System and methods for electrosurgical treatment of obstructive sleep disorders
First Claim
1. A method for treating obstructive sleep disorders comprising:
- positioning an active electrode adjacent to a tissue structure in a patient'"'"'s mouth or throat;
applying high frequency voltage between the active electrode and a return electrode, the high frequency voltage being sufficient to ablate tissue;
during the applying step, advancing the active electrode into the tissue to generate a space within the tissue; and
removing the active electrode from the space within the tissue.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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 includes a channeling technique in which small holes or channels are formed within tissue structures in the mouth, such as the tonsils, tongue, palate and uvula, and thermal energy is applied to the tissue surface immediately surrounding these holes or channels to cause thermal damage to the tissue surface, thereby stiffening the surrounding tissue structure. Applicant has discovered that such stiffening of certain tissue structures in the mouth and throat helps to prevent the tissue structure from obstructing the patient'"'"'s upper airway during sleep.
362 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method for treating obstructive sleep disorders comprising:
-
positioning an active electrode adjacent to a tissue structure in a patient'"'"'s mouth or throat; applying high frequency voltage between the active electrode and a return electrode, the high frequency voltage being sufficient to ablate tissue; during the applying step, advancing the active electrode into the tissue to generate a space within the tissue; and removing the active electrode from the space within the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification