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US 12,558,257 B2Granted
Systems and methods for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea
AssigneeCryosa, Inc.
InventorsMark Christopherson, Orhan Soykan, Donald A. Gonzales, Stefan Skorich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, devices, and systems employ cryolysis of oropharyngeal adipose tissues to selectively remove fat cells from the tissues causing obstructive sleep apnea. In various embodiments, a chilled liquid—e.g., a liquid or air—is applied to the target tissue at a temperature and for a duration sufficient to cause cryolysis.
Claims15
A device for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, the device comprising:
- a temperature determinant configured to chill and heat a fluid;
- and
- an applicator including an inlet line having an inlet tube configured to receive the fluid from the temperature determinant, and an outlet line having an outlet tube configured to remove the fluid from the applicator, the applicator having a tissue contacting surface sized and configured to contact a tongue of a patient, wherein the inlet tube and the outlet tube are vertically aligned and in parallel to one another at a proximal end of the applicator, such that the inlet tube and the outlet tube are each spaced apart from the tissue contacting surface by the same distance, wherein the tissue contacting surface comprises a curvature along an axis extending from a proximal end portion of the tissue contacting surface toward a distal end portion of the tissue contacting surface, the applicator further comprising a hollow cavity including baffles having at least two protrusions extending from a bottom surface of the hollow cavity, wherein the at least two protrusions define at least two distinct flow paths that promote flow of the fluid within the hollow cavity;
- the applicator and temperature determinant being configured to cooperatively cause cooling of the tongue for a time sufficient to cause cryolysis of adipose tissue within the tongue and thereby reduce a volume of the adipose tissue.
1 more element
A device for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, the device comprising:
- a temperature determinant configured to chill and/or heat a fluid;
- an inlet line fluidically coupled to the temperature determinant;
- an outlet line fluidically coupled to the temperature determinant;
- and
- an applicator including (i) an inlet tube configured to be coupled to the inlet line and (ii) an outlet tube configured to be coupled to the outlet line, and (iii) a tissue contacting surface sized to contact a tongue of a patient, wherein:
- the inlet tube has a proximal end, and a distal end further from the inlet line than the proximal end of the inlet tube,
- the outlet tube has a proximal end, and a distal end further from the outlet line than the proximal end of the outlet tube,
- the distal end of the inlet tube and the distal end of the outlet tube are vertically aligned and in parallel to one another such that the inlet tube and the outlet tube are each spaced apart from the tissue contacting surface by the same distance, and
- the tissue contacting surface comprises a curvature.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.