Somnus Medical Technologies Receives Milestone U.S. Patent for Treatment of Upper Airway Obstructions.SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Jan. 27, 1998-- Company's Latest Issued Patent Delivers on Corporate Strategy to Protect Intellectual Property Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :SOMN), an innovator in developing unique, minimally invasive treatments for upper airway up·per airway n. The portion of the respiratory tract that extends from the nostrils or mouth through the larynx. disorders such as habitual snoring snoring, rough, vibratory sounds made in breathing during sleep or coma. The noisy breathing is the result of an open mouth and a relaxation of the palate; it is frequently induced by lying on one's back. and chronic nasal obstruction, today announced that it has received a milestone patent related to its Somnoplasty(SM) System. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued to Somnus U.S. Patent number 5,707,349 for a method of reducing tongue tissue, without damaging the hypoglossal nerve, in order to treat upper airway obstructions. Somnus' newly patented method of treating obstructions that block a person's upper airway (the passages in the back of the mouth, nose and throat that allow breathing, swallowing and vocalization vocalization to make a vocal sound; a form of communication. Studies of feline vocalization have identified murmur, vowel and strained intensity patterns. excessive vocalization ) is based on minimally invasive radiofrequency (RF) technology and is intended to reduce excess tissue volume in the tongue. Somnus has already received four U.S. patents for devices and methods related to the treatment of upper airway obstructions and the company has another 40 applications for U.S. patents pending. "This is a major achievement for Somnus as it supports our corporate strategy of building a firewall around our proprietary technology," said Stuart Edwards, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Somnus, and listed inventor on the patent assigned to Somnus. "This most recent patent related to the tongue protects yet another innovation we have made in the area of treating upper airway obstructions." Obstructions at the base of tongue base of tongue Surgical anatomy An area defined by the Am Joint Committee on Cancer, as extending from the line of the circumvallate papillae to the junction of the base of the epiglottis–valleculae, including the pharyngoepiglottis and glossoepiglottic folds , which can contribute significantly to upper airway disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) A potentially life-threatening condition characterized by episodes of breathing cessation during sleep alternating with snoring or disordered breathing. , are difficult to treat surgically. Conventional treatment of base of tongue obstruction is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure continuous positive airway pressure n. Abbr. CPAP A technique of respiratory therapy for individuals breathing with or without mechanical assistance in which airway pressure is maintained above atmospheric pressure throughout the (CPAP CPAP abbr. continuous positive airway pressure Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) A ventilation device that blows a gentle stream of air into the nose during sleep to keep the airway open. ), in which the sleeping patient wears a mask over the nose, and sometimes the mouth, while pressure from a compressor forces air through the upper airway to keep excess tissues from collapsing and obstructing the airway. Other treatments, such as maxillofacial maxillofacial /max·il·lo·fa·cial/ (-fa´sh'l) pertaining to the maxilla and the face. max·il·lo·fa·cial adj. Relating to or involving the maxilla and the face. surgery and tracheostomy, are highly invasive procedures associated with a long and painful recovery. About the Somnoplasty System and Its Applications Somnus' proprietary Somnoplasty System is designed to use RF energy to provide a minimally invasive and relatively painless treatment of upper airway obstructions. The Somnoplasty procedure for snoring and the Somnoplasty procedure for enlarged turbinates create finely controlled coagulative coagulative /co·ag·u·la·tive/ (ko-ag´u-lah-tiv) associated with, of the nature of, or promoting a process of coagulation. co·ag·u·la·tive adj. Of or being a coagulant. lesions at precise locations underneath the mucosal layer of tissue in the upper airway. Protecting the mucosa minimizes tissue sloughing, mucosal scarring, swelling, bleeding and excessive post-operative pain. The lesions created by the procedure are naturally resorbed in approximately six weeks, reducing excess tissue volume. The Somnoplasty System includes an automated RF generator with temperature monitoring and a suite of proprietary, single-use, disposable surgical handpieces, which deliver controlled thermal energy into the targeted area to reduce tissue volume and stiffen soft tissue. The Somnoplasty procedure for snoring and the Somnoplasty procedure for enlarged turbinates allow physicians to perform a safe, minimally invasive surgical procedure in an outpatient setting in typically less than 30 minutes. Somnus is developing additional devices and methods to treat a wide range of upper airway obstructions. About the Founder and Inventor Stuart Edwards is founder of Somnus Medical Technologies (NASDAQ:SOMN) and has served as chairman of the board, chief executive officer and president since its founding in January 1996. Often described as a pioneer in developing medical applications of RF technology, Edwards is the inventor or co-inventor listed on more than 100 patents and patent applications related to the treatment of numerous medical conditions. Edwards has founded five companies that use his patented RF technology in various medical treatments and has licensed technology to a number of other medical device companies. Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc. Incorporated in 1996, with headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif., Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures and markets minimally invasive devices to treat a range of obstructions that can block a patient's upper airway. In July 1997, Somnus received 510(k) clearance from the FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. to market its Somnoplasty System as an aid in the treatment of habitual snoring. In December 1997, Somnus received 510(k) clearance for the Somnoplasty procedure for enlarged inferior turbinates. The Somnoplasty System is currently undergoing clinical evaluation at several U.S. and European medical institutions to expand claims to include the reduction or elimination of other upper airway obstructions. In June 1997, Somnus received ISO (1) See ISO speed. (2) (International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland, www.iso.ch) An organization that sets international standards, founded in 1946. The U.S. member body is ANSI. 9001 certification for its quality systems, as well as authorization to place the CE Mark on the Somnoplasty System. Under an agreement between Somnus and Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :MDT MDT abbr. Mountain Daylight Time MDT (in the US and Canada) Mountain Daylight Time MDT n abbr (US) (= mountain daylight time) → ), Medtronic distributes the Somnoplasty System in Europe and selected Pacific Rim countries. Somnus can be reached on the World Wide Web at http://www.somnus.com/. This press release contains language that may constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements reflect the company's current beliefs and expectations and are subject to a number of risks that may cause actual events and results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Investors are encouraged to review the company's prospectus for a fuller discussion of the risks and uncertainties regarding the company's business and products. Somnus, Somnoplasty and the Somnus Medical Technologies logo are trademarks or servicemarks of Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc. CONTACT: Schwartz Communications, Inc. Hallie Loring or Laura Koziol, 415/512-0770 hloring or lkoziol@schwartz-pr.com http://www.schwartz-pr.com or Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc. Robert E. McNamara, 408/773-9121 http://www.somnus.com |
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