The Pillar Procedure. A palatal implant system for treating snoring and mild to moderate OSA.

The Pillar System is a simple, innovative, minimally invasive, palatal implant used to treat snoring and mild to moderate OSA.

The Pillar Procedure addresses one of the main anatomical contributors to snoring and OSA: the soft palate.^1,2 It was developed using state-of-the-art imaging technologies and aerodynamic airflow modeling,

In clinical studies, the Pillar Procedure achieved clinically significant reductions in snoring intensity and an increase in bed partner satisfaction. For mild to moderate OSA, significant reductions were also seen in apnea hypopnea index (AHI)³ and Epworth Sleepiness Scores.⁴

The Pillar Procedure is performed during a single, short office visit lasting approximately 20 minutes, with most patients resuming normal diet and activities the same day. Most patients experience less pain and shorter recovery time than with other procedures and with minimal complications. The Pillar Procedure can also be performed in combination with other procedures to address other areas of upper airway obstruction.

The Pillar Procedure, for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder characterized by interruptions and cessations in breathing during sleep, which can occur up to hundreds of times a night.

As reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, it is estimated that one in five adults in the United States suffers from mild obstructive sleep apnea. One in 15 adults in the United States suffers from moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. Consider these statistics:

• Almost half of all people with obstructive sleep apnea develop high blood pressure (hypertension), which raises the risk of heart failure and stroke.⁵
  
  
• People suffering from obstructive sleep apnea are up to 6 times more likely to be involved in a car crash as a result of drowsiness than those without sleep disorders.⁶
  
  
• The partner of an obstructive sleep apnea sufferer loses about an hour of sleep every night due to his or her partner’s snoring.⁷
  
  
• Sleep deprivation has been shown to alter hormones and metabolism involved in weight gain.⁸

The most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). There are also surgical procedures that remove or alter tissue at the back of the throat, such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP). These surgical procedures are invasive and often painful options that can require weeks of recovery time and pain management medications.

The tissue in the back of the throat most often involved in snoring and obstructive sleep apnea is the soft palate. In addition to the soft palate, many people also suffer from obstruction of other parts of the upper airway including the nasal airway, tonsils, tongue, and pharyngeal walls.

Be sure to ask your doctor to examine all parts of your upper airway and assess if your soft palate is contributing to your obstructive sleep apnea. If your soft palate is a factor in your obstructive sleep apnea, the Pillar Procedure may be an effective treatment option for you, because it stiffens the soft palate to reduce or eliminate the tissue vibration and collapse that can cause obstructive sleep apnea .

The Pillar Procedure can be performed as a stand-alone procedure or used in combination with other treatments and lifestyle changes to address multi-level upper airway obstruction. More than 30,000 people worldwide have been treated with the Pillar Procedure.

During the Pillar Procedure, three tiny woven polyester implants are placed into the muscle located at the junction of the hard and soft palate. These Pillar palatal implants, together with the body’s natural fibrotic response, add structural support and stiffen the soft palate, thereby minimizing or eliminating the palatal tissue vibration that can cause snoring and the collapse that can obstruct the airway and cause OSA.

This informative 3D animation provides a simple, visual explanation of the causes of palatal OSA and snoring. The video makes it easy to see how the Pillar Procedure's three tiny palatal implants helps correct the vibrations and obstruction that can cause snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Quicktime:	Dialup | Broadband
Windows Media:	Dialup | Broadband

Ask to be contacted by a Pillar sleep specialist.

The Pillar® System is indicated for use in a) the reduction of symptomatic, habitual or social snoring caused by a flutter of tissue in the soft palate, and/or b) upper airway obstruction in patients with mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea or "OSA". The Pillar System is a minimally invasive implant that is used to stiffen the soft palate tissue to reduce the flutter that causes snoring and/or palatal obstruction of the upper airway.

Physicians interested in the Instructions for Use (IFU).