Apparatus and methods for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea utilizing cryolysis of adipose tissues

Abstract

A heat exchanger is disclosed for causing cryolysis of adipose tissue of a human tongue. The heat exchanger includes a body having cooling channels for circulating fluids therein. The body forms a contact surface that contacts a portion of the dorsal surface of the tongue and a portion of the base of the tongue. The heat exchanger includes a pair of side walls extending from the body and forming a pair of side contact surfaces that are dimensioned so that they contact the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the tongue in a manner so as to constrict the tongue when the contact surface is in contact with the tongue. A method of treatment for apnea using the heat exchanger and/or administering a chemical adipolysis formulation/vasoconstriction agent is also disclosed.

1 .- 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method for treating sleep apnea in a subject, comprising:
 administering a chemical adipolysis formulation into an oropharyngeal tissue of the subject to cause adipolysis of adipose tissue to treat sleep apnea.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the oropharyngeal tissue comprises a tongue of the subject. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the oropharyngeal tissue comprises a palate of the subject. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the oropharyngeal tissue comprises an uvula of the subject. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the oropharyngeal tissue comprises one or more pharyngeal fat pads of the subject. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising cooling the oropharyngeal tissue for a time sufficient to cause cryolysis of the adipose tissue. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein cooling further comprises contacting a target surface of the oropharyngeal tissue with an applicator of a sleep apnea treatment device. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein cooling further comprises circulating a heat-transfer fluid through the applicator. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein cooling the oropharyngeal tissue is performed prior to administering the chemical adipolysis formulation. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein cooling the oropharyngeal tissue is performed after administering the chemical adipolysis formulation. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising administering a vasoconstriction agent to the oropharyngeal tissue. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the vasoconstriction agent comprises epinephrine. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein administering the chemical adipolysis formulation further comprises injecting the chemical adipolysis formulation into the oropharyngeal tissue. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the chemical adipolysis formulation is injected at a depth between about 1 cm and 5 cm. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the chemical adipolysis formulation is selected from the group consisting of phosphatidylcholine (PC), sodium deoxycholate (DOC), and deoxycholic acid (DC). 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the chemical adipolysis formulation comprises phosphatidylcholine (PC) having a concentration between about 0.1 and 1.0 mg/ml. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the chemical adipolysis formulation comprises sodium deoxycholate (DOC) having a concentration between about 0.1 and 1.0 mg/ml.