US5624439A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for treatment of air way obstructions
Assignee: Somnus Medical Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1995-08-18
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Granted: 1997-04-29
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Expires: 2015-08-18
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for treating air way obstructions, includes a first arm including a proximal end and a distal end, the first arm distal end is inserted into the throat and positioned adjacent to a back surface of the tongue. A second arm has a proximal end and a distal end. The second arm is positioned under the jaw. A coupling member couples the first arm with the second arm, permitting rotational movement of each arm about a longitudinal axis of the coupling member. A plurality of RF electrodes are positioned in the first arm. The plurality of RF electrodes are advanced into the back of the tongue and retracted out of the tongue and into the first arm, ablating a selected area of the back of the tongue.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart D. Edwards
- 👤 Edward J. Gough
- 👤 David Douglass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1402; A61B17/00; A61B17/24; A61B18/1477; A61B18/1485; A61B18/1815; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B5/00; A61B5/24; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/40; A61N1/403; A61N5/00; A61N5/02; A61N5/04; A61N5/045; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00026; A61B2017/00084; A61B2017/248
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for treating air way obstructions, comprising: a first arm including a proximal end and a distal end, the first arm distal end being insertable into an oral cavity and adapted to be positioned adjacent to a surface of a tongue; a second arm including a proximal end and a distal end, the second arm being adapted to be positioned under a jaw; a coupling member mechanically coupling the first arm with the second arm permitting rotational movement of each arm about a longitudinal axis of the coupling member; and a plurality of RF electrodes at least partially positioned in the first arm and adapted to be configured to be precisely positioned through a selected surface of the tongue into an interior of the tongue and adapted to be retracted out of the tongue and into the first arm.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for treating air way obstructions, comprising: a first arm including a proximal end and a distal end, the first arm distal end being insertable into an oral cavity and adapted to be positioned adjacent to a surface of a tongue; a second arm including a proximal end and a distal end, the second arm being adapted to be positioned under a jaw; a coupling member mechanically coupling the first arm with the second arm permitting rotational movement of each arm about a longitudinal axis of the coupling member; and a plurality of RF electrodes at least partially positioned in the first arm and adapted to be configured to be precisely positioned through a selected surface of the tongue into an interior of the tongue and adapted to be retracted out of the tongue and into the first arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of insulation sleeves, each insulation sleeve being associated with an RF electrode and slideably positioned around an exterior of the RF electrode to define an RF ablation surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a second plurality of RF electrodes at least partially positioned in the second arm and adapted to be configured to be precisely positioned through a selected undersurface of the tongue into an interior of the tongue.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: a plurality of insulation sleeves, each insulation sleeve being associated with an RF electrode positioned in the second arm and slideably positioned around an exterior of the RF electrode to define an RF ablation surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a handle coupled to the first and second arms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of sensors associated with the plurality of RF electrodes positioned in the first arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a visualization apparatus coupled to one of the first or second arms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of sensors positioned on an exterior surface of the distal end of the first arm to measure a temperature of the back of the tongue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a lumen extending through the first arm providing an introduction of oxygen into a patient.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an anesthetic lumen extending through the first arm providing injection of an anesthetic at the first arm distal end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling member is a hinge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling member applies a compression force to the first and second arms.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
200 words
An apparatus for treating air way obstructions, comprising: a first arm including a proximal end and a distal end, the first arm distal end being adapted to be insertable into an oral cavity and adapted to be positioned adjacent to a surface of the tongue; a second arm including a proximal end and a distal end, the second arm being adapted to be positioned under the jaw; a coupling member coupling the first arm with the second arm permitting rotational movement of each arm about a longitudinal axis of the coupling member; a plurality of RF electrodes at least partially positioned in the first arm and adapted to be configured to be precisely positioned through a selected surface of the tongue into an interior of the tongue and adapted to be retracted out of the tongue and into the first arm; one or more sensors positioned at one of an interior or an exterior of the RF electrodes or on an interior or exterior surface of the first arm distal end, to detect one of impedance or temperature; and a sensor feedback apparatus coupled to the sensors for maintaining a tissue adjacent to the RF electrodes at a desired temperature.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
200 words
An apparatus for treating air way obstructions, comprising: a first arm including a proximal end and a distal end, the first arm distal end being adapted to be insertable into an oral cavity and adapted to be positioned adjacent to a surface of the tongue; a second arm including a proximal end and a distal end, the second arm being adapted to be positioned under the jaw; a coupling member coupling the first arm with the second arm permitting rotational movement of each arm about a longitudinal axis of the coupling member; a plurality of RF electrodes at least partially positioned in the first arm and adapted to be configured to be precisely positioned through a selected surface of the tongue into an interior of the tongue and adapted to be retracted out of the tongue and into the first arm; one or more sensors positioned at one of an interior or an exterior of the RF electrodes or on an interior or exterior surface of the first arm distal end, to detect one of impedance or temperature; and a sensor feedback apparatus coupled to the sensors for maintaining a tissue adjacent to the RF electrodes at a desired temperature.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the RF electrodes is independently connected to the resources, and the resources generates an independent output for each RF electrode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein hardware and/or software alone or in combination provides an output that maintains a selected energy at an RF antennae for a selected length of time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus operates in a mono-polar mode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus operates in a bipolar mode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a multiplexer coupled to the plurality of RF electrodes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a plurality of insulation sleeves, each insulation sleeve being associated with an RF electrode and slideably positioned around an exterior of the RF electrode to define an RF ablation surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a second plurality of RF electrodes at least partially positioned in the second arm and configured to be precisely positioned through a selected undersurface surface of the tongue into an interior of the tongue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising: a plurality of insulation sleeves, each insulation sleeve being associated with an RF electrode positioned in the second arm and slideably positioned around an exterior of the RF electrode to define an RF ablation surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a handle coupled to the first and second arms.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a visualization apparatus coupled to one of the first or second arms.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a lumen extending through the first arm providing an introduction of oxygen into a patient.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: an anesthetic lumen extending through the first arm providing injection of an anesthetic at the first arm distal end.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the coupling member is a hinge.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the coupling member applies a compression force to the first and second arms.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-04-28 | 2000-10-28 | 2001-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-04-28 | 2004-10-28 | 2005-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-04-28 | 2008-10-28 | 2009-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |