System and method for sinus surgery
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorJoe D. Sartor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for treating a sinus cavity is provided. The method includes the steps of inserting a plasma applicator into a sinus cavity defined in a bone mass, positioning the plasma applicator adjacent a tissue formation, generating a selectively reactive plasma effluent at the plasma applicator and directing the selectively reactive plasma effluent at the tissue formation. The selective nature of the reactive plasma enables treatment of specific targets inside the sinus while minimizing the effect on other tissues. Such treatment includes, but not limited to, sterilization of bacterial colonies, vaporization of unwanted tissues or foreign masses, stimulation of tissues by enriching the content of reactive oxygen and nitrous oxide pathways, and combinations thereof.
Claims14
1-19. (canceled)
A system for treating a tissue cavity, the system comprising:
- a plasma applicator configured to be inserted into a tissue cavity having a tissue formation and a bone mass, the plasma applicator including a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a lumen defined through the shaft, the lumen terminating in an opening at the distal portion;
- an ionizable media source coupled to the plasma applicator and in fluid communication with the lumen, the ionizable media source configured to supply an ionizable media;
- a precursor feedstock source coupled to the plasma applicator and in fluid communication with the lumen, the precursor feedstock source configured to supply a precursor feedstock having a higher chemical reactivity with the tissue formation than with the bone mass;
- and
- a power source coupled to the plasma applicator and configured to ignite the ionizable media and the precursor feedstock at the plasma applicator to form a selectively reactive plasma effluent that selectively removes the tissue formation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.