598991 Disclosed is a tissue retractor device to prevent or treat sleep apnoea and snoring. The tongue retractor (LTR) indirectly retracts the tongue base by its implant site in the frenulum area. Or the LTR is inserted into the base of tongue to stiffen lax surface mucosa or mechanically couple it to internal tongue structures. The LTR can be inserted in or around the pharyngoglossal fold. This site allows retraction and stiffening of tongue base tissue as well as the soft palate and lateral pharyngeal wall. The tissue retractor comprises a single elastomeric piece comprising shaft sized for insertion into a soft tissue located in a patients oral cavity or pharynx and a foldable retractor member integrally formed with a first end of the shaft. The retractor member is positioned at an acute angle relative to the shaft in an undeployed position and positioned at an angle that is substantially perpendicular to the shaft in a deployed position. An anchor member is connected at or near a second end of the shaft, such that the retractor member is positioned on an external surface of the soft tissue when a tension on the shaft causes the retractor member to rotate into the deployed position the retractor member, the shaft, and the anchor member interacts to exert a pressure that prevents deformation of at least a portion of the soft tissue to prevent obstruction of the patients airway. Neither the retractor member nor the anchor member are configured to be tethered to bone.
