Patent ID: 6210355
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: A61B,A61M,A61N

Abstract:
A cell necrosis apparatus to reduce a volume of a selected site in an interior of a tongue in an oral cavity, comprising:a grasping means;a tongue cell necrosis energy delivery device means coupled to a distal portion of the grasping means including a tapered, tissue penetrating distal end, the energy delivery device means being sized and configured to be maneuverable in the oral cavity and precisely insatiable into a tongue surface to create a selected cell necrosis without permanently damaging a main branch of the hypoglossal nerve;control means to provide a controlled delivery of energy to the a tongue cell necrosis energy delivery device means to create the selected ablation volume without permanently damaging a main branch of the hypoglossal nerve; anda cabling means coupled to the tongue cell necrosis energy delivery device means.