US5800379A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for ablating interior sections of the tongue
Assignee: Somnus Medical Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1996-08-12
•
Granted: 1998-09-01
•
Expires: 2016-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A method for reducing a volume of a tongue provides an ablative agent source. The ablative agent source is coupled to an ablative agent delivery device. At least a portion of the ablative agent delivery device is advanced into an interior of the tongue. A sufficient amount of an ablative agent is delivered from the ablative agent delivery device into the interior of the tongue to debulk a section of the tongue without damaging a hypoglossal nerve. Thereafter, the ablative agent delivery device is retracted from the interior of the tongue.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart D. Edwards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:48
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B17/00; A61B17/24; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1477; A61B18/1485; A61B18/1492; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B5/00; A61B5/41; A61B5/414; A61B5/415; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06; A61N1/40; A61N1/403; A61N5/00; A61N5/02; A61N5/04; A61N5/045; A61B18/1402; A61B18/1442; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00026; A61B2017/00084; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/00296; A61B2017/00743; A61B2017/00814; A61B2017/248; A61B17/30; A61B2017/306; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00023; A61B2018/00029; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00089; A61B2018/00101; A61B2018/00184; A61B2018/00196; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0022; A61B2018/0025; A61B2018/00261; A61B2018/00273; A61B2018/00291; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00321; A61B2018/00327; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00666; A61B2018/00678; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00702; A61B2018/00708; A61B2018/00744; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00797; A61B2018/00827; A61B2018/00875; A61B2018/00892; A61B2018/00982; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1425; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61B2090/378; A61B2090/3782; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002; A61B2218/003; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0082; A61M2025/0096
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for reducing a volume of a tongue, comprising: providing an ablation apparatus including a source of ablation energy and an ablation energy delivery device; advancing at least a portion of the ablation energy delivery device into an interior of the tongue; delivering a sufficient amount of energy from the energy delivery device into the interior of the tongue to debulk a section of the tongue without permanently damaging a main branch of a hypoglossal nerve; and retracting the ablation energy delivery device from the interior of the tongue.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for reducing a volume of a tongue, comprising: providing an ablation apparatus including a source of ablation energy and an ablation energy delivery device; advancing at least a portion of the ablation energy delivery device into an interior of the tongue; delivering a sufficient amount of energy from the energy delivery device into the interior of the tongue to debulk a section of the tongue without permanently damaging a main branch of a hypoglossal nerve; and retracting the ablation energy delivery device from the interior of the tongue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is an RF source and the ablation energy delivery device is an RF electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a coherent source of light and the ablation energy delivery device is an optical fiber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a heated fluid and the ablation energy delivery device is a catheter with a closed channel configured to receive the heated fluid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a heated fluid and the ablation energy delivery device is a catheter with an open channel configured to receive the heated fluid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a cooled fluid and the ablation energy delivery device is a catheter with a closed channel configured to receive the cooled fluid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a cooled fluid and the ablation energy delivery device is a catheter with an open channel configured to receive the cooled fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a cryogenic fluid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a microwave source providing energy from 915 MHz to 2.45 GHz and the ablation energy delivery device is a microwave antenna.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is an ultrasound source and the ablation energy delivery device is an ultrasound emitter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a microwave source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode is advanced into an interior of the tongue through a ventral surface of the tongue.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the ablation energy delivery device is advanced into an interior of the tongue through an inferior dorsal surface of the tongue.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the ablation energy delivery device is advanced into an interior of the tongue through a dorsum surface of the tongue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the ablation energy delivery device is advanced into an interior of the tongue through a tip of the tongue.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for reducing a volume of a tongue, comprising: providing an ablative agent source coupled to an ablative agent delivery device; advancing at least a portion of the ablative agent delivery device into an interior of the tongue; delivering a sufficient amount of an ablative agent from the ablative agent delivery device into the interior of the tongue to debulk a section of the tongue without permanently damaging a main branch of a hypoglossal nerve; and retracting the ablative agent delivery device from the interior of the tongue.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for reducing a volume of a tongue, comprising: providing an ablative agent source coupled to an ablative agent delivery device; advancing at least a portion of the ablative agent delivery device into an interior of the tongue; delivering a sufficient amount of an ablative agent from the ablative agent delivery device into the interior of the tongue to debulk a section of the tongue without permanently damaging a main branch of a hypoglossal nerve; and retracting the ablative agent delivery device from the interior of the tongue.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the ablative agent is a chemical composition or mixture of compositions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the ablative agent includes an alcohol composition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the ablative agent is a chemotherapeutic agent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 19, further comprising: providing an RF electrode to deliver electromagnetic energy to an interior section of the tongue.
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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) | 2001-08-31 | 2002-03-02 | 2002-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-31 | 2006-03-02 | 2006-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-31 | 2010-03-02 | 2010-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |