Method for treating obstructive sleep disorder includes removing tissue from the base of tongue
First Claim
1. A method for treating obstructive sleep disorders, the method comprising:
- accessing the interior of the tongue through an incision made in the skin in the vicinity of the jaw of a patient;
advancing an instrument through the incision into the interior of the tongue; and
removing an amount of tissue from the interior of the base of the tongue with the instrument.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for treating obstructive sleep disorders includes accessing the interior of the tongue through an incision made in the skin in the vicinity of the jaw of a patient; advancing an instrument through the incision into the interior of the tongue; and removing an amount of tissue from the interior of the base of the tongue with the instrument. The present invention includes forming a cavity or plurality of channels in the tongue. The cavity may be collapsed using a suture, fastener or bioadhesive. An emplaced suture may be provided to hold the cavity in a collapsed position thereby reducing the degree of obstruction. Additionally, thermal energy may be applied to the tissue surface immediately surrounding the channels to cause thermal damage to the tissue surface, thereby creating hemostasis and stiffening the surrounding tissue structure.
233 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for treating obstructive sleep disorders, the method comprising:
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accessing the interior of the tongue through an incision made in the skin in the vicinity of the jaw of a patient;
advancing an instrument through the incision into the interior of the tongue; and
removing an amount of tissue from the interior of the base of the tongue with the instrument. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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19. A method for treating obstructive sleep disorders, the method comprising:
forming a cavity within the interior of the tongue without breaching the mucosal surface of the tongue. - View Dependent Claims (18, 21)
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20. The method of 19, further comprising accessing the interior of the tongue without accessing an opening of the mouth in order to form the cavity.
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22. A method for accessing the interior of the tongue, the method comprising:
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making an incision under the jaw of a patient; and
channeling through tissue to within the interior of the tongue. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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29. An emplaced suture for treating obstructive sleep disorders, the emplaced suture comprising:
a length from about 3 to about 6 inches extending between two ends wherein the ends are secured together at a securement location under the chin, the length being selected to extend between the base of the tongue and the securement location. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
Specification