초록 ▼

A method of tongue reduction by thermal ablation using high intensity focused ultrasound includes the steps of introducing an ultrasound emitting member in a patient's oral cavity, positioning the ultrasound emitting member adjacent an external surface of the tongue, emitting ultrasound energy from

A method of tongue reduction by thermal ablation using high intensity focused ultrasound includes the steps of introducing an ultrasound emitting member in a patient's oral cavity, positioning the ultrasound emitting member adjacent an external surface of the tongue, emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitting member into tissue of the tongue, focusing the ultrasound energy within the tongue at a focusing zone contained in a target area disposed beneath the external surface, heating the tissue with the focused ultrasound energy such that the tissue at the target area is heated to an ablative temperature to form a lesion and withdrawing the ultrasound emitting member from the oral cavity. The lesion is allowed to be absorbed by the patient's body and/or to remain as altered tissue such that the tongue is reduced in size to correspondingly increase the size of the patient's airway and/or is stiffened to resist vibration. The lesion begins a predetermined distance from the external surface of the tongue such that the mucosa remains undamaged and preserved.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of thermal ablation of the tongue comprising the steps ofintroducing an ultrasound emitting member in a patient's oral cavity; positioning the ultrasound emitting member adjacent an external surface of the tongue; emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitting member into the ti

1. A method of thermal ablation of the tongue comprising the steps ofintroducing an ultrasound emitting member in a patient's oral cavity; positioning the ultrasound emitting member adjacent an external surface of the tongue; emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitting member into the tissue of the tongue; focusing the ultrasound energy at a focusing zone within the tissue of the tongue such that the ultrasound energy converges at the focusing zone, the focusing zone being contained in a target area disposed below and not including the external surface; heating the tissue at the target area with the focused ultrasound energy to create an ablative lesion confined to the target area; and withdrawing the ultrasound emitting member from the oral cavity.