Radio frequency tongue base electrode

A procedure for treating sleep disordered breathing, comprising the steps:

• i) providing electrosurgical apparatus connected to an electrosurgical electrode for radiofrequency thermal ablation, said electrosurgical electrode comprising:
• (a) an electrically-conductive member comprising at a first end means for connecting to electrosurgical apparatus and at a second end a pointed tip of a needle-shaped electrode for penetrating tissue,
• (b) said electrically-conductive member comprising, in order from the pointed tip, first, second, third, and fourth adjacent sections,
• (c) said first section being bare so as to allow the passage of electrosurgical currents to the penetrated tissue when the electrosurgical apparatus is activated,
• (d) said second section having a relatively thin electrically-insulating coating so as to prevent the passage of electrosurgical currents to tissue penetrated by the second section when the electrosurgical apparatus is activated,
• (e) said third section having a relatively thin electrically-insulating coating so as to prevent the passage of electrosurgical currents to tissue penetrated by the third section when the electrosurgical apparatus is activated,
• (f) said fourth section having a relatively thick electrically-insulating coating so as to prevent the passage of electrosurgical currents to contacted tissue when the electrosurgical apparatus is activated,
• (g) said first, second, third, and fourth sections being visually distinct from the adjacent section such that a user can determine the depth of penetration in the tissue of the needle-shaped electrode when tissue has been penetrated by examining the sections remaining outside the tissue,
• (ii) penetrating the tissue with the pointed end to a depth equal to the length of the first section using the distinct visual indication of the second section,
• (iii) activating the electrosurgical apparatus to provide at the first section low voltage, low power electrosurgical currents until the tissue adjacent the pointed end is damaged,
• (iv) penetrating the tissue with the pointed end to a depth equal to the length of the first and second sections using the distinct visual indication of the third section,
• (v) activating the electrosurgical apparatus to provide at the first section low voltage, low power electrosurgical currents until the tissue adjacent the deeper pointed end is damaged.