Method for treatment of airway obstructions

• US 5,817,049 A
• Filed: 02/24/1997
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Edwards, Stuart D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez, Manual
• Application Number:
  US08/805,121
• Time in Patent Office: 589 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 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• 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 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00296 mounted on an endoscope
• 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 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00327 Ear, nose or throat
• 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 2018/00791 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 2018/143 : multiple needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 : Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• 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: 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 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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is an RF source.

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

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

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode is advanced into an interior of the tongue through an inferior dorsal surface of the tongue.

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

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode is advanced into an interior of the tongue through a tip of the tongue.

8. The method to claim 1, wherein two or more electrodes are advanced into a different interior area of the tongue.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein two or more electrodes are introduced through a different surface site of the tongue.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the ablation apparatus further comprises:

a catheter including a lumen, wherein the electrode is deployed from the catheter lumen into an interior of the tongue.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the catheter further comprises:

a cooling element.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cooling element comprises a cooling channel in an interior of the catheter, the cooling channel receiving a cooling medium and circulating the cooling medium through the interior of the catheter.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

cooling a surface of the tongue while an electrode ablates an interior section of the tongue.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the catheter is introduced into an oral cavity and one or more electrodes are introduced into an interior of the tongue through one of an inferior dorsal surface of the tongue, a dorsum surface of the tongue, or a tip of the tongue.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the catheter is introduced into an oral cavity and one or more electrodes are introduced into an interior of the tongue through a ventral surface of the tongue.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an imaging apparatus.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the imaging apparatus is an ultrasound device.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

imaging the tongue prior to creating cell necrosis in the interior of the tongue.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

imaging the tongue after creating cell necrosis in the interior of the tongue.

20. A method for treating airway obstructions, comprising:

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.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the electrode is advanced into an interior of the tongue through a ventral surface of the tongue.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the electrode is advanced into an interior of the tongue through an inferior dorsal surface of the tongue.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the electrode is advanced into an interior of the tongue through a dorsum surface of the tongue.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the electrode is advanced into an interior of the tongue through a tip of the tongue.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the ablation apparatus further comprises:

a catheter including a lumen, wherein the electrode is deployed from the catheter lumen into an interior of the tongue.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the catheter is introduced into an oral cavity and one or more electrodes are introduced into an interior of the tongue through one of an inferior dorsal surface of the tongue, a dorsum surface of the tongue, or a tip of the tongue.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the catheter is introduced into an oral cavity and one or more electrodes are introduced into an interior of the tongue through a ventral surface of the tongue.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the energy source is an RF source.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the sufficient cell necrosis of the interior of the tongue is achieved to increase a cross-sectional area of the airway passage.

30. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

providing an imaging apparatus.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

imaging the tongue prior to creating cell necrosis of the interior of the tongue.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

imaging the tongue after creating cell necrosis of the interior of the tongue.

33. A method for treating airway obstructions, comprising:

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.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the energy source is an RF source.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein one or more electrodes are advanced into a different section of the lingual tonsil.

36. The method of claim 33. further comprising:

providing an imaging apparatus.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the imaging apparatus is an ultrasound device.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

imaging the lingual tonsil prior to creating cell necrosis of the lingual tonsil.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

imaging the lingual tonsil after creating cell necrosis of the interior of the lingual tonsil.

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

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.

41. A method for treating airway obstructions, comprising:

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.

42. A method for treating airway obstructions, comprising:

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.