Balloon Dilation Devices

A balloon dilation device comprising:

• a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the handle defines an internal cavity;
• a shaft extending distally from the distal end of the handle, wherein the shaft comprises a vent lumen extending between a first opening at a distal end of the shaft and a second opening of the shaft, wherein the second opening of the shaft is disposed in the internal cavity of the handle;
• an inflatable balloon disposed about the distal end of the shaft, wherein the inflatable balloon is configured to be actuated between a contracted state and an expanded state;
• and
• an inflation lumen extending from an inflation port of the handle to the inflatable balloon,
• wherein at least the vent lumen of the shaft and a vent opening in an exterior surface of the handle define an airflow pathway for ventilating an Eustachian tube while the inflatable balloon is in the expanded state, and
• wherein the vent lumen and the vent opening are configured such that the airflow pathway defines a tortuous path that inhibits access to the vent lumen.

A method of using a balloon dilation device, comprising:

• inserting a balloon dilation device in a nasal cavity, wherein the balloon dilation device comprises:
• a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the handle defines an internal cavity,
• a shaft extending distally from the distal end of the handle, wherein the shaft comprises a vent lumen extending between a first opening at a distal end of the shaft and a second opening of the shaft, wherein the second opening of the shaft is disposed in the internal cavity of the handle, and
• an inflatable balloon disposed about the distal end of the shaft, wherein the inflatable balloon is configured to be actuated between a contracted state and an expanded state;
• after inserting the balloon dilation device into the nasal cavity, positioning the inflatable balloon in a Eustachian tube while the inflatable balloon is in the contracted state;
• after positioning the inflatable balloon in the Eustachian tube, actuating the inflatable balloon from the contracted state to the expanded state to dilate the Eustachian tube;
• and
• while the inflatable balloon is in the expanded state, ventilating the Eustachian tube through an airflow pathway defined by at least the vent lumen of the shaft and a vent opening in an exterior surface of the handle,
• wherein the vent lumen and the vent opening are configured such that the airflow pathway defines a tortuous path that inhibits access to the vent lumen.