The LinguaFlex™ Tongue Retractor (LTR) is an investigational medical device that is inserted into the tongue to lessen its backward movement during sleep. This helps to keep the airway open during sleep so that the tongue doesn't block the airway causing obstructive apnea or narrow it enough to cause snoring. This study will monitor the effectiveness of the LTR device in the reduction of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and snoring over the course of a one-year treatment period.
The study design is a multi-site, prospective, open-label, non-randomized, single-arm clinical study to test the efficacy of the LinguaFlex Tongue Retractor for the treatment of moderate to severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) (AHI ≥15 at baseline) in adult subjects in twelve (12) months of continuous use. The study will include three (3) investigational sites that will implant a maximum of eighty (80) subjects with the LTR. No single site is to perform more than 35 implants. After informed consent is obtained, eligible subjects (adults who have moderate to severe OSA) will be screened for study inclusion. The screening will consist of a Home Sleep Test (HST) completed within four (4) months of inclusion in the study to confirm the diagnosis of moderate to severe OSA, an Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) assessment, Snoring Self-Assessment (SOS) with bed partner input (SBPS), assessment of pain, speech and swallowing, and a physical examination. The screening data will be reviewed by the Sponsor's designated study monitor to confirm and approve that inclusion criteria are fully met. Failure to meet all inclusion criteria will be designated as a screen failure and the subject's enrollment will be terminated. Participation in the study is voluntary. Subjects may withdraw at any time during the study. Reasons for the withdrawal will be recorded and entered into the clinical study report. Any subject who withdraws from the study for any reason will have the device removed and will undergo a Post Device Removal Follow-Up within 30 days (-7/+ 15) of device removal.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
The LinguaFlex Tongue Retractor (LTR) is a small, flexible, implanted tongue retaining device that lessens the backward movement of the tongue during sleep. The LTR's flexible shaft and a nubbed tether passes through the center of the tongue beneath the tongue blade (frenulum area) and connects to a disc (head) that rests on the external surface of the tongue base mucosa. Underneath the tongue, on the external surface of the frenulum, a small anchor secures the shaft that can be adjusted to tension the LTR to maximize therapeutic effect and maintain comfort.
St. Elizabeth's Medical Center
Brighton, Massachusetts, United States
WVU Medicine / J. W. Ruby Memorial Hospital
Morgantown, West Virginia, United States
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Responder to Therapy
Determine the responder rate to therapy. A responder is defined as a subject who experiences a ≥ 50% reduction in AHI from baseline and has an AHI \< 20 at the 12-month follow-up visit. Subjects with an AHI ≤ 20 at baseline will be considered a responder if a 50% reduction in AHI is achieved from baseline.
Time frame: One Year
Change in Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)
Determine the change in Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) from the baseline control measurement and determine the proportion of study subjects that achieve an ESS value of ≤ 10 at the twelve-month follow-up. ((ESS is a validated instrument that rates a subject's daytime sleepiness and is commonly used in clinical evaluation and management of OSA as a quality of life measurement. Scores range from 0 to 24, with lower scores indicating greater functioning. An ESS \< 10 is considered normal subjective sleepiness.)
Time frame: One Year
Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI) Responder
Determine the Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI) responder rate at the twelve-month follow-up visit. An ODI responder is defined as a subject which demonstrates at least a 25% reduction in ODI from the baseline control measurement at the 12-month follow-up visit. Change in ODI will be reported as a percentage change from baseline for each subject as well as the mean percentage change for the entire cohort.
Time frame: One Year
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Enrollment
80