Systems and methods for electrosurgical treatment of obstructive sleep disorders
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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 applies high frequency (RF) electrical energy to one or more electrode terminals in the presence of electrically conductive fluid to remove and/or modify the structure of tissue structures. The present invention is particularly useful for treating sleep obstructive disorders, such as sleep apnea and snoring.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1-24. -24. (canceled)
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25. An electrosurgical system for use with a high frequency power supply and an electrically conducting fluid supply, the system comprising:
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an electrosurgical probe comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one active electrode disposed near the distal end and adapted to be electrically coupled to the high frequency power supply;
a passive electrode adapted to be electrically coupled to the high frequency power supply; and
a fluid delivery element defining a fluid path in electrical contact with the passive electrode and the active electrode, the fluid path having an inlet adapted to be fluidly coupled to the electrically conducting fluid supply for directing fluid along the fluid path to generate a current flow path between the passive electrode and the active electrode wherein the electrically conductive fluid has an electrical conductivity equal to or greater than 0.2 mS per cm. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. An electrosurgical system for applying electrical energy to a target site on a structure within or on a patient'"'"'s body, the system comprising:
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a high frequency power supply;
an electrosurgical probe comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, an active electrode disposed near the distal end, said active electrode being electrically coupled to the high frequency power supply;
a passive electrode electrically coupled to the high frequency power supply; and
an electrically conducting fluid supply for supplying electrically conducting fluid to the target site such that the electrically conducting fluid generates a current flow path between the passive electrode and the active electrode wherein the electrically conductive fluid has an electrical conductivity equal to or greater than 0.2 mS per cm.
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51. An electrosurgical system for applying electrical energy to a target site on a structure within or on a patient'"'"'s body, the system comprising:
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a high frequency power supply;
an electrosurgical probe comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, an active electrode disposed near the distal end, said active electrode being electrically coupled to the power supply;
a passive electrode electrically coupled to the power supply; and
a fluid delivery element for directing electrically conducting fluid to the target site and to substantially surround the active electrode with electrically conducting fluid and to locate electrically conducting fluid between the active electrode and the passive electrode and between the active electrode and the target site wherein the electrically conductive fluid has an electrical conductivity equal to or greater than 0.2 mS per cm.
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52. An electrosurgical system for applying electrical energy to a target site on a structure within or on a patient'"'"'s body, the system comprising:
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a high frequency power supply;
an electrosurgical probe comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, an active electrode disposed near the distal end, said active electrode being electrically coupled to the high frequency power supply;
a passive electrode electrically coupled to the high frequency power supply; and
an electrically conducting fluid supply for supplying electrically conducting fluid to the target site from outside of the body such that the electrically conducting fluid generates a current flow path between the passive electrode and the active electrode.
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Specification