How do the Somnoplasty® Procedures System treat obstructive sleep apnea?
The Somnoplasty procedure for obstructive sleep apnea, which is performed under local anesthesia, treats sleep apnea by shrinking soft tissue in the upper airway including the base of tongue, the source of obstruction that is most difficult to treat. Somnus’ proprietary Somnoplasty System is designed to use radiofrequency (RF) energy to provide a minimally invasive and less painful treatment of upper airway obstructions under local anesthesia. The System includes an automated RF control unit with temperature monitoring capabilities and a suite of proprietary, single-use, disposable surgical handpieces that deliver controlled thermal energy into targeted areas to reduce tissue volume and stiffen soft tissue. The Somnoplasty procedure for obstructive sleep apnea generates heat at approximately 85° C (185° F) to create finely controlled coagulative lesions at precise locations within the upper airway. An insulating sleeve at the base of the needle electrode is intended to protect the surf
