Patent US6451641B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5807308A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5807308A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for treatment of air way obstructions
Assignee: Somnus Medical Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1996-05-03
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Granted: 1998-09-15
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Expires: 2016-05-03
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus reduces the volume of selected sections of a tongue. The apparatus includes a catheter means. An electrode means is at least partially positioned in an interior of the catheter means. The electrode means is configured to deliver sufficient electromagnetic energy to ablate an interior of the tongue without damaging a hypoglossal nerve of the tongue. An electrode advancement and retraction means is coupled to the electrode means to advance and retract at least a portion of the electrode means in and out of a selected tongue surface. A cabling means is coupled to the electrode means.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart D. Edwards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61B17/00; A61B17/24; A61B18/14; A61B18/1477; A61B18/1485; A61B18/1492; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06; A61N1/40; A61N1/403; A61N5/00; A61N5/02; A61N5/04; A61N5/045; A61B18/1402; A61B18/20; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00026; A61B2017/00084; A61B2017/00743; A61B2017/00814; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00023; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00089; A61B2018/00101; A61B2018/00184; A61B2018/00196; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00666; A61B2018/00678; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00702; A61B2018/00708; A61B2018/00744; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00875; A61B2018/00982; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1425; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61B2090/378; A61B2090/3782; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0082; A61M2025/0096
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for reducing the volume of selected sections of a tongue, comprising: a catheter means; an electrode means at least partially positioned in an interior of the catheter means, the electrode means being configured to deliver sufficient electromagnetic energy to ablate an interior of the tongue without damaging a hypoglossal nerve of the tongue; an electrode advancement and retraction means coupled to the electrode means to advance and retract at least a portion of the electrode means in and out of a selected tongue surface; and a cabling means coupled to the electrode means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for reducing the volume of selected sections of a tongue, comprising: a catheter means; an electrode means at least partially positioned in an interior of the catheter means, the electrode means being configured to deliver sufficient electromagnetic energy to ablate an interior of the tongue without damaging a hypoglossal nerve of the tongue; an electrode advancement and retraction means coupled to the electrode means to advance and retract at least a portion of the electrode means in and out of a selected tongue surface; and a cabling means coupled to the electrode means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an electromagnetic energy source means coupled to the electrode means and the cabling means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a cooling means at least partially positioned in the interior of the catheter and configured to cool a surface of the tongue.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: means for controlling a cooling medium flow rate through the cooling means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an insulator means positioned at least partially around an exterior of the electrode means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a sensor means positioned at a distal end of the insulator means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a sensor mean s positioned at a distal end of the electrode means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a sensor means positioned on an exterior of the catheter means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first sensor means positioned at a distal end of the electrode means and a second sensor means positioned at a distal end of an insulator means positioned at least partially around an exterior of the electrode means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrode means is a RF electrode coupled to a RF generator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrode means is a microwave antenna coupled to a microwave source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a feedback control means coupled to the electrode means and an electromagnetic source.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: an ultrasound means coupled to the feedback control means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrode means includes two or more RF electrodes coupled to a RF energy source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an infusion medium source means coupled to the electrode means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-14 | 2002-03-16 | 2002-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-14 | 2006-03-16 | 2006-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-14 | 2010-03-16 | 2010-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |