Endoscopic nasal palatoplasty

Abstract

The endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure provides a reduction in the posterior aspect of the soft palate and/or uvula, thereby increasing the area of the nasopharyngeal passage between the soft palate and/or uvula and the back of the nasopharynx. This increased nasopharyngeal area promotes nasal breathing, thereby reducing reliance upon oral breathing and corresponding sleep-disordered breathing syndrome and associated problems such as sleep apnea and snoring. The procedure is performed using a conventional surgical implement, such as a Coblator® or other electro cauterizing or laser cauterizing implement, to ablate and cauterize a series of lesions in the soft palate and/or uvula. The procedure is performed by inserting the surgical implement through one of the nasal passages to access the superior surface of the soft palate and/or uvula.

1 . A method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing at least one electric endoscopic surgical implement having a distal tip;   (b) preparing the patient and surgical implement for the procedure;   (c) inserting the surgical implement through one of the nasal passages of the patient;   (d) penetrating the superior surface of the soft palate of the patient at a predetermined location and to a predetermined depth using the distal tip of the surgical implement;   (e) electrically actuating the surgical implement, thereby forming a lesion in the soft palate of the patient;   (f) repeating steps (d) and (c) a plurality of times in a predetermined pattern;   (g) withdrawing the surgical implement from the nasal passage of the patient; and   (h) monitoring the recovery of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 (a) penetrating the superior surface of the uvula of the patient at a predetermined location and to a predetermined depth using the distal tip of the surgical implement; and   (b) electrically actuating the surgical implement, thereby forming a lesion in the uvula of the patient.   
     
     
         3 . The method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of initially performing at least one operation selected from the group of operations consisting of turbinectomies and septoplasties. 
     
     
         4 . The method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of electrically actuating the surgical implement and forming a lesion in the soft palate of the patient comprises using a surgical implement generating a plasma, the plasma ablating the tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure according to the method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of electrically actuating the surgical implement and forming a lesion in the soft palate of the patient comprises using an electrocautery needle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure according to the method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of electrically actuating the surgical implement and forming a lesion in the soft palate of the patient comprises using an electro thermal surgical implement and thermally cauterizing the tissue. 
     
     
         7 . The method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure according to the method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of electrically actuating the surgical implement and forming a lesion in the soft palate of the patient comprises using a laser probe and thermally cauterizing the tissue. 
     
     
         8 . A method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure, comprising the steps of
 (a) providing at least one electric endoscopic surgical implement having a distal tip;   (b) preparing the patient and surgical implement for the procedure;   (c) inserting the surgical implement through one of the nasal passages of the patient;   (d) penetrating the superior surface of the uvula of the patient at a predetermined location and to a predetermined depth using the distal tip of the surgical implement;   (e) electrically actuating the surgical implement, thereby forming a lesion in the uvula of the patient;   (f) repeating steps (d) and (e) a plurality of times, in a predetermined pattern;   (g) withdrawing the surgical implement from the nasal passage of the patient; and   (h) monitoring the recovery of the patient.   
     
     
         9 . The method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure according to the method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
 (a) penetrating the superior surface of the soft palate of the patient at a predetermined location and to a predetermined depth using the distal tip of the surgical implement; and   (b) electrically actuating the surgical implement, thereby forming a lesion in the soft palate of patient.   
     
     
         10 . The method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure according to the method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of initially performing at least one operation selected from the group of operations consisting of turbinoctomies and septoplasties. 
     
     
         11 . The method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure according to the method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of electrically actuating the surgical implement and forming a lesion in the soft palate of the patient comprises using a surgical implement generating a plasma, the plasma ablating the tissue. 
     
     
         12 . The method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure according to the method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of electrically actuating the surgical implement and forming a lesion in the soft palate of the patient comprises using an electrocautery needle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure according to the method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of electrically actuating the surgical implement and forming a lesion in the soft palate of the patient comprises using an electro thermal surgical implement and thermally cauterizing the tissue. 
     
     
         14 . The method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure according to the method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of electrically actuating the surgical implement and forming a lesion in the soft palate of the patient comprises using a laser probe and thermally cauterizing the tissue. 
     
     
         15 . A method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing at least one electric endoscopic surgical implement having a distal tip;   (b) preparing the patient and surgical implement for the procedure;   (c) performing at least one operation selected from the group of operations consisting of turbinoctomies and septoplasties;   (d) inserting the surgical implement through one of the nasal passages of the patient;   (e) penetrating the superior surface of the soft palate of the patient at a predetermined location and to a predetermined depth using the distal tip of the surgical implement;   (f) electrically actuating the surgical implement, thereby forming a lesion in the soft palate;   (g) repeating steps (f) and (g) a plurality of times in a predetermined pattern;   (h) optionally, performing steps (e) through (g) on the patient's uvula;   (i) withdrawing the surgical implement from the nasal passage of the patient; and   (j) monitoring the recovery of the patient.   
     
     
         16 . The method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure according to the method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of electrically actuating the surgical implement and forming a lesion in the soft palate of the patient comprises using a surgical implement generating a plasma, the plasma ablating the tissue. 
     
     
         17 . The method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure according to the method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of electrically actuating the surgical implement and forming a lesion in the soft palate of the patient comprises using an electrocautery needle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure according to the method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of electrically actuating the surgical implement and forming a lesion in the soft palate of the patient comprises using an electro thermal surgical implement and thermally cauterizing the tissue. 
     
     
         19 . The method of performing an endoscopic nasal palatoplasty procedure according to the method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of electrically actuating the surgical it implement and forming a lesion in the soft palate of the patient comprises using a laser probe and thermally cauterizing the tissue.