Method for treatment of airway obstructions
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for reducing a volume of a tongue, comprising:
- providing a cell necrosis apparatus including a source of energy and one or more energy delivery devices coupled to the energy source;
advancing at least one electrode into an interior of the tongue;
delivering a sufficient amount of energy from the electrode into the interior of the tongue to create cell necrosis without permanently damaging a main branch of a hypoglossal nerve; and
retracting the electrode from the interior of the tongue.
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Abstract
A method for debulking the tongue provides an ablation apparatus including a source of electromagnetic energy and one or more electromagnetic energy delivery electrodes coupled to the electromagnetic energy source. At least one electrode is advanced into an interior of the tongue. Electromagnetic energy is delivered from the electrode to debulk an interior section of the tongue without damaging a hypoglossal nerve. The electrode is then retracted from the interior of the tongue.
187 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for reducing a volume of a tongue, comprising:
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providing a cell necrosis apparatus including a source of energy and one or more energy delivery devices coupled to the energy source; advancing at least one electrode into an interior of the tongue; delivering a sufficient amount of energy from the electrode into the interior of the tongue to create cell necrosis without permanently damaging a main branch of a hypoglossal nerve; and retracting the electrode from the interior of the tongue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for treating airway obstructions, comprising:
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providing a cell necrosis apparatus including a source of energy and one or more energy delivery devices coupled to an energy source; advancing at least one energy delivery device into an interior of a tongue; delivering sufficient energy from the energy delivery device into the interior of the tongue to create cell necrosis in an interior section without permanently damaging a main branch of a hypoglossal nerve and minimizing cell necrosis of the taste buds; and retracting the energy delivery device from the interior of the tongue. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for treating airway obstructions, comprising:
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providing a cell necrosis apparatus including a source of electromagnetic energy and one or more electromagnetic energy delivery electrodes coupled to the electromagnetic energy source; advancing at least one electrode into a lingual tonsil; delivering sufficient electromagnetic energy from the electrode into an interior of the lingual tonsil to create cell necrosis in an interior of the lingual tonsil; and retracting the electrode from the lingual tonsil. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for reducing a volume of a tongue, comprising:
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providing a cell necrosis apparatus including one or more RF electrodes coupled to an RF energy source; positioning at least one electrode into an interior of the tongue; delivering RF energy from the electrode into the interior of the tongue; and creating a cell necrosis in the interior of the tongue without damaging a hypoglossal nerve.
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41. A method for treating airway obstructions, comprising:
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providing a cell necrosis apparatus including one or more RF electrodes coupled to an RF energy source; positioning at least one electrode into an interior of a tongue; delivering RF energy from the electrode into the interior of the tongue; and creating cell necrosis in the interior of the tongue without damaging a hypoglossal nerve.
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42. A method for treating airway obstructions, comprising:
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providing a cell necrosis apparatus including one or more RF electrodes coupled to an RF energy source; positioning at least one electrode into an interior of a lingual tonsil; delivering sufficient RF energy from the electrode into an interior of the lingual tonsil; creating cell necrosis in the interior of the lingual tonsil.
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Specification