Who can have the Pillar Implants?

The pillar implants (when used by itself) is designed for patients with a relatively normal sized palate without a large uvula (that dangly thing at the back of your throat).  The distance between the back edge of the hard palate and the lowest part of the uvula should be less than 4cm.  The uvula should also be less than 1.5 cm long.  If the uvula is too long, it can be trimmed at the same time as the Pillar Implants are inserted.

Scientific Overview

The vibration or collapse of the soft palate is the main contributor to snoring. When tissue in the upper airway flutters or vibrates, it causes snoring; Sleep Apnea occurs when tissue collapses or blocks the upper airway. Studies suggest that the soft palate is involved in more than 80% of snoring and sleep apnea.  As muscles in the upper airway relax during sleep, unsupported or excess tissue in the back of the mouth and throat (i.e. palate, tonsils, uvula, pharyngeal walls, epiglottis, tongue) collapse making the airway narrow.   The air speed through the collapsed region increases (called the Venturi Effect). Whenever there is an increase in air speed, there is also a drop in pressure which creates a vacuum (called the Bernoulli effect). 

The palate vibrates as the sucking forces overwhelm the supporting force of the palate, resulting in snoring sounds.

When the negative pressure in the airway reaches a critical point, the combination of collapsible tissues and loss of muscle tone causes airway collapse, resulting in OSA - Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

The Pillar Palatal Implant System changes the soft palate structure and its response to airflow. Placing three tiny implants into the muscle of the soft palate adds support and stiffens the soft palate. Most of the lift forces are generated at the leading edge, where the soft and hard palate meet. Placing implants at the junction of the hard and soft palate stiffens the area that starts the motion. This stiffening increases the air speed required to initiate palate movement, leading to a decrease in snoring and a reduction in the ability of the soft palate to obstruct the airway.

1. Katsantonis GP, Moss K, Miyazaki S et al. Determining the site of airway collapse in obstructive sleep apnea with airway pressure monitoring. Laryngoscope 1993; 103:1126-1131
2. Quinn, SJ, Daly, N, Ellis PD, Observation of the mechanism of snoring using sleep nasoendoscopy, Clinical Otolaryngology 1995:20(4);360-6