Systems and methods for electrosurigical treatment of obstructive sleep disorders
First Claim
1. A method of shrinking a target tissue using an electrosurgical probe, comprising:
- a) positioning the distal end of the electrosurgical probe in at least close proximity to the target tissue of a patient, the probe distal end having an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode; and
b) after said step a), applying a high frequency voltage between the at least one active electrode and the at least one return electrode, wherein the target tissue affects the aperture of the upper airway of the patient, wherein the high frequency voltage is insufficient to ablate the target tissue, and wherein the target tissue undergoes controlled thermal heating to a temperature in the range of from about 55°
to 75°
C. such that at least a portion of the target tissue is irreversibly shrunk.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, apparatus, and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location within the head or neck of a patient for treating obstructive sleep disorders. A method of the present invention involves positioning an electrosurgical probe with respect to a target tissue that affects the aperture of the upper airway of the patient. For example, the position of the tongue and the radix linguae affect the upper airway. The position of the tongue is controlled by the genioglossus muscle and tendon. The tendon of the genioglossus muscle may be irreversibly shrunk by positioning an electrosurgical probe in at least close proximity to the tendon, and applying a suitable high frequency voltage to the probe in a sub-ablation mode. Controlled heating of the tendon is effected by application of the high frequency voltage to the probe, wherein the voltage is insufficient to ablate the tissue of the tendon. The controlled heating of the tendon effects contraction of collagen fibers of the tendon, whereby the tongue is advanced and/or depressed, and the aperture of the upper airway is increased.
143 Citations
55 Claims
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1. A method of shrinking a target tissue using an electrosurgical probe, comprising:
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a) positioning the distal end of the electrosurgical probe in at least close proximity to the target tissue of a patient, the probe distal end having an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode; and
b) after said step a), applying a high frequency voltage between the at least one active electrode and the at least one return electrode, wherein the target tissue affects the aperture of the upper airway of the patient, wherein the high frequency voltage is insufficient to ablate the target tissue, and wherein the target tissue undergoes controlled thermal heating to a temperature in the range of from about 55°
to 75°
C. such that at least a portion of the target tissue is irreversibly shrunk. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of shortening a genioglossus tendon, comprising:
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a) positioning the distal end of an electrosurgical probe in at least close proximity to the genioglossus tendon, the probe including an electrode assembly disposed on the probe distal end, the electrode assembly having at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode, the at least one active electrode disposed on an electrically insulating electrode support; and
b) applying a high frequency voltage between the at least one active electrode and the at least one return electrode, wherein the high frequency voltage is insufficient to ablate the genioglossus tendon, and wherein the genioglossus tendon undergoes controlled thermal heating to a temperature in the range of from about 55°
C. to 75°
C. such that the genioglossus tendon is irreversibly shortened. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of treating an obstructive sleep disorder, comprising:
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a) accessing a tendon within the head of a patient;
b) positioning the distal end of an electrosurgical probe in at least close proximity to the tendon, the probe including an electrode assembly having at least one active electrode;
c) after said step b), applying a high frequency voltage between the at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode, wherein the high frequency voltage effects the thermal heating of at least a portion of the tendon to increase an aperture of the upper airway. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method of treating an obstructive sleep disorder, comprising:
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a) accessing the genioglossus tendon; and
b) applying thermal energy to at least a portion of the genioglossus tendon to increase an aperture of the upper airway. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55)
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Specification