Radio frequency tongue base electrode

• US 6,387,093 B1
• Filed: 11/22/1999
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cynosure, LLC (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ALAN G. ELLMAN, Jon C. Garito
• Inventors: Garito, Jon C., Ellman, Alan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROLLINS, ROSILAND STACIE
• Application Number:
  US09/442,316
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 606/32, 606/39, 606/41, 606/45, 607/96, 607/98, 607/99, 607/115, 607/116, 607/134, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings

Abstract

An electrosurgical electrode comprises a generally L-shaped metal member comprising an electrically-insulated, generally straight shank part for mounting in a standard electrosurgical handpiece, and a generally curved part divided into first, second, third, and fourth sections, the second, third, and fourth of which are electrically-insulating and the first of which is bare and terminates in a pointed end. The second and third sections are covered with a thin electrically-insulating coating, whereas the fourth section, closest to the shank, is covered with a thicker electrically-insulating coating. The first, second, and third sections are dimensioned and constructed so as to enable the surgeon to know fairly precisely the depth of the first section in tissue targeted for radiofrequency thermal ablation. An important application is volumetric shrinkage of tongue base tissue, for example, for treating sleep disordered breathing.

Claims

1. A procedure for treating sleep disordered breathing, comprising the steps:

i) providing electrosurgical apparatus connected to an electrosurgical electrode for radiofrequency thermal ablation, said electrosurgical electrode comprising;

(a) an electrically-conductive member comprising at a first end means for connecting to electrosurgical apparatus and at a second end a pointed tip of a needle-shaped electrode for penetrating tissue,

(b) said electrically-conductive member comprising, in order from the pointed tip, first, second, third, and fourth adjacent sections,

(c) said first section being bare so as to allow the passage of electrosurgical currents to the penetrated tissue when the electrosurgical apparatus is activated,

(d) said second section having a relatively thin electrically-insulating coating so as to prevent the passage of electrosurgical currents to tissue penetrated by the second section when the electrosurgical apparatus is activated,

(e) said third section having a relatively thin electrically-insulating coating so as to prevent the passage of electrosurgical currents to tissue penetrated by the third section when the electrosurgical apparatus is activated,

(f) said fourth section having a relatively thick electrically-insulating coating so as to prevent the passage of electrosurgical currents to contacted tissue when the electrosurgical apparatus is activated,

(g) said first, second, third, and fourth sections being visually distinct from the adjacent section such that a user can determine the depth of penetration in the tissue of the needle-shaped electrode when tissue has been penetrated by examining the sections remaining outside the tissue,

(ii) penetrating the tissue with the pointed end to a depth equal to the length of the first section using the distinct visual indication of the second section,

(iii) activating the electrosurgical apparatus to provide at the first section low voltage, low power electrosurgical currents until the tissue adjacent the pointed end is damaged,

(iv) penetrating the tissue with the pointed end to a depth equal to the length of the first and second sections using the distinct visual indication of the third section,

(v) activating the electrosurgical apparatus to provide at the first section low voltage, low power electrosurgical currents until the tissue adjacent the deeper pointed end is damaged.

2. The procedure of claim 1, wherein the electrosurgical apparatus generates electrosurgical currents with a frequency of 4 Mhz.

3. The procedure of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth sections are visually distinct by reason of differently colored exteriors.

4. The procedure of claim 1, wherein, following step (v):

(vi) penetrating the tissue with the pointed end to a depth equal to the length of the first, second and third sections using the distinct visual indication of the fourth section;

(vii) activating the electrosurgical apparatus to provide at the first section low voltage, low power electrosurgical currents until the tissue adjacent the deeper pointed end is damaged.

5. The procedure of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third sections have substantially the same length.

6. The procedure of claim 5, wherein the first, second, and third sections each have a length of about 1 cm.

7. The procedure of claim 1, wherein the electrosurgical apparatus generates electrosurgical currents at a relatively low-voltage, relatively low-power, and at a frequency in excess of 2.5 MHz.