Clinical | Control Unit | Habitual Snoring | OSA | Turbinates | Abstracts

Outpatient Procedure to Correct
Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Until now patients with obstructive sleep apnea faced a limited and unpleasant choice of treatments. Somnoplasty ® is a new, minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that reduces and tightens excess tissue responsible for obstructive sleep apnea, including the base of tongue, the most difficult to treat source of obstruction.

Sleep studies have demonstrated that Somnoplasty, through reduction of excess tissue volume, can effectively treat obstructive sleep apnea.

With the Somnoplasty handpieces, the physician creates limited zones of coagulation beneath the surface of the tissue. These lesions are naturally resorbed over time, leading to reduction in tissue volume and resolution of the obstruction. Typically, more than one treatment is necessary to achieve optimal results.

The 30 to 45 minute procedure takes place under local anesthesia with patients typically resuming normal activities the following day.

The SP 1200 handpiece
The SP 1200 handpiece delivers controlled thermal energy to the base of tongue. It is specially contoured to facilitate safe and easy placement. A stabilizer dome eases penetration of the tongue. Thermocouples embedded in the electrode provide for continuous temperature monitoring. Insulation at the proximal end of the electrode is designed to ensure preservation of the mucosa. The SP 1200 is powered by the same automated control unit used for the Somnoplasty turbinate and soft palate/uvula procedures, offering an expandable system for your practice.

Further Information
Visit Procedures to see a description of the procedure.
Visit Frequently Asked Questions for more information about this procedure.
Download OSA datasheet.


Clinical | Control Unit | Habitual Snoring | OSA | Reimbursement | Turbinates
Copyright © 2003 Gyrus ENT LLC.
All Rights Reserved. Somnus, Somnoplasty, and the Somnus Medical Technologies logo are trademarks of Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc.
Somnus Medical Technologies is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gyrus Group PLC.
Developed by Storytellers