Sinus dilation catheter

A method of treating a sinus cavity of a subject using a balloon dilation catheter having a substantially rigid inner guide member and a handle disposed along a proximal portion thereof, the substantially rigid inner guide member extending distally from the handle for a pre-determined distance, the balloon dilation catheter further comprising a movable shaft coupled to a balloon that is slidably mounted on the substantially rigid inner guide member and further coupled to an advancer knob disposed in the handle comprising:

• advancing the substantially rigid inner guide member transnasally;
• positioning a ball tip of the substantially rigid inner guide member behind and in contact with an uncinate process;
• directing the ball tip along a lateral side of the uncinate process while in contact with the uncinate process until the ball tip is positioned behind a lower aspect of the uncinate process;
• directing the ball tip into a maxillary sinus ostium;
• advancing the advancer knob of the handle to advance the shaft and balloon in a distal direction over the substantially rigid inner guide member to place the balloon across the maxillary sinus ostium;
• and
• inflating the balloon.