METHOD FOR ABLATING INTERIOR SECTIONS OF THE TONGUE

摘要

PURPOSE: A method for ablating interior sections of a tongue is provided to use an ablating energy and an ablative agent for ablating the selected tissue area from the interior of the tongue without damaging a hypoglossal nerve. CONSTITUTION: A method for reducing a volume of a tongue provides an ablative agent source. The ablative agent source is coupled to an ablative agent delivery device. At least a portion of the ablative agent delivery device is advanced into an interior of the tongue. A sufficient amount of an ablative agent is delivered from the ablative agent delivery device into the interior of the tongue to debulk a section of the tongue without damaging a hypoglossal nerve. Thereafter, the ablative agent delivery device is retracted from the interior of the tongue.