Apparatus, System and Method for Excision of Soft Tissue

An apparatus for the excision of soft tissue in one or more of the throat, oropharynx, nasopharynx, or larynx of humans, comprising:

• [a] a handle;
• [b] an elongated blade support member having a distal end and a proximal end, and extending from the handle;
• [c] distal end of the blade support member including first and second thermally and electrically conductive blade support arms having distal ends and proximal ends;
• [c] the first thermally and electrically conductive blade support arm being electrically isolated from the second thermally and electrically conductive blade support arm;
• [d] an electrically heatable blade supported at the distal ends of the first and second thermally and electrically conductive blade support arms;
• [e] a first electrically conductive lead extending from and in electrical communication between the distal end of the first thermally and electrically conductive blade support arm and a first blade heater contact pad;
• [f] a second electrically conductive lead extending from and in electrical communication between the distal end of second thermally and electrically conductive blade support arm and a second blade heater contact pad;
• and
• [g] a controller;
• and
• [h] third electrically conductive flexible leads extending between the proximal ends of first and second thermally and electrically conductive blade support arms and the controller.

An apparatus for the excision of soft tissue in one or more of the throat, oropharynx, nasopharynx, or larynx of humans, comprising:

• [a] a handpiece comprising an elongated blade support member having a proximal end and a distal end, first and second blade support arms, and a heatable blade with at least one cutting edge for excising soft tissue;
• [b] first and second electrical leads extending from the proximal end of the blade support member to first and second blade heater contact pads, respectively;
• [c] a controller for maintaining a temperature of the heatable blade to an operator-selected set-point temperature;
• and
• [d] a cable extending from and in electrical communication with the first and second electrical leads at the proximal end of the blade support member to the controller.

A method for the excision of soft tissue in one or more of the throat, oropharynx, nasopharynx, or larynx of humans, comprising the steps of:

• [a] inserting a blade support member and heatable blade into a patient's mouth or throat while positioning the heatable blade adjacent to the soft tissue to be excised, wherein the heatable blade has a cutting edge;
• [b] applying power to the heatable blade for sufficiently elevating the heatable blade to an elevated temperature to seal severed blood vessels during soft tissue excision;
• [c] while applying power, also advancing the cutting edge of the elevated temperature heatable blade through the soft tissue to be excised to effect tissue excision while minimizing bleeding therefrom;
• and
• [d] removing the heatable blade and blade support member from the patient's mouth or throat.