Abstract: An apparatus that reduces a volume of a selected site in an interior of the tongue includes a handpiece means and an electrode means at least partially positioned in the interior of the handpiece means. The electrode means includes an electrode means electromagnetic energy delivery surface and is advance able from the interior of the handpiece means into the interior of the tongue. An electrode means advancement member is coupled to the electrode means and configured to advance the electrode means an advancement distance in the interior of the tongue. The advancement distance is sufficient for the electrode means electromagnetic energy delivery surface to deliver electromagnetic energy to the selected tissue site and reduce a volume of the selected site without damaging a hypoglossal nerve. A cable means is coupled to the electrode means.

Abstract: An apparatus ablates at least a portion of an interior of a body structure with a reduced chance of body structure infection. A catheter is provided with a catheter tissue interface surface and a port formed in the catheter tissue interface surface. An electrode is at least partially positioned in the interior of the catheter and is configured to be advanced and retracted in and out of the port. The electrode includes an electrode electromagmetic energy delivery surface. A disinfectant medium introduction member coupled to a source of a disinfectant medium and includes a distal end that is configured to extend into an oral cavity. An electrode advancement and retraction device is at least partially positioned in the interior of the catheter. A cable is coupled to the electrode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha. The apparatus includes a catheter having a distal portion with a dimension configured for positioning through a nostril of a patient into a nasal meatus adjacent a nasal concha, and an energy delivery device coupled to the catheter distal portion including one or more energy delivering probes extendable from the catheter distal portion a sufficient distance to be inserted into an interior of the nasal concha to deliver ablative energy therein. The distal portion of the apparatus may also include an expandable member, expansion of the expandable member within the nasal meatus immobilizing the distal portion within the nasal meatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha. The apparatus includes a catheter having a distal portion with a dimension configured for positioning through a nostril of a patient into a nasal meatus adjacent a nasal concha, and an energy delivery device coupled to the catheter distal portion including one or more energy delivering probes extendable from the catheter distal portion a sufficient distance to be inserted into an interior of the nasal concha to deliver ablative energy therein. The distal portion of the apparatus may also include an expandable member, expansion of the expandable member within the nasal meatus immobilizing the distal portion within the nasal meatus.

Abstract: A method for reducing a volume of a tongue provides a source of ablation energy and an ablation energy delivery device. At least a portion of the ablation energy delivery device is positioned in an interior of the tongue. A sufficient amount of energy is delivered from the energy delivery device into the interior of the tongue to debulk a section of the tongue without damaging a hypoglossal nerve. Thereafter, the at least portion of the ablation energy delivery device is removed from the interior of the tongue.

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.

Abstract: A bending tool for use with a human hand for bending the distal extremity of a guide tube of a medical device having a needle assembly slidably mounted in the guide tube. The distal extremity of the guide tube has a tip. The bending tool is comprised of a shaft sized so that it is adapted to be grasped by the human hand to serve as a handle. The shaft has proximal and distal extremities and a longitudinal axis. A bending construction is mounted on the distal extremity of the shaft and provides a curved bending surface having width and a length and having a proximal and a distal extremity and extending at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. The bending construction also has an abutment surface at the distal extremity of the curved surface and extending generally perpendicular to the curved surface.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha. By ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha, the size of the nasal concha is reduced. The three nasal concha in the body (inferior, middle and superior nasal concha) form at least a portion of the three nasal meatus (inferior, middle and superior nasal meatus) in the body. By reducing the size of a nasal concha, obstruction of a nasal meatus is reduced or eliminated. As a result, air flow through the nasal meatus is improved. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a catheter having a distal portion with a dimension configured for positioning the catheter distal portion through a nostril of a patient into a nasal meatus adjacent a surface of a nasal concha and a means at the catheter distal portion for delivering sufficient ablative energy to the nasal concha to ablate at least a portion of the nasal concha through heating without penetrating the surface of the nasal concha with an element of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method is provided for ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha. By ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha, the size of the nasal concha is reduced. The three nasal concha in the body (inferior, middle and superior nasal concha) form at least a portion of the three nasal meatus (inferior, middle and superior nasal meatus) in the body. By reducing the size of a nasal concha, obstruction of a nasal meatus is reduced or eliminated. As a result, air flow through the nasal meatus is improved.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for precision placement of ablation apparatus. An ablation catheter having a plurality of electrodes and having a radius of curvature selected responsive to a size of a patient's tongue, is placed near to the tongue and offset from a gag-response region in the throat, preferably using an optical viewing apparatus and a view port in the catheter. The ablation catheter is coupled to a baseplate and to a measuring device for indicating an offset of a selected reference point of the ablation catheter from the baseplate. The baseplate is coupled to a reference body structure, such as the jaw, lips or teeth. In cases where multiple ablation operations are conducted, the ablation catheter (or a replacement ablation catheter) is coupled to the baseplate so that the selected reference point has the same distance from the baseplate, and thus from the reference body structure.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus suitable for the ablation of soft palate tissue, including but not limited to the uvula, includes a cannula with a distal end and a proximal end and a lumen. A vacuum assisted retainer device is coupled to the cannula distal end. The vacuum retainer member includes a uvula receiving member configured to retain at least a portion of the uvula with the application of vacuum. An electromagnetic electrode is coupled to an electromagnetic energy source. A vacuum source is coupled to the uvula receiving member.

Abstract: A method for reducing a volume of a tongue in an oral cavity provides an ablation apparatus. The ablation apparatus including a source of electromagnetic energy and one or more electromagnetic energy delivery electrodes coupled to the electromagnetic energy source. A distal end of the ablation apparatus is introduced into the oral cavity. The distal end of the ablation apparatus is positioned outside of an oral cavity gag response zone. At least one electrode is introduced into an interior of the tongue when the distal end of the ablation apparatus is positioned outside of the oral cavity gag response zone. A sufficient amount of electromagnetic energy is delivered from the electrode into the interior of the tongue to debulk a section of the tongue without damaging the hypoglossal nerve. The electrode is then removed from the interior of the tongue.

Abstract: An apparatus for ablating at least a portion of an interior of a body structure includes a catheter with a catheter interior and a port formed in a body structure of the catheter. An ablation energy delivery device is at least partially positioned in the catheter interior. The ablation energy delivery device is configured to be advanced through the port into the interior of the body structure to a selected tissue site and deliver an ablation energy to the selected site. The ablation energy delivery device is configured to be coupled to an ablation energy source. A sensor is coupled to the ablation energy source. The sensor is positionable in the interior of the body structure and measures an impedance of at least a portion of the selected tissue site. A conductive medium introduction member is coupled to a source of a conductive medium and the catheter. A feedback control means is coupled to the sensor and the conductive medium source.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus is provided which ablates at least a portion of an interior of a body structure while reducing a swelling response in the body structure. The apparatus provides a catheter including a catheter tissue interface surface and a port formed in the catheter tissue interface surface. An electrode is at least partially positioned in the interior of the catheter and configured to be advanced and retracted in and out of the port. The electrode includes an electrode electromagmetic energy delivery surface. A cooling element includes a cooling medium inlet conduit and a cooling medium exit conduit, both extending through an interior of the catheter forming at least a partial cooled catheter tissue interface surface. The electrode electromagnetic energy delivery surface is thermally isolated from the cooling element. An electrode advancement and retraction device is at least partially positioned in the interior of the catheter. A cable is coupled to the electrode.

Abstract: An apparatus for ablating at least a portion of a uvula includes an electrode with a proximal end and a distal end sufficiently sharpened to pierce an exterior of the uvula without a retainer device supporting the uvula. An advancement and retraction device coupled to the electrode is configured to advance the electrode distal end through an exterior surface of the uvula and into an interior region of the uvula. The advancement and retraction device is configured to retract the electrode distal end from the interior of the uvula. A handle is coupled to the electrode proximal and, and a cable is coupled to the electrode to deliver energy thereto.

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.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus includes a cannula with a distal end, a proximal end and a lumen. An anvil is coupled to the cannula and extends beyond the cannula distal end. The anvil has a distal end that extends in a lateral direction relative to an anvil longitudinal axis. The distal end is adapted to receive and position an uvula or other soft tissue. One or more energy delivery devices are slideably positioned in the cannula. The energy delivery devices are advanced and retracted in and out the cannula distal end. An advancement and retraction apparatus advances and retracts the energy delivery devices in and out of the cannula distal end and into the soft tissue retained at the anvil distal end. The soft tissue ablation apparatus can further include a handle with a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end. The cannula is at least partially positioned in the handle lumen and extends beyond the handle distal end. The ablation apparatus is useful for ablation of soft palate tissue to eliminate snoring.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating air way obstructions, includes a first arm including a proximal end and a distal end, the first arm distal end is inserted into the throat and positioned adjacent to a back surface of the tongue. A second arm has a proximal end and a distal end. The second arm is positioned under the jaw. A coupling member couples the first arm with the second arm, permitting rotational movement of each arm about a longitudinal axis of the coupling member. A plurality of RF electrodes are positioned in the first arm. The plurality of RF electrodes are advanced into the back of the tongue and retracted out of the tongue and into the first arm, ablating a selected area of the back of the tongue.