The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval to Medtronic's AIRvance Bone Screw System.
The approval allows surgeons to perform a hyoid suspension procedure independently or in combination with other procedures including tongue suspension for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Using a surgical approach, the AIRvance Bone Screw System suspends the tongue to prevent it from collapsing into and obstructing the airway during sleep.
Medical University of South Carolina otolaryngology-head and neck surgery professor Boyd Gillespie said there are many places in the airway that can be obstructed and contribute to OSA.
"This is good news for ENT surgeons and their patients with OSA," Gillespie added.
"We now have the option of treating patients with either or both procedures based on what’s best for the patient."
The company said previously the FDA cleared the use of hyoid suspension procedure as an adjunct to the tongue suspension procedure.