US5817049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for treatment of airway obstructions
Assignee: Gyrus ACMI Inc
•
Filing: 1997-02-24
•
Granted: 1998-10-06
•
Expires: 2017-02-24
Abstract
Abstract A method for debulking the tongue provides an ablation apparatus including a source of electromagnetic energy and one or more electromagnetic energy delivery electrodes coupled to the electromagnetic energy source. At least one electrode is advanced into an interior of the tongue. Electromagnetic energy is delivered from the electrode to debulk an interior section of the tongue without damaging a hypoglossal nerve. The electrode is then retracted from the interior of the tongue.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart D. Edwards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1477; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61N1/40; A61N1/403; A61N5/00; A61N5/02; A61N5/04; A61N5/045; A61B17/00; A61B17/24; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00026; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/00296; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00023; A61B2018/00053; 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; A61B2018/143; A61B2018/1475; 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: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for reducing a volume of a tongue, comprising: providing a cell necrosis apparatus including a source of energy and one or more energy delivery devices coupled to the energy source; advancing at least one electrode into an interior of the tongue; delivering a sufficient amount of energy from the electrode into the interior of the tongue to create cell necrosis without permanently damaging a main branch of a hypoglossal nerve; and retracting the electrode from the interior of the tongue.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for reducing a volume of a tongue, comprising: providing a cell necrosis apparatus including a source of energy and one or more energy delivery devices coupled to the energy source; advancing at least one electrode into an interior of the tongue; delivering a sufficient amount of energy from the electrode into the interior of the tongue to create cell necrosis without permanently damaging a main branch of a hypoglossal nerve; and retracting the electrode from the interior of the tongue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is an RF source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a microwave source.
Claim 5
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 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode is advanced into an interior of the tongue through an inferior dorsal surface of the tongue.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode is advanced into an interior of the tongue through a dorsum surface of the tongue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode is advanced into an interior of the tongue through a tip of the tongue.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method to claim 1, wherein two or more electrodes are advanced into a different interior area of the tongue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein two or more electrodes are introduced through a different surface site of the tongue.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the ablation apparatus further comprises: a catheter including a lumen, wherein the electrode is deployed from the catheter lumen into an interior of the tongue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the catheter further comprises: a cooling element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the cooling element comprises a cooling channel in an interior of the catheter, the cooling channel receiving a cooling medium and circulating the cooling medium through the interior of the catheter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising: cooling a surface of the tongue while an electrode ablates an interior section of the tongue.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the catheter is introduced into an oral cavity and one or more electrodes are introduced into an interior of the tongue through one of an inferior dorsal surface of the tongue, a dorsum surface of the tongue, or a tip of the tongue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the catheter is introduced into an oral cavity and one or more electrodes are introduced into an interior of the tongue through a ventral surface of the tongue.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing an imaging apparatus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the imaging apparatus is an ultrasound device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising: imaging the tongue prior to creating cell necrosis in the interior of the tongue.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising: imaging the tongue after creating cell necrosis in the interior of the tongue.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for treating airway obstructions, comprising: providing a cell necrosis apparatus including a source of energy and one or more energy delivery devices coupled to an energy source; advancing at least one energy delivery device into an interior of a tongue; delivering sufficient energy from the energy delivery device into the interior of the tongue to create cell necrosis in an interior section without permanently damaging a main branch of a hypoglossal nerve and minimizing cell necrosis of the taste buds; and retracting the energy delivery device from the interior of the tongue.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for treating airway obstructions, comprising: providing a cell necrosis apparatus including a source of energy and one or more energy delivery devices coupled to an energy source; advancing at least one energy delivery device into an interior of a tongue; delivering sufficient energy from the energy delivery device into the interior of the tongue to create cell necrosis in an interior section without permanently damaging a main branch of a hypoglossal nerve and minimizing cell necrosis of the taste buds; and retracting the energy delivery device from the interior of the tongue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the electrode is advanced into an interior of the tongue through a ventral surface of the tongue.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the electrode is advanced into an interior of the tongue through an inferior dorsal surface of the tongue.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the electrode is advanced into an interior of the tongue through a dorsum surface of the tongue.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the electrode is advanced into an interior of the tongue through a tip of the tongue.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the ablation apparatus further comprises: a catheter including a lumen, wherein the electrode is deployed from the catheter lumen into an interior of the tongue.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 25, wherein the catheter is introduced into an oral cavity and one or more electrodes are introduced into an interior of the tongue through one of an inferior dorsal surface of the tongue, a dorsum surface of the tongue, or a tip of the tongue.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 25, wherein the catheter is introduced into an oral cavity and one or more electrodes are introduced into an interior of the tongue through a ventral surface of the tongue.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the energy source is an RF source.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the sufficient cell necrosis of the interior of the tongue is achieved to increase a cross-sectional area of the airway passage.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 20, further comprising: providing an imaging apparatus.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 30, further comprising: imaging the tongue prior to creating cell necrosis of the interior of the tongue.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 30, further comprising: imaging the tongue after creating cell necrosis of the interior of the tongue.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for treating airway obstructions, comprising: providing a cell necrosis apparatus including a source of electromagnetic energy and one or more electromagnetic energy delivery electrodes coupled to the electromagnetic energy source; advancing at least one electrode into a lingual tonsil; delivering sufficient electromagnetic energy from the electrode into an interior of the lingual tonsil to create cell necrosis in an interior of the lingual tonsil; and retracting the electrode from the lingual tonsil.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for treating airway obstructions, comprising: providing a cell necrosis apparatus including a source of electromagnetic energy and one or more electromagnetic energy delivery electrodes coupled to the electromagnetic energy source; advancing at least one electrode into a lingual tonsil; delivering sufficient electromagnetic energy from the electrode into an interior of the lingual tonsil to create cell necrosis in an interior of the lingual tonsil; and retracting the electrode from the lingual tonsil.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 33, wherein the energy source is an RF source.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 33, wherein one or more electrodes are advanced into a different section of the lingual tonsil.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 33. further comprising: providing an imaging apparatus.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 36, wherein the imaging apparatus is an ultrasound device.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 36, further comprising: imaging the lingual tonsil prior to creating cell necrosis of the lingual tonsil.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 36, further comprising: imaging the lingual tonsil after creating cell necrosis of the interior of the lingual tonsil.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for reducing a volume of a tongue, comprising: providing a cell necrosis apparatus including one or more RF electrodes coupled to an RF energy source; positioning at least one electrode into an interior of the tongue; delivering RF energy from the electrode into the interior of the tongue; and creating a cell necrosis in the interior of the tongue without damaging a hypoglossal nerve.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for reducing a volume of a tongue, comprising: providing a cell necrosis apparatus including one or more RF electrodes coupled to an RF energy source; positioning at least one electrode into an interior of the tongue; delivering RF energy from the electrode into the interior of the tongue; and creating a cell necrosis in the interior of the tongue without damaging a hypoglossal nerve.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for treating airway obstructions, comprising: providing a cell necrosis apparatus including one or more RF electrodes coupled to an RF energy source; positioning at least one electrode into an interior of a tongue; delivering RF energy from the electrode into the interior of the tongue; and creating cell necrosis in the interior of the tongue without damaging a hypoglossal nerve.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for treating airway obstructions, comprising: providing a cell necrosis apparatus including one or more RF electrodes coupled to an RF energy source; positioning at least one electrode into an interior of a tongue; delivering RF energy from the electrode into the interior of the tongue; and creating cell necrosis in the interior of the tongue without damaging a hypoglossal nerve.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
60 words
A method for treating airway obstructions, comprising: providing a cell necrosis apparatus including one or more RF electrodes coupled to an RF energy source; positioning at least one electrode into an interior of a lingual tonsil; delivering sufficient RF energy from the electrode into an interior of the lingual tonsil; creating cell necrosis in the interior of the lingual tonsil.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
60 words
A method for treating airway obstructions, comprising: providing a cell necrosis apparatus including one or more RF electrodes coupled to an RF energy source; positioning at least one electrode into an interior of a lingual tonsil; delivering sufficient RF energy from the electrode into an interior of the lingual tonsil; creating cell necrosis in the interior of the lingual tonsil.
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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) | 2001-10-05 | 2002-04-06 | 2002-10-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-05 | 2006-04-06 | 2006-10-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-05 | 2010-04-06 | 2010-10-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |