1. A method for improving airway patency in a patient having an oral cavity, a hard palate, a soft palate, a tongue, and an airway, said method comprising:
applying a first negative pressure through a first port at a first location above the patient’s tongue in the patient’s oral cavity; and
applying a second negative pressure through a second port at a second location adjacent the patient’s soft palate in the patient’s oral cavity, the second pressure being different than the first pressure;
wherein the tongue and soft palate are positioned such that the airway is drawn at least partially open.
2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the first pressure is applied to the tongue through the first port.
3. A method as in claim 2 wherein the second pressure is applied to the soft palate through the second port.
4. A method as in claim 1 further comprising constraining the tongue so as to maintain a clear region between the tongue and the hard palate while the first and second pressures are applied.
5. A method as in claim 4 wherein at least one of the first and second ports is disposed in a tongue constraint which constrains the tongue.
6. A method as in claim 1 wherein the first and second ports are each coupled to an oral device positionable in the oral cavity.
7. A method as in claim 1 further comprising creating a seal between the soft palate and the tongue when the negative pressure is applied such that the airway is substantially fluidly isolated from the first and second ports.
8. A method as in claim 1 wherein the first and second ports are movable relative to each other within the oral cavity.
9. A method as in claim 1, wherein the second pressure is less negative than the first pressure.
10. Apparatus for improving airway patency comprising:
an oral device positionable in an oral cavity;
a first port coupled to or integral with the oral device in a first inferior location;
a second port coupled to or integral with the oral device in a second posterior location;
means for applying a first negative pressure through the first port; and
means for applying a second negative pressure through the second port, the second pressure being different than the first pressure;
wherein the oral device is configured such that the first port applies suction to the tongue and the second port applies suction to the soft palate such that the airway is drawn at least partially open.
11. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the oral device comprises a tongue constraint positionable in the oral cavity and adapted to engage a superior surface of the tongue and constrain at least a portion of the tongue in a position spaced-apart from a hard palate, wherein the first port is on an inferior surface of the tongue constraint.
12. Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the second port is disposed in a landing pad movably coupled to the anchor structure.
13. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the first and second ports are movable relative to each other within the oral cavity.
14. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the means for applying the first pressure comprises a first pump and the means for applying the second pressure comprises a second pump.
15. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the means for applying the first pressure comprises a first pump and a first pressure regulator, and the means for applying the second pressure comprises the first pump and a second pressure regulator.
16. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the second port is movable relative to the first port.
17. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the oral device comprises an anchor structure adapted to anchor the oral device within the oral cavity, first port being immovable relative to the anchor structure.
18. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the first and second ports are adapted to maintain the soft palate in sealing engagement with one or both of the oral device and the tongue such that the oral cavity is substantially fluidly isolated from the airway.
19. Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the second pressure is less negative than the first pressure.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A tension member removable anchoring apparatus, comprising:
a trichotomized wedge support spring for preventing a regress of a trichotomized wedge in an upper portion;
a cap coupling to the trichotomized wedge support spring;
a cylinder coupled to the cap;
an anchor inserted in a central hole of the cylinder and including the trichotomized wedge binding a single line of a tension member,
a fixer made of a casting and having the tension member inserted therein; and
a coupling means for coupling the anchor and the fixer.
2. (cancelled)
3. The apparatus of clam 1, wherien in the anchor, there is a punch on is a lower side of the cylinder and a stopping spring bolt preventing a return of the regressed trichotomized wedge in the punch.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchor has a coupling portion coupled to the coupling measn in a lower end of the cylinder.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the coupling means is a nipple, a socket or one-way nipple for coupling the anchor and the fixer.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fixer has a shape that the tension member is inserted therein and a coupling portion is coupled to the anchor when the coupling means is inserted therein.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a single line of tension member is inserted in the fixer to cofigure the straight anchoring appratus.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the fixer can be used separately or purally.
9. A method of removing a tension member, comprising:
a repulsive greater than a conservative force of a trichotomized wedge support spring working on an anchor;
the trichotomized wedge support spring compressed by the repulsive force of the tension member;
the trichotomized wedge regressing to a space in a cylinder generated during compressing the spring;
a play of the trichotomized wedge becoming open;
a return of the regressed trichotomized wedge stopped by a detent of a stopping spring bolt supporting a return of the trichotomized wedge;
separating the tension member from the trichotomized wedge whose fall is stopped in a state that a play is maintained; and
removing the tension member by pulling the tension member after separating the anchor.