Devices, Kits, and Methods for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

1 . A jig for use on the mandible of a patient, the jig comprising:

a drill guide having a proximal end, a distal end, and a body defining a first passageway, a second passageway, a third passageway, a fourth passageway, and a protuberance, the protuberance extending outward and away from the distal end of the drill guide; and

a tongue depressor releasably attached to the drill guide, the tongue depressor having a proximal end, a distal end, and a body that defines a track and an elongate member, the track extending from the proximal end toward the distal end and having a first shaft and a second shaft, the first shaft adapted to be received by the first passageway of the drill guide, the second shaft adapted to be received by the second passageway of the drill guide, the elongate member extending from the track to the distal end of the tongue depressor and having a proximal end and a distal end, the body of the tongue depressor defining a curve between the proximal end and the distal end of the elongate member.

2 . The jig of claim 1 , wherein the first passageway defined by the drill guide has a first length;

wherein the first shaft of the track has a second length; and

wherein the first length is less than the second length.

3 . The jig of claim 1 , wherein the second passageway defined by the drill guide has a first length;

wherein the second shaft of the track has a second length; and

wherein the first length is less than the second length.

4 . The jig of claim 1 , wherein the first passageway defined by the drill guide has a first length;

wherein the third passageway defined by the drill guide has a second length; and

wherein the first length is greater than the second length.

5 . The jig of claim 1 , wherein the first passageway defined by the drill guide has a first length;

wherein the fourth passageway defined by the drill guide has a second length; and

wherein the first length is greater than the second length.

6 . The jig of claim 1 , wherein the drill guide has a first length from the proximal end of the drill guide to the distal end of the drill guide;

wherein the drill guide has a second length from the proximal end of the drill guide to the distal end of the drill guide; and

wherein the second length is less than the first length.

7 . The jig of claim 6 , wherein the body of the drill guide defines a sloped surface on the distal end of the drill guide.

8 . The jig of claim 1 , wherein the body of the drill guide defines a second protuberance and a third protuberance, each of the second protuberance and third protuberance extending outward and away from the distal end of the drill guide.

9 . The jig of claim 1 , wherein the first passageway is disposed a first distance from the second passageway;

wherein the third passageway is disposed a second distance from the fourth passageway; and

wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

10 . The jig of claim 1 , wherein the first passageway has a first inside diameter;

wherein the third passageway has a second inside diameter; and

wherein the first inside diameter is greater than the second inside diameter.

11 . A jig for use on the mandible of a patient, the jig comprising:

a drill guide having a proximal end, a distal end, and a body defining a first passageway, a second passageway, a third passageway, a fourth passageway, and a protuberance, the first passageway having a first length, the second passageway having a second length, the protuberance extending outward and away from the distal end of the drill guide; and

a tongue depressor releasably attached to the drill guide, the tongue depressor having a proximal end, a distal end, and a body that defines a track and an elongate member, the track extending from the proximal end toward the distal end and having a first shaft and a second shaft, the first shaft adapted to be received by the first passageway of the drill guide and having a third length, the second shaft adapted to be received by the second passageway of the drill guide and having a fourth length, the elongate member extending from the track to the distal end of the tongue depressor and having a proximal end and a distal end, the body of the tongue depressor defining a curve between the proximal end and the distal end of the elongate member;

wherein the first length is less than the third length; and

wherein the second length is less than the fourth length.

12 . The jig of claim 11 , wherein the third passageway defined by the drill guide has a fifth length; and

wherein the first length of the first passageway is greater than the fifth length.

13 . The jig of claim 11 , wherein the fourth passageway defined by the drill guide has a fifth length; and

wherein the first length of the first passageway is greater than the fifth length.

14 . The jig of claim 11 , wherein the drill guide has a fifth length from the proximal end of the drill guide to the distal end of the drill guide;

wherein the drill guide has a sixth length from the proximal end of the drill guide to the distal end of the drill guide; and

wherein the sixth length is less than the fifth length.

15 . The jig of claim 14 , wherein the body of the drill guide defines a sloped surface on the distal end of the drill guide.

16 . The jig of claim 11 , wherein the body of the drill guide defines a second protuberance and a third protuberance, each of the second protuberance and third protuberance extending outward and away from the distal end of the drill guide.

17 . The jig of claim 11 , wherein the first passageway is disposed a first distance from the second passageway;

wherein the third passageway is disposed a second distance from the fourth passageway; and

wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

18 . The jig of claim 1 , wherein the first passageway has a first inside diameter;

wherein the third passageway has a second inside diameter; and

wherein the first inside diameter is greater than the second inside diameter.

19 . A method of treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

placing a jig on the mandible of said patient, the jig comprising a drill guide and a tongue depressor releasably attached to the drill guide, the drill guide defining a first passageway, a second passageway, a third passageway, and a fourth passageway, the tongue depressor having a track disposed through the first passageway and second passageway of the drill guide;

creating a first opening in the mandible of said patient by passing a medical device through the third passageway defined by the drill guide;

creating a second opening in the mandible of said patient by passing a medical device through the third passageway defined by the drill guide;

creating a transverse passageway in the tongue of said patient;

pulling a sling having first and second ends through the transverse passageway using a first needle having an elongate shaft that defines a bend and a curve;

pulling the first end of the sling through the first opening in the mandible of said patient using a second needle having an elongate shaft and defining a curve;

pulling the second end of the sling through the second opening in the mandible of said patient using a third needle having an elongate shaft and defining a curve;

pulling the first and second ends of the sling away from the mandible of said patient to advance the tongue toward the front of the mandible of said patient; and

securing the sling to the mandible of said patient to support the tongue.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the first passageway is disposed a first distance from the second passageway;

wherein the third passageway is disposed a second distance from the fourth passageway; and

wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.