METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTROSURGICAL TREATMENT OF AIRWAY OBSTRUCTIONS

摘要

An apparatus reduces the volume of selected sections of a tongue. The apparatus includes an introducer means. An energy delivery device means is at least partially positioned in an interior of the introducer means. The energy delivery device means is configured to deliver sufficient energy to ablate an interior of the tongue without damaging a main branch of the hypoglossal nerve of the tongue. An energy delivery device advancement and retraction means is coupled to the energy delivery device means to advance and retract at least a portion of the energy delivery device means in and out of a selected tongue surface. A cabling means is coupled to the energy delivery device means.