# US 10,307,200 B2 · Apparatus and methods for treating rhinitis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,200 B2 - Document ID: US10307200B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/982,537 - Filed: 2018-05-17 - Published: 2018-09-20 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-30 - Assignees: Arrinex, Inc. - Applicants: Arrinex, Inc. - Inventors: Vahid Saadat - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307200B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/1485: {having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings} - A61B 17/24: for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose (for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00); Tongue scrapers - A61B 18/02: by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques - A61N 7/02: Localised ultrasound hyperthermia - A61N 7/022: {intracavitary} - A61B 2018/0022: {Balloons} - A61B 2018/00327: {Ear, nose or throat} - A61B 2018/00434: {Neural system} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2018/00714: {Temperature} - A61B 2018/00791: {Temperature} - A61B 2018/00982: {combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes} - A61B 2018/0212: {using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter} - A61B 2018/0268: {with restriction of flow} - A61B 2018/143: {multiple needles} - A61B 2018/1475: {Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing} - A61B 2090/378: {using ultrasound} - A61B 2218/002: Irrigation - A61N 2007/003: {Destruction of nerve tissue} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract Apparatus and methods for treating conditions such as rhinitis are disclosed herein where a distal end of a probe shaft is introduced through the nasal cavity where the distal end has an end effector with a first configuration having a low-profile which is shaped to manipulate tissue within the nasal cavity. The distal end may be positioned into proximity of a tissue region having a post nasal nerve associated with a middle or inferior nasal turbinate. Once suitably positioned, the distal end may be reconfigured from the first configuration to a second configuration which is shaped to contact and follow the tissue region and the post nasal nerve may then be ablated via the distal end. Ablation may be performed using various mechanisms, such as cryotherapy, and optionally under direct visualization. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for treating nerve tissue within a nasal cavity of a patient, the method comprising: advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient; contacting a mucosal surface of the nasal cavity with the treatment delivery portion; and delivering an energy-based treatment from the treatment delivery portion to treat the nerve tissue underlying the mucosal surface, wherein the delivering of the energy-based treatment comprises delivering energy in a form selected from the group consisting of ultrasound, radiofrequency, and electrical energy. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the delivering of the energy-based treatment to treat the nerve tissue underlying the mucosal surface comprises ablating the nerve tissue. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the delivering of the energy-based treatment comprises delivering radiofrequency energy from a first electrode on a tissue contact surface to a second electrode on the tissue contact surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the first electrode and second electrode comprise dome shaped electrodes on the tissue contact surface, and wherein contacting the mucosal surface comprises contacting the dome shaped electrodes on the tissue contact surface with the mucosal surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring energy-based treatment delivery using a thermocouple disposed in a vicinity of the treatment delivery portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the delivering of the energy-based treatment to treat the nerve tissue underlying the mucosal surface comprises ablating the nerve tissue such that at least one symptom of rhinitis is reduced. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the nerve tissue comprises a posterior nasal nerve, a branch of a vidian nerve, a parasympathetic nerve, a greater palatine nerve, a maxillary nerve, a sphenopalatine ganglion nerve, or a posterolateral nerve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the delivering of the energy-based treatment comprises delivering bipolar radiofrequency energy. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment delivery portion comprises a plurality of electrodes and the delivering of the energy-based treatment comprises delivering radiofrequency energy. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprise eight electrodes arranged in two lateral arrays. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a shape of the treatment delivery portion of the energy-based treatment device to increase contact with the mucosal surface or pressure against the mucosal surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the treatment delivery portion comprises an expandable structure having bipolar electrode elements and adjusting the shape of the treatment delivery portion comprises expanding the bipolar electrode elements away from a longitudinal axis of the energy-based treatment device. ### Claim 13 A method for treating nerve tissue within a nasal cavity of a patient, the method comprising: advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient; contacting a mucosal surface of the nasal cavity with the treatment delivery portion; delivering an energy-based treatment from the treatment delivery portion to treat the nerve tissue underlying the mucosal surface wherein the delivering of the energy-based treatment to treat the nerve tissue underlying the mucosal surface comprises ablating the nerve tissue such that rhinorrhea is reduced; and wherein the delivering of the energy-based treatment comprises delivering bipolar radiofrequency energy. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting a shape of the treatment delivery portion of the energy-based treatment device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the treatment delivery portion comprises an expandable structure and adjusting the shape of the treatment delivery portion comprises inflating the expandable structure from a deflated configuration into an expanded configuration against the mucosal surface. ### Claim 16 A method for treating nerve tissue within a nasal cavity of a patient, the method comprising: advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient, wherein the advancing the treatment delivery portion of the energy-based treatment device into the nostril of the patient comprises positioning the treatment delivery portion relative to a tissue region surrounded by a middle nasal turbinate, an inferior nasal turbinate, and a lateral nasal wall; contacting a mucosal surface of the nasal cavity with the treatment delivery portion; adjusting a shape of the treatment delivery portion of the energy-based treatment device; and delivering an energy-based treatment from the treatment delivery portion to treat the nerve tissue underlying the mucosal surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the delivering of the energy-based treatment to treat the nerve tissue underlying the mucosal surface comprises ablating the nerve tissue. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the delivering of the energy-based treatment comprises delivering energy in a form selected from the group consisting of ultrasound, radiofrequency, electrical, and thermal energy. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the delivering of the energy-based treatment comprises applying cryotherapy. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the applying the cryotherapy comprises ablating the nerve tissue. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the delivering of the energy-based treatment to treat the nerve tissue underlying the mucosal surface comprises ablating the nerve tissue such that at least one symptom of rhinitis is reduced. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising measuring energy-based treatment delivery using a thermocouple disposed in a vicinity of the treatment delivery portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the delivering of the energy-based treatment comprises delivering bipolar radiofrequency energy. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the treatment delivery portion comprises an expandable structure and adjusting the shape of the treatment delivery portion comprises inflating the expandable structure from a deflated configuration into an expanded configuration against the mucosal surface. ### Claim 25 A method for treating nerve tissue within a nasal cavity of a patient, the method comprising: advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient; contacting a mucosal surface of the nasal cavity with the treatment delivery portion; adjusting a shape of the treatment delivery portion of the energy-based treatment device, wherein the treatment delivery portion comprises an expandable structure and adjusting the shape of the treatment delivery portion comprises inflating the expandable structure from a deflated configuration into an expanded configuration against the mucosal surface; and delivering an energy-based treatment from the treatment delivery portion to treat the nerve tissue underlying the mucosal surface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the inflating comprises introducing a cryogenic fluid into the expandable structure, wherein evaporation of the cryogenic fluid inflates the expandable structure into the expanded configuration. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the contacting the mucosal surface comprises positioning a member extending within the expandable structure into contact against the mucosal surface through the expandable structure.