/or creating an opening in air passageways is disclosed. Methods of using the device are also disclosed. The airway implant device comprises a deformable element to control the opening of an air passageway. Preferably the deformable element is an electroactive polymer element. Energizing of the electroactive polymer element provides support for the walls of an air passageway, when the walls collapse, and thus, completely or partially opens the air passageway. Methods of treating airway disorders such as sleep apnea and snoring with the airway implant device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the airway implant device includes a self-charging element. The self-charging element is typically an electroactive polymer which generates energy during its movement and this energy is used to activate the deformable element of the airway implant device.

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First Claim