Method for ablating interior sections of the tongue

• US 5,800,379 A
• Filed: 08/12/1996
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Edwards, Stuart D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US08/695,796
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20-22, 604/101, 604/264, 606/2-4, 606/6, 606/7, 606/10, 128/395, 607/1, 607/2
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• 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 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• 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 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00296 mounted on an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00814 Surgery of the tongue, e.g. glossoplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/248 Operations for treatment of snoring, e.g. uvulopalatoplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• 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 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00101 : low, i.e. thermally insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 : reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00261 : arranged in a line
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 : using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00327 : Ear, nose or throat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00636 : Sensing and controlling the application of energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 : using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 : upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00708 : switching the power on or off
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00744 : Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00773 : Sensed parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 : measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00827 : Current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 : Voltage
• 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 2018/1425 : Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3782 : transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/003 : using a spray or a foam
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 : Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 : the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0096 : being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 : for high-frequency therapy
• 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 method for reducing a volume of a tongue provides an ablative agent source. The ablative agent source is coupled to an ablative agent delivery device. At least a portion of the ablative agent delivery device is advanced into an interior of the tongue. A sufficient amount of an ablative agent is delivered from the ablative agent delivery device into the interior of the tongue to debulk a section of the tongue without damaging a hypoglossal nerve. Thereafter, the ablative agent delivery device is retracted from the interior of the tongue.

Claims

1. A method for reducing a volume of a tongue, comprising:

providing an ablation apparatus including a source of ablation energy and an ablation energy delivery device;

advancing at least a portion of the ablation energy delivery device into an interior of the tongue;

delivering a sufficient amount of energy from the energy delivery device into the interior of the tongue to debulk a section of the tongue without permanently damaging a main branch of a hypoglossal nerve; and

retracting the ablation energy delivery device from the interior of the tongue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is an RF source and the ablation energy delivery device is an RF electrode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a coherent source of light and the ablation energy delivery device is an optical fiber.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a heated fluid and the ablation energy delivery device is a catheter with a closed channel configured to receive the heated fluid.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a heated fluid and the ablation energy delivery device is a catheter with an open channel configured to receive the heated fluid.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a cooled fluid and the ablation energy delivery device is a catheter with a closed channel configured to receive the cooled fluid.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a cooled fluid and the ablation energy delivery device is a catheter with an open channel configured to receive the cooled fluid.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a cryogenic fluid.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a microwave source providing energy from 915 MHz to 2.45 GHz and the ablation energy delivery device is a microwave antenna.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is an ultrasound source and the ablation energy delivery device is an ultrasound emitter.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a microwave source.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode is advanced into an interior of the tongue through a ventral surface of the tongue.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the ablation energy delivery device is advanced into an interior of the tongue through an inferior dorsal surface of the tongue.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the ablation energy delivery device is advanced into an interior of the tongue through a dorsum surface of the tongue.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the ablation energy delivery device is advanced into an interior of the tongue through a tip of the tongue.

16. A method for reducing a volume of a tongue, comprising:

providing an ablative agent source coupled to an ablative agent delivery device;

advancing at least a portion of the ablative agent delivery device into an interior of the tongue;

delivering a sufficient amount of an ablative agent from the ablative agent delivery device into the interior of the tongue to debulk a section of the tongue without permanently damaging a main branch of a hypoglossal nerve; and

retracting the ablative agent delivery device from the interior of the tongue.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the ablative agent is a chemical composition or mixture of compositions.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the ablative agent includes an alcohol composition.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the ablative agent is a chemotherapeutic agent.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing an RF electrode to deliver electromagnetic energy to an interior section of the tongue.