Patent ID: 6126657
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: A61B,A61M,A61N

Abstract:
An apparatus to reduce a volume of a selected site in an interior of the tongue, comprising:a handpiece including a handpiece tongue interface surface;an energy delivery device at least partially positioned in the interior of the handpiece, the energy delivery device including a tissue piercing energy delivery surface, the energy delivery surface being advanceable from the interior of the handpiece into the interior of the tongue;an energy delivery device advancement member coupled to the energy delivery device and configured to advance the energy delivery device an advancement distance in the interior of the tongue, wherein the advancement distance is sufficient for the energy delivery surface to deliver energy to the selected tissue site and reduce a volume of the selected site without damaging a main branch of the hypoglossal nerve, wherein the advancement member advances at least a portion of the energy delivery device through the handpiece tongue interface surface in a lateral direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the handpiece; anda cable coupled to the energy delivery device.