Connection rod for a tongue manipulation system

1 . A connection rod for a tongue manipulation device system, the connection rod comprising:

an elongate body extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end terminating in a tapered portion that tapers away from the distal end and is structured to be selectively disposed in an opening of an implant tool or a removal tool;

a first coupling part configured to couple the distal end of the connection rod to a tongue advancer; and

a second coupling part configured to couple the proximal end of the connection rod to the implant tool or the removal tool,

wherein the connection rod is configured to transmit a tension or pulling force from the implant tool or the removal tool to the tongue advancer such that the tongue advancer is configured to be retracted within the implant tool or removal tool respectively, and

wherein the connection rod is at least partially hollow and configured to receive the tongue advancer, and a tongue advancer tether attached to the tongue advancer, at least partially within itself.

2 . The connection rod as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first coupling part comprises a screw thread configured to couple to an associated tongue advancer screw thread.

3 . The connection rod as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the screw thread is one of:

an internal screw thread; or

an external screw thread.

4 . The connection rod as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the screw thread is a partially executed screw thread.

5 . The connection rod as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first coupling part comprises a clamp configured to clamp to the tongue advancer.

6 . The connection rod as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the clamp comprises at least one clamping element comprising a clamping profiled inner surface element extending radially inward that is configured to clamp the tongue advancer.

7 . The connection rod as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the connection rod is configured to be located within a hollow tube with a profiled inner surface such that as the hollow tube is moved in a distal direction over the connection rod, the profiled inner surface moves the clamping profiled inner surface element to clamp on a tongue advancer groove.

8 . The connection rod as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the clamp comprises a protrusion configured to contact a tongue advancer proximal end when the clamp is located in a position to clamp the tongue advancer.

9 . The connection rod as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a removal sleeve comprising the first coupling part configured to couple the distal end of the connection rod to the tongue advancer; and

a removal adaptor comprising the second coupling part configured to couple the proximal end of the connection rod to the removal tool, wherein a proximal end of the removal sleeve is coupled to a distal end of the removal adaptor to form the connection rod.

10 . The connection rod as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second coupling part comprises at least one of:

a plurality of profiled grooves configured to interact with at least one hook or gearwheel to provide a ratchet mechanism for providing a tension or pulling force from the implant tool; and/or

a friction surface configured to interact with at least one clutch or gearwheel to provide a ratchet mechanism for providing a tension or pulling force from the implant tool.

11 . A tongue advancer implant assembly or a tongue advancer removal assembly for insertion into an implant tool or removal tool, the implant assembly or removal assembly comprising:

a connection rod comprising:

an elongate body extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end terminating in a tapered portion that tapers away from the distal end and is structured to be selectively disposed in an opening of the implant tool or the removal tool;

a first coupling part configured to couple the distal end of the connection rod to a tongue advancer; and

a second coupling part configured to couple the proximal end of the connection rod to the implant tool or the removal tool,

wherein:

the connection rod is configured to transmit a tension or pulling force from the implant tool or the removal tool directly to the tongue advancer such that the tongue advancer is configured to be retracted within the implant tool or removal tool respectively, and

the connection rod is at least partially hollow and configured to receive the tongue advancer, and a tongue advancer tether attached to the tongue advancer, at least partially within itself; and

a tongue advancer comprising:

a connection rod coupling coupling the tongue advancer to the distal end of the connection rod, and

at least one tongue advancer finger configured to be deployed by unfolding, to locate the tongue advancer.

12 . The tongue advancer implant assembly or the tongue advancer removal assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the connection rod coupling of the tongue advancer comprises at least one of:

a screw thread coupling the tongue advancer to the connection rod by a connection rod screw thread;

a groove coupling the tongue advancer to the connection rod by a connection rod clamping element;

a ball-shaped proximal end coupling the tongue advancer to the connection rod by a connection rod clamping element.

13 . A connection rod for a tongue manipulation device system, the connection rod comprising:

an elongate body extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end terminating in a tapered portion that tapers away from the distal end and is structured to be selectively disposed in an opening of an implant tool or a removal tool;

a first coupling part configured to directly couple the distal end of the connection rod to a tongue advancer; and

a second coupling part configured to couple the proximal end of the connection rod to an implant tool or a removal tool,

wherein the second coupling part comprises a friction surface configured to be gripped within the implant tool by a suitable friction wheel that prevents the connection rod from exiting or leaving the implant tool via only frictional forces and provides a ratchet mechanism for providing a tension or pulling force from the implant tool,

wherein the connection rod is configured to transmit a tension or pulling force from the implant tool or the removal tool to the tongue advancer such that the tongue advancer is configured to be retracted within the implant tool or removal tool respectively, and

wherein the connection rod is at least partially hollow and configured to receive the tongue advancer, and a tongue advancer tether attached to the tongue advancer, at least partially within itself.

14 . The connection rod as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first coupling part comprises a screw thread configured to couple to an associated tongue advancer screw thread.

15 . The connection rod as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the screw thread is one of:

an internal screw thread; or

an external screw thread.

16 . The connection rod as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the screw thread is a partially executed screw thread.

17 . The connection rod as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first coupling part comprises a clamp configured to clamp to the tongue advancer.

18 . The connection rod as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the clamp comprises at least one clamping element comprising a clamping profiled inner surface element configured to clamp the tongue advancer.

19 . The connection rod as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the connection rod configured to be located within a hollow tube with a profiled inner surface such that as the hollow tube is moved in a distal direction over the connection rod, the profiled inner surface moves the clamping profiled inner surface element to clamp on a tongue advancer groove.

20 . The connection rod as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the clamp comprises a protrusion configured to contact a tongue advancer proximal end when the clamp is located in a position to clamp the tongue advancer.

21 . The connection rod as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising:

a removal sleeve comprising the first coupling part configured to couple the distal end of the connection rod to the tongue advancer; and

a removal adaptor comprising the second coupling part configured to couple the proximal end of the connection rod to the removal tool, wherein a proximal end of the removal sleeve is coupled to a distal end of the removal adaptor to form the connection rod.