Restore Medical Inc's Pillar Palatal Implant System is now commercially available in the United States. The new minimally invasive procedure is designed to permanently treat socially disruptive snoring, a serious health and lifestyle problem afflicting more than 27 million Americans and their bed partners.

"A number of physicians throughout the United States are now offering the Pillar treatment," said Susan L. Critzer, Restore Medical president and CEO. "The early U.S. results are consistent with what we saw in our European clinical trials. Only one treatment is needed, most patients experience a noticeable reduction in their snoring within two to four weeks and have a high probability of experiencing a lasting effect."

The procedure, called Palatal Restoration, takes only a few minutes in the doctor's office. After first numbing the area with a local anesthetic, the physician places three tiny Pillar inserts in the patient's soft palate. Each insert is a thin cord-like device less than an inch long. Unlike other procedures, Palatal Restoration does not involve heating or removing tissue, which means patients experience minimal discomfort and recovery time is short.

"Stiffening the soft palate has been shown to reduce snoring," said Regina P. Walker, of Hinsdale Hospital near Chicago, the first physician to perform the Palatal Restoration procedure in the United States. "The Pillar inserts do this in a new way using a polyester material that promotes stiffening and has a long history of safe use in the body. Some patients report that snoring is reduced almost immediately, and most are able to resume a normal diet and activities the same day as the procedure."

The Pillar system was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2002. The company introduced the breakthrough new device to otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat specialists) in April 2003.

In the future, Restore Medical believes that its patented technology may treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a condition that repeatedly disrupts sleep and is believed to have serious health consequences. The company is conducting research in this area and recently began clinical trials in Europe.