Cell necrosis apparatus
First Claim
1. A cell necrosis apparatus to reduce a volume of a selected site in an interior of a tongue in an oral cavity, comprising:
- a handpiece means;
an electrode means coupled to a distal portion of the handpiece means including a dista end insetable into tissue, the electrode means being configured to be maneuverable in the oral cavity and inserted into a tongue surface to create cell necrosis without damaging a main branch of the hypoglossal nerve, the electrode means including at least one energy delivery device with a tissue penetrating distal end that extends in the oral cavity as the electrode means is introduced into the oral cavity; and
a cable means coupled to the electrode means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus that reduces a volume of a selected site in an interior of the tongue includes a handpiece means and an electrode means at least partially positioned in the interior of the handpiece means. The electrode means includes an electrode means electromagnetic energy delivery surface and is advance able from the interior of the handpiece means into the interior of the tongue. An electrode means advancement member is coupled to the electrode means and configured to advance the electrode means an advancement distance in the interior of the tongue. The advancement distance is sufficient for the electrode means electromagnetic energy delivery surface to deliver electromagnetic energy to the selected tissue site and reduce a volume of the selected site without damaging a hypoglossal nerve. A cable means is coupled to the electrode means.
214 Citations
63 Claims
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1. A cell necrosis apparatus to reduce a volume of a selected site in an interior of a tongue in an oral cavity, comprising:
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a handpiece means;
an electrode means coupled to a distal portion of the handpiece means including a dista end insetable into tissue, the electrode means being configured to be maneuverable in the oral cavity and inserted into a tongue surface to create cell necrosis without damaging a main branch of the hypoglossal nerve, the electrode means including at least one energy delivery device with a tissue penetrating distal end that extends in the oral cavity as the electrode means is introduced into the oral cavity; and
a cable means coupled to the electrode means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
an RF energy source coupled to the RF electrode means.
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4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a cooling device means coupled to the electrode means.
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5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:
a flow rate control device means coupled to the cooling device means and configured to control a cooling medium flow rate through the cooling device means.
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6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
an insulator means at least partially positioned around an exterior of the electrode means.
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7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:
a sensor means coupled to the electrode means.
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8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a sensor means positioned at a distal end of the electrode means.
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9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a feedback control device means coupled to the electrode means, a sensor means and an RF energy source means.
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10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
an infusion medium source means coupled to the electrode means.
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11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrode means has an electrode means advancement length extending from an exterior of the handpiece means to the interior of the tongue, wherein the advancement length is sufficient to position the energy delivery surface at the selected site and deliver sufficient electromagnetic energy to create cell necrosis without damaging a main branch of a hypoglossal nerve.
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12. A cell necrosis apparatus to reduce a volume of a selected site in an interior of a uvula, comprising:
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a handpiece means;
an electrode means coupled to a distal portion of the handpiece means including a distal end insertable into tissue, the electrode means being configured to be maneuverable in the oral cavity and inserted into a uvula surface to create cell necrosis and a repositioning of the uvula in the oral cavity while substantially preserving an uvula mucosal layer at an exterior of the uvula, the electrode means including at least one energy delivery device with a tissue penetrating distal end that extends in the oral cavity as the electrode means is introduced into the oral cavity; and
a cable means coupled to the electrode means. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
an RF energy source means coupled to the RF electrode means.
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18. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:
a cooling device means coupled to the electrode means.
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19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:
a flow rate control device means coupled to the cooling device means and configured to control a cooling medium flow rate through the cooling device means.
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20. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:
an insulator means at least partially positioned around an exterior of the electrode means.
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21. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:
a sensor means coupled to the electrode means.
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22. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:
a sensor means positioned at a distal end of the electrode means.
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23. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:
a feedback control device means coupled to the electrode means, a sensor means and an RF energy source means.
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24. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:
an infusion medium source means coupled to the electrode means.
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25. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the electrode means has an electrode means advancement length extending from an exterior of the handpiece means to the interior of the uvula, wherein the advancement length is sufficient to position the energy delivery surface at the selected site and deliver sufficient electromagnetic energy to create cell necrosis with reduced necrosis of an exterior mucosal surface.
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26. A cell necrosis apparatus to reduce a volume of a selected site in an interior of a turbinate structure, comprising:
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a handpiece means;
an electrode means coupled to a distal portion of the handpiece means including a distal and insertable into tissue, the electrode means being configured to be maneuverable in a nostril and inserted into a turbinate structure exterior surface, deliver electromagnetic energy to the tissue site and create cell necrosis of the turbinate structure to increase a size of a nasal passageway without sufficiently limiting blood flow to the optic nerve and create a permanent impairment of vision, the electrode means including at least one energy delivery device with a tissue penetrating distal end that extends in the oral cavity as the electrode mean is introduced into the nasal passageway; and
a cable means coupled to the electrode means. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
an RF energy source means coupled to the RF electrode means.
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33. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:
a cooling device means coupled to the electrode means.
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34. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:
a flow rate control device means coupled to the cooling device means and configured to control a cooling medium flow rate through the cooling device means.
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35. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:
an insulator means at least partially positioned around an exterior of the electrode means.
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36. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:
a sensor means coupled to the electrode means.
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37. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:
a sensor means positioned at a distal end of the electrode means.
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38. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:
a feedback control device means coupled to the electrode means, a sensor means and an RF energy source means.
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39. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:
an infusion medium source means coupled to the electrode means.
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40. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the electrode means has an electrode means advancement length extending from an exterior of the handpiece means to the interior of the turbinate structure, wherein the advancement length is sufficient to position the energy delivery surface at the selected site and deliver sufficient electromagnetic energy to the selected tissue site and create controlled cell necrosis of a mucosal layer of a turbinate bone while preserving a sufficient amount of turbinate bone and prevent creating a permanent dry nose condition.
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41. A cell necrosis apparatus to reduce a volume of a selected site in an interior of a soft palate structure, comprising:
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a handpiece means;
an electrode means coupled to a distal portion of the handpiece means including a distal end insertable into tissue, the electrode means being configured to be maneuverable in an oral cavity and inserted into a soft palate structure surface, deliver electromagnetic energy to the tissue site and create cell necrosis and reposition the soft palate structure in an oral cavity with reduced necrosis of an exterior mucosal surface of the soft palate structure, the electrode means including at least one energy delivery device with a tissue penetrating distal end that extends in the oral cavity as the electrode means is introduced into the oral cavity; and
a cable means coupled to the electrode means. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
an RF energy source means coupled to the RF electrode means.
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46. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:
a cooling device means coupled to the electrode means.
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47. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising:
a flow rate control device means coupled to the cooling device means and configured to control a cooling medium flow rate through the cooling device means.
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48. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:
an insulator means at least partially positioned around an exterior of the electrode means.
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49. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:
a sensor means coupled to the electrode means.
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50. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:
a sensor means positioned at a distal end of the electrode means.
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51. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:
a feedback control device means coupled to the electrode means, a sensor means and an RF energy source means.
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52. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:
an infusion medium source means coupled to the electrode means.
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53. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the electrode means has an electrode means advancement length extending from an exterior of the handpiece means to the interior of the soft palate structure, wherein the advancement length is sufficient to position the energy delivery surface at the selected site and deliver sufficient electromagnetic energy to create cell necrosis with reduced necrosis of an exterior mucosal surface of the soft palate structure.
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54. A cell necrosis apparatus to reduce a volume of a selected site in an interior of a turbinate structure, comprising:
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a handpiece means;
an electrode means coupled to a distal portion of the handpiece means including a distal end insertable into tissue, the electrode means being configured to be maneuverable in a nostril and inserted into a turbinate structure exterior surface, deliver electromagnetic energy to the tissue site and create cell necrosis of the turbinate structure to increase a size of a nasal passageway without sufficiently limiting blood flow to the retina and create a permanent impairment of vision, the electrode means including at least one energy delivery device with a tissue penetrating distal end that extends in the oral cavity as the electrode means is introduced into the nostril; and
a cable means coupled to the electrode means. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
an RF energy source means coupled to the RF electrode means.
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61. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising:
a cooling device means coupled to the electrode means.
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62. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising:
an insulator means at least partially positioned around an exterior of the electrode means.
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63. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising:
a sensor means coupled to the electrode means.
Specification