Method and apparatus for cartilage reshaping by radiofrequency heating
US6589235B2 · kind B2 · utility
179Cited by
16References
39Claims
0Family size
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Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 19, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 19, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/00875
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for reshaping cartilage using radiofrequency heating. The cartilage temperature is raised sufficiently for stress relaxation to occur in the cartilage, but low enough so that significant denaturation of the cartilage does not occur. The RF electrodes may be designed to also function as molds, preses, clamps, or mandrills to deform the cartilage tissue. Changes in various properties of the cartilage associated with stress relaxation in the cartilage may be measured in order to provide the control signal to provide effective reshaping without denaturation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.