Apparatus and methods for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea utilizing cryolysis of adipose tissues

A heat exchanger for causing cryolysis of adipose tissue of a human tongue, the heat exchanger comprising:

• a cooling inlet;
• a cooling outlet;
• a body having one or more channels for circulating a heat-transfer fluid therein, the one or more channels connecting the cooling inlet and the cooling outlet, wherein the body comprises (i) a first region having a first contact surface configured to contact a portion of a dorsal surface of the tongue and (ii) a second region having a second contact surface configured to contact a portion of a base of the tongue, the second region extending from the first region;
• and
• a pair of side walls extending from the body and forming a pair of side contact surfaces,
• wherein the pair of side walls are dimensioned so that they contact the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the tongue in a manner so as to constrict the tongue when the first and second contact surfaces are in contact with the tongue.