Implantable soft magnetic pillar to relieve obstructive sleep apnea by securing the upper airway

Abstract

Not a few people suffer from sleep apnea, with the financial loss amounting to billions of dollars annually. However, conventional therapies have many side effects, including irritation, discomfort, and the likelihood of relapse. We propose a soft magnetic pillar to relieve sleep apnea with minimal insertion range. The pillar is constructed from a mixture of silicone elastomer and magnetic microparticles at 1:1 mass ratio and has elastic and magnetic properties. It should be inserted into the soft palate to the proper depth and the magnetic field applied when necessary to pull the soft palate and relieve sleep apnea by securing a blocked airway. The inserted pillar can reduce user irritation by adapting to palate movements that occur during vocalization and food intake, does not require complex control systems or power, and can continuously transmit force wirelessly. Since it can be fabricated to the desired size, it can be compatible with the injector used as commercial medical devices so that it can be easily inserted. This study used finite element analysis simulation to identify the insertion position with minimal user irritation, and we then constructed a material with similar shape and physical properties to the soft palate to measure force changes depending on the number of pillars and magnetic field strength. Finally, we confirmed how the pillar worked for real human soft palates through cadaver experiments, verifying that the proposed soft magnetic pillar secured the airway. We also confirmed it was possible to prescribe individually tailored apnea solutions depending on the degree of sleep apnea by controlling the number of pillars and magnetic field strength.