Method for reducing snoring by RF ablation of the uvula

• US 5,456,662 A
• Filed: 05/09/1994
• Issued: 10/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: David L. Douglass, Stuart D. Edwards
• Inventors: Edwards, Stuart D., Douglass, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US08/239,658
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20-22, 604/101, 604/102, 604/264, 604/272-274, 606/2-4, 606/6, 606/7, 606/10-17, 128/395-402, 607/1, 607/2
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0233 Pointed or sharp biopsy instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00092 using thermocouples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00101 using an array of thermosensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00123 and automatic shutdown
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00181 Means for setting or varying the pulse energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00194 Means for setting or varying the repetition rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00274 Prostate operation, e.g. prostatectomy, turp, bhp treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00296 mounted on an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 : shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22077 : with a part piercing the tissue A61B2017/22044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22082 : after introduction of a substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/248 : Operations for treatment of snoring, e.g. uvulopalatoplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 : Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 : Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 : with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 : closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 : low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00095 : high, i.e. heat conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00101 : low, i.e. thermally insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 : reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 : Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 : using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00327 : Ear, nose or throat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 : Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 : Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 : upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00726 : Duty cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00744 : Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 : Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 : measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 : measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00886 : Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0091 : Handpieces of the surgical instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00916 : with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00946 : slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 : combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 : monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 : bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/128 : generating two or more frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 : Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2238 : with means for selectively laterally deflecting the tip of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 : Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3614 : using optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 : using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3782 : transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3786 : receiver only
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3925 : ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 : with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 : with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/003 : using a spray or a foam
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0054 : with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0089 : Single injection needle protruding axially, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the catheter, from the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0096 : being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/018 : Catheters having a lateral opening for guiding elongated means lateral to the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 : Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 : for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 : Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 : for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/04 : Radiators for near-field treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/045 : specially adapted for treatment inside the body

Abstract

A medical ablation method for reducing snoring wherein a flexible RF electrode wire surrounded by an insulating sleeve axially moveable thereon is inserted into an uvula; the sleeve is retracted to expose a predetermined portion of the electrode; and RF energy is applied to the uvula tissue through the electrode to cause internal lesions in the uvula and reduce snoring.

Claims

1. A method for medical ablation of tissue within a uvula to reduce snoring by reducing the size and mass of said uvula comprising the steps of:

a) inserting a needle into said uvula, said needle having an electrode enclosed within an insulating sleeve axially moveable thereon and bendable therewith;

b) retracting said sleeve from the terminus of the electrode to expose a predetermined electrode area for ablation; and

d) applying RF energy to the tissue surrounding the exposed electrode area to effect ablation of said uvula tissue.

2. An ablation treatment method for reducing the mass of cellular tissue of the uvula in order to reduce snoring comprising:

a) introducing a cannula having a stylet lumen to the exterior of said uvula, the cannula having a distal end and a proximal end, the cannula having a control housing at its proximal end and an opening at its distal end, a flexible stylet with a sharp distal tip being enclosed within the stylet lumen of the cannula, the flexible stylet comprising an RF electrode having an insulating sleeve or coating extending along at least a portion thereof;

b) extending the flexible stylet from the distal end of the cannula into the mass of cellular tissue of the uvula to be reduced; and

c) passing RF current from the stylet through the mass of cellular tissue of the uvula to be reduced sufficient to raise the temperature of cells of the mass of cellular tissue of the uvula for a time sufficient to cause death of the cells.

3. The ablation treatment method of claim 2 for reducing the mass of the uvula wherein the stylet electrode has an insulating sleeve longitudinally slidable on the electrode, the method including the steps of

a) extending the flexible stylet and insulating sleeve from the distal end of the cannula into the mass of cellular tissue of the uvula to be reduced, and retracting the sleeve or extending the electrode beyond the sleeve to expose a preselected length of electrode in the uvula, thereby control ling the length of the lesion to be obtained in the treatment;

and

c) passing RF current from the stylet through the mass of cellular tissue of the uvula to be reduced sufficient to raise the temperature of cells of the mass of cellular tissue of the uvula to be reduced to above 47°

C. for a time sufficient to cause death of the cells.

4. An ablation treatment method for reducing the mass of cellular tissue of the uvula in order to reduce snoring comprising:

a) introducing a cannula having a stylet lumen to the exterior of said uvula, the cannula having a distal end and a proximal end, the cannula having a control housing at its proximal end and an opening at its distal end, a flexible stylet with a sharp distal tip being enclosed within the stylet lumen of the cannula, the flexible stylet comprising a microwave antenna;

b) extending the distal end of the microwave antenna from the distal end of the cannula into the mass of cellular tissue of the uvula to be reduced; and

c) energizing the microwave antenna at a power and for a time sufficient to raise the temperature of cells of the mass of cellular tissue of the uvula to be reduced to above 47°

C. for a time sufficient to cause death of the cells.