# US 11,896,818 B2 · Systems and methods for therapeutic nasal treatment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,818 B2 - Document ID: US11896818B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/225,532 - Filed: 2021-04-08 - Published: 2021-10-14 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-09 - Assignees: Neurent Medical Limited - Applicants: Neurent Medical Limited - Inventors: David Townley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896818B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)} - A61N 1/0546: {Nasal electrodes} - A61B 18/02: by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques - A61B 18/082: {Probes or electrodes therefor} - A61B 18/1485: {having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings} - A61N 1/3606: {adapted for a particular treatment} - A61B 2018/00267: {having a basket shaped structure} - A61B 2018/00327: {Ear, nose or throat} - A61B 2018/00404: {Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart} - A61B 2018/00434: {Neural system} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - 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 The invention provides a device for treating at least one of rhinitis, congestion, and/or rhinorrhea to thereby reduce or eliminate symptoms associated therewith, including, but not limited to, coughing, sneezing, nasal or throat irritation and itching, and difficulty sleeping. The device includes an elongate body, a retractable and expandable multi-segment end effector, and handle, that, as a whole, provide a high level of precise control and feedback to an operator during a procedure. The elongate body includes an electrode array provided along a length thereof configured to deliver energy to specific target sites within the nasal passage and nasal cavity in conjunction with neuromodulation provided by the multi-segment end effector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for treating a condition within a sino-nasal cavity of a patient, the device comprising: an elongate body comprising an array of a first set of electrodes provided along a first portion of the elongate body; and a multi-segment end effector operably associated with a second portion of the elongate body that is separate from the first portion of the elongate body, the multi-segment end effector comprising a first retractable and expandable segment and a second retractable and expandable segment that is separate and spaced apart from the first segment, wherein each of the first and second segments comprises respective arrays of second and third sets of electrodes provided thereon and configured to operate independently of at least the array of the first set of electrodes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate body comprises a shaft to which the multi-segment end effector is coupled. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the shaft comprises an outer sheath surrounding a hypotube or metallic member, wherein at least one of the outer sheath and hypotube and metallic member includes the array of the first set of electrodes provided thereon. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second segments comprises one or more support elements forming at least a portion thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each electrode of the array of the first set of electrodes is provided at a separate respective location of the elongate body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein one or more of the separate respective locations of the elongate body are transformable between a retracted configuration and an expanded configuration such that, when in the expanded configuration, each separate respective location of the elongate body is configured to position a separate associated electrode of the array of the first set of electrodes into contact with a first target site. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each electrode of the array of the first set of electrodes is configured to deliver energy to a first target site associated with an inferior or middle turbinate within a nasal cavity of a patient to reduce engorgement of tissue associated with the inferior turbinate to thereby increase volumetric flow through a nasal passage of the patient. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: the first segment comprises a first set of flexible support elements arranged in a deployed configuration to fit around at least a portion of a middle turbinate at an anterior position relative to posterior-inferior edge of the middle turbinate; and the second segment comprises a second set of flexible support elements configured in a deployed configuration to contact a plurality of tissue locations in a cavity at a posterior position relative to the posterior-inferior edge of the middle turbinate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein each electrode of the arrays of the second and third sets of electrodes is configured to deliver energy to a second target site associated with a sphenopalatine foramen within the nasal cavity of the patient to therapeutically modulate postganglionic parasympathetic nerves innervating nasal mucosa at microforamina of a palatine bone of the patient. ### Claim 10 A method for treating a condition within a nasal cavity of a patient, the method comprising: providing a treatment device comprising an array of a first set of electrodes provided along a first portion of the elongate body and a multi-segment end effector operably associated with a second portion of the elongate body that is separate from the first portion of the elongate body, the multi-segment end effector comprising a first retractable and expandable segment and a second retractable and expandable segment that is separate and spaced apart from the first segment, wherein each of the first and second segments comprises respective arrays of second and third sets of electrodes provided thereon and configured to operate independently of at least the array of the first set of electrodes; advancing the elongate body and the multi-segment end effector through a nasal passage and into a sino-nasal cavity of a patient until a length of the first portion of the elongate body is positioned at a first target site and the multi-segment end effector is positioned at a separate second target site; and delivering energy, via the arrays of the first, second, and third sets of electrodes, to tissue at the respective first and second target sites. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the elongate body comprises a shaft to which the multi-segment end effector is coupled. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the shaft comprises an outer sheath surrounding a hypotube or metallic member, wherein at least one of the outer sheath and hypotube and metallic member includes the array of the first set of electrodes provided thereon. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein each electrode of the array of the first set of electrodes is provided at a separate respective location of the elongate body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein one or more of the separate respective locations of the elongate body are transformable between a retracted configuration and an expanded configuration such that, when in the expanded configuration, each separate respective location of the elongate body is configured to position a separate associated electrode of the array of the first set of electrodes into contact with a first target site. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein delivering energy via the array of the first set of electrodes comprises delivering energy to disrupt multiple neural signals to and/or result in local hypoxia or coagulation necrosis of mucus producing and/or mucosal engorgement elements associated with the inferior turbinate to thereby increase volumetric flow through a nasal passage of the patient. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein: the first segment comprises a first set of flexible support elements arranged in a deployed configuration to fit around at least a portion of a middle turbinate at an anterior position relative to posterior-inferior edge of the middle turbinate; and the second segment comprises a second set of flexible support elements configured in a deployed configuration to contact a plurality of tissue locations in a cavity at a posterior position relative to the posterior-inferior edge of the middle turbinate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein delivering energy via the arrays of the second and third sets of electrodes comprises delivering energy to therapeutically modulate postganglionic parasympathetic nerves innervating nasal mucosa at foramina and or microforamina of a palatine bone of the patient.