Medtronic Inc.'s Surgical Technologies business already sells the Pillar Palatal Implant System for treating breathing problems like sleep apnea - and now the medical device maker has bought a surgical product line towards that end!

Sleep apnea is a condition in which a narrowed or blocked airway stops air from reaching the lungs. In a few severe cases, this condition disrupts the patients' sleep and deprives them of oxygen, as they stop breathing for a brief moment. Such patients of sleep apnea commonly use breathing masks.

The product line that Fridley-based Medtronic has bought - the repose GAHM product line - from InfluENT Medical, covers two techniques to treat sleep apnea, namely, repose genioglossus advancement and repose hyoid myotomy. In both the devices, the base of the patient's tongue is moved to prevent obstructions of the airway during sleep.

The two procedures, which take less than an hour each, can be done either individually or together. Concord, N. H.-based InfluENT says that when the procedures are performed in tandem, they can be performed through the same incision.

In repose genioglossus advancement, a small screw is placed in the back of the lower jaw so that the tongue cannot block the airway. And, in hyoid myotomys, two screws are placed such that they pull the hyoid bone and related muscles towards the chin.

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