Method for treating obstructive sleep disorder includes removing tissue from base of tongue

• US 7,491,200 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2005
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Underwood, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US11/089,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20050234439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606 45- 50, 128/848, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00327 Ear, nose or throat

Abstract

A method for treating obstructive sleep disorders includes accessing the interior of the tongue through a sublingual incision; advancing an instrument through the incision into the interior of the tongue; and instantaneously removing an amount of tissue from the interior of the base of the tongue with the instrument. The present invention includes forming a cavity or plurality of channels in the tongue. The cavity may be collapsed using a suture, fastener or bioadhesive. An emplaced suture may be provided to hold the cavity in a collapsed position thereby reducing the degree of obstruction. Additionally, thermal energy may be applied to the tissue surface immediately surrounding the channels to cause thermal damage to the tissue surface, thereby creating hemostasis and stiffening the surrounding tissue structure.

Claims

1. A method for treating obstructive sleep disorders, the method comprising:

accessing the interior of the tongue through an incision made at a sublingual location below the submucosal surface the tongue of a patient;

advancing an instrument through the incision into the interior of the tongue; and

instantaneously removing an amount of tissue from the interior of the base of the tongue with the instrument.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the incision is made in the ventral surface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessing the interior of the tongue comprises creating a channel in the tissue between the incision and the interior of the tongue.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the channel passes through a frenulum.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the instrument is an electrosurgical instrument.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the electrosurgical instrument has a curved distal end.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing of tissue comprises:

applying a high frequency voltage difference between one or more active electrodes and one or more return electrodes; and

providing an electrically conductive medium over at least a portion of the one or more active electrodes and the tissue to be removed.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising coagulating tissue in a region adjacent to the location where tissue is removed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing of tissue is performed without breaching the mucosal surface of the tongue.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the applying thermal energy is performed subsequently to the applying a high frequency voltage.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing of tissue comprises forming a cavity within the interior of the base of the tongue.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising collapsing the cavity.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising suturing the cavity.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising stapling the cavity.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising gluing the cavity.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing of tissue decreases the volume of the tongue by about 5% to about 15%.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected amount of tissue is vaporized.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising anchoring a suture to the floor of the mouth.

19. The method of claim 5 wherein said electrosurgical instrument comprises a distal section having an active electrode and a return electrode.