Systems and methods for electrosurgical treatment of submucosal tissue
First Claim
1. A method for treating obstructive sleep disorders comprising:
- positioning an active electrode adjacent to a tissue structure in a patient'"'"'s mouth or throat;
applying high frequency voltage between the active electrode and a return electrode, the high frequency voltage being sufficient to ablate tissue;
during the applying step, advancing the active electrode into the tissue to generate a space within the tissue; and
during the first applying step, applying a second high frequency voltage between the return electrode and a coagulation electrode, the second high frequency voltage being insufficient to ablate tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location within the head and neck of a patient'"'"'s body, particularly including tissue in the ear, nose and throat. The present invention includes a channeling technique in which small holes or channels are formed within tissue structures in the mouth, such as the tonsils, tongue, palate and uvula, and thermal energy is applied to the tissue surface immediately surrounding these holes or channels to cause thermal damage to the tissue surface, thereby stiffening the surrounding tissue structure. Applicant has discovered that such stiffening of certain tissue structures in the mouth and throat helps to prevent the tissue structure from obstructing the patient'"'"'s upper airway during sleep.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for treating obstructive sleep disorders comprising:
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positioning an active electrode adjacent to a tissue structure in a patient'"'"'s mouth or throat;
applying high frequency voltage between the active electrode and a return electrode, the high frequency voltage being sufficient to ablate tissue;
during the applying step, advancing the active electrode into the tissue to generate a space within the tissue; and
during the first applying step, applying a second high frequency voltage between the return electrode and a coagulation electrode, the second high frequency voltage being insufficient to ablate tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for treating tissue comprising:
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an electrosurgical instrument having a shaft with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;
an electrode assembly comprising at least one active electrode terminal positioned on the distal portion of the shaft, at least one return electrode positioned on the shaft and axially spaced from the electrode terminal, and a coagulation electrode positioned on the shaft and axially spaced from the return electrode;
a power source coupled to the active, return and coagulation electrodes for applying a high frequency voltage between the active and return electrode, and between the coagulation and return electrodes at the same time; and
wherein the voltage applied between the coagulation and return electrodes is lower than the voltage applied between the active and return electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification