Medical device maker Medtronic Inc., which is based in Minneapolis, MN, has purchased a line of surgical products used to treat sleep apnea from InfluENT Medical.

The products use two methods to treat sleep apnea: repose genioglossus advancement and repose hyoid myotomy. Both devices move the base of the tongue to prevent a patient's airway from being blocked during sleep.

In repose genioglossus advancement, surgeons place a small screw in the back of the lower jaw to stop the tongue from blocking the airway. In hyoid myotomy, two screws are placed in back of jaw, which pulls the hyoid bone and related muscles toward the chin. The two procedures can be done individually or together. 

When they are done together, the procedures can be performed through the same incision, according to InfluENT, which is based in Concord, NH.