Medtronic expands sleep apnea arsenal
By HME News Staff
Updated Sat January 31, 2009
MINNEAPOLIS--Medtronic recently acquired a product line of surgical devices to treat obstructive sleep apnea from InflueENT Medical, a privately held company in New Hampshire. InfluENT manufactures Repose, a small titanium screw that's inserted into the back of the jaw. Two permanent sutures that have been fused onto the screw are then “internalized” inside the tongue so patients don't notice them when they're awake. The sutures are meant to stop the tongue from collapsing backward during sleep, preventing airway obstructions and sleep apnea. Earlier in 2008, Medtronic bought Restore Medical, which manufactures a device that's implanted in the roof of the mouth.
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