US5674191A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ablation apparatus and system for removal of soft palate tissue
Assignee: Somnus Medical Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1995-08-18
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Granted: 1997-10-07
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Expires: 2015-08-18
Abstract
Abstract An ablation apparatus includes a cannula with a distal end, a proximal end and a lumen. An anvil is coupled to the cannula and extends beyond the cannula distal end. The anvil has a distal end that extends in a lateral direction relative to an anvil longitudinal axis. The distal end is adapted to receive and position an uvula or other soft tissue. One or more energy delivery devices are slideably positioned in the cannula. The energy delivery devices are advanced and retracted in and out the cannula distal end. An advancement and retraction apparatus advances and retracts the energy delivery devices in and out of the cannula distal end and into the soft tissue retained at the anvil distal end. The soft tissue ablation apparatus can further include a handle with a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end. The cannula is at least partially positioned in the handle lumen and extends beyond the handle distal end. The ablation apparatus is useful for ablation of soft palate tissue to eliminate snoring.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart D. Edwards
- 👤 Edward J. Gough
- 👤 David Douglass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1442; A61B18/1477; A61B18/1485; A61B18/1815; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06; A61N1/40; A61N1/403; A61N5/00; A61N5/02; A61N5/04; A61N5/045; A61B18/1402; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00084; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/00296; A61B17/30; A61B2017/306; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00023; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00089; A61B2018/00101; A61B2018/00273; A61B2018/00291; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00321; A61B2018/00327; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00702; A61B2018/00744; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00797; A61B2018/00827; A61B2018/00875; A61B2018/00892; A61B2018/00982; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61B2090/378; A61B2090/3782; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002; A61B2218/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
An ablation apparatus, comprising: a cannula including a distal end, a proximal end and an interior lumen; an energy delivery device at least partially positionable in the cannula and configured to be of being advanced and retracted in and out the cannula distal end, wherein the energy delivery device includes a distal end sufficiently sharp to pierce an oral cavity structure; a retainer member coupled to the cannula and extending in a distal direction from the cannula distal end, the retainer member configured to restrict a movement of the oral cavity structure when the energy delivery device is introduced into an interior of the oral cavity structure; and a deployment and retraction apparatus coupled to the cannula and configured to advance and retract the distal end of the energy delivery device in and out of the the oral cavity structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
An ablation apparatus, comprising: a cannula including a distal end, a proximal end and an interior lumen; an energy delivery device at least partially positionable in the cannula and configured to be of being advanced and retracted in and out the cannula distal end, wherein the energy delivery device includes a distal end sufficiently sharp to pierce an oral cavity structure; a retainer member coupled to the cannula and extending in a distal direction from the cannula distal end, the retainer member configured to restrict a movement of the oral cavity structure when the energy delivery device is introduced into an interior of the oral cavity structure; and a deployment and retraction apparatus coupled to the cannula and configured to advance and retract the distal end of the energy delivery device in and out of the the oral cavity structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retainer member is an anvil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retainer member has a distal end net geometry.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retainer member has a grasper distal end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retainer member has a hook distal end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device is an RF electrode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device is laser optical fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: an insulator in a surrounding relationship to the RF electrode, the insulator and the RF electrode being slidably engaged to vary a length of RF electrode not covered by the insulator to define an RF electrode ablation surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: one or more sensors positioned at a distal end of one of the cannula or the retaining member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retaining member includes a hollow lumen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retaining member distal end includes one or more fluid distribution ports.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a visualization apparatus with a distal end, the visualization apparatus positioned is a lumen formed in the cannula.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the visualization apparatus distal end is positioned at the cannula distal end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: an eyepiece coupled to the visualization apparatus and positioned at the proximal end of the cannula.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: a flushing port formed in the retaining member to deliver a flushing medium directed past the visualization apparatus distal end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retaining member is formed as an integral part of the cannula.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retaining member is an element that is not an integral part of the cannula.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a length of the retaining member is adjustable.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retaining member distal end is a ground pad electrode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retaining member is slideably mounted to the cannula.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a flushing channel formed in the cannula lumen, the flushing channel including a distal end positioned adjacent to the lumen housing the visualization apparatus.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retaining member distal end is rotatable.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retaining member is retractable in a direction towards the cannula proximal end.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retaining member is a hollow lumen coupled to a vacuum source.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a visualization apparatus coupled to the cannula.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the visualization apparatus is at least partially positioned in an interior of the cannula.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising: an eyepiece coupled to a proximal end of the visualization apparatus.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a visualization apparatus coupled to the cannula.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the visualization apparatus is at least partially positioned in an interior of the cannula.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising: an eyepiece coupled to a proximal end of the visualization apparatus.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
122 words
A uvula ablation apparatus, comprising: a cannula including a distal end, a proximal end and an interior lumen; an energy delivery device at least partially positionable in the lumen and configured to be coupled to an energy source, the energy delivery device including a distal end configured to extend beyond the distal end of the cannula, wherein the energy delivery device includes a distal end sufficiently sharp to pierce the uvula; a retainer member coupled to the cannula and extending in a distal direction from the cannula distal end, the retainer member configured to restrict a movement of the uvula when the energy delivery device is introduced into an interior of the uvula; and a cable coupled to the energy delivery device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
122 words
A uvula ablation apparatus, comprising: a cannula including a distal end, a proximal end and an interior lumen; an energy delivery device at least partially positionable in the lumen and configured to be coupled to an energy source, the energy delivery device including a distal end configured to extend beyond the distal end of the cannula, wherein the energy delivery device includes a distal end sufficiently sharp to pierce the uvula; a retainer member coupled to the cannula and extending in a distal direction from the cannula distal end, the retainer member configured to restrict a movement of the uvula when the energy delivery device is introduced into an interior of the uvula; and a cable coupled to the energy delivery device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising: a deployment and retraction apparatus at least partially positioned in the cannula to advance and retract the distal end of the energy delivery device in and out of the uvula.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the retainer member is an anvil.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the retainer member has a distal end with a net geometry.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the retainer member has a grasper distal end.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the retainer member has a hook distal end.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the energy delivery device is an RF electrode.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising: an insulator in a surrounding relationship to the RF electrode, the insulator and the RF electrode being slidably engaged to vary a length of RF electrode not covered by the insulator to define an RF electrode ablation surface.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the energy delivery device is laser optical fiber.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising: one or more sensors positioned at a distal end of one of the cannula or the retaining member.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising: resources connected with the sensors, the retaining member and the energy source, the resources providing an output for delivering and maintaining a selected energy at the energy delivery device.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the resources provides an output that maintains a selected energy at the energy delivery device for a selected length of time.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the retaining member includes a hollow lumen.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the retaining member distal end includes one or more fluid distribution ports.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising: a visualization apparatus with a distal end, the visualization apparatus positioned in a lumen formed in the cannula.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the visualization apparatus distal end is positioned at the cannula distal end.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein a length of the retaining member is adjustable.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the retaining member distal end is rotatable.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the retaining member is retractable in a direction towards the cannula proximal end.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the retaining member includes a hollow lumen coupled to a vacuum source.
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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) | 2000-10-06 | 2001-04-07 | 2001-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-06 | 2005-04-07 | 2005-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-06 | 2009-04-07 | 2009-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |