Sinus dilation system and method

A method of dilating a region of a patient's nasal sinus system, the method comprising:

• receiving a sinus dilation instrument configured for accessing the region of the patient's nasal sinus system, the sinus dilation instrument including:
• a handle,
• a rigid probe extending distally from the handle, the rigid probe defining:
• a proximal end attached to the handle,
• a distal tip opposite the proximal end,
• a curved segment between the proximal end and the distal tip,
• a balloon secured to the rigid probe adjacent the distal tip,
• an inflation path fluidly connected to an interior of the balloon,
• a connector associated with the handle and configured to be electronically coupled to an image guidance system,
• an electronic identifier device electronically coupled to the connector and programmed to generate a signal indicative of an instrument identification assigned to the sinus dilation instrument and corresponding with a region of a patient's sinus system the sinus dilation instrument is configured to access and treat with the balloon, the instrument identification selected from the group consisting of a frontal sinus instrument, a maxillary sinus instrument, and a sphenoid sinus instrument;
• electronically coupling the connector to an image guidance system, wherein the image guidance system automatically recognizes the instrument identification of the sinus dilation instrument;
• deflating the balloon;
• inserting the distal tip through a naris of the patient;
• pushing the distal tip end along the nasal sinus system of the patient to a target site;
• wherein the step of pushing includes reviewing images generated by the image guidance system and indicative of a location of the balloon relative to the patient's anatomy;
• inflating the balloon to dilate the target site;
• deflating the balloon after dilating the target site;
• and
• removing the sinus dilation instrument from the patient.