US 7,727,186 B2 · Devices, systems and methods for diagnosing and treating sinusitis and other disorders of the ears, nose and/or throat

Abstract

Sinusitis, enlarged nasal turbinates, tumors, infections, hearing disorders, allergic conditions, facial fractures and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches and, in many cases, flexible catheters as opposed to instruments having rigid shafts. Various diagnostic procedures and devices are used to perform imaging studies, mucus flow studies, air/gas flow studies, anatomic dimension studies, endoscopic studies and transillumination studies. Access and occluder devices may be used to establish fluid tight seals in the anterior or posterior nasal cavities/nasopharynx and to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g., scopes, guidewires, catheters, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for injecting diagnostic or therapeutic agents, devices for implanting devices such as stents, substance eluting devices, substance delivery implants, etc.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for treating sinusitis and/or a disorder of a nasal cavity in a patient, the method comprising:

advancing a catheter through a nostril of the patient to position an anterior occluder of the catheter at a first position in the nostril and a posterior occluder of the catheter at a second position posterior to the first position, wherein the catheter extends between the anterior and posterior occluders;
expanding the posterior and anterior occluders to form fluid tight seals with tissue of the patient at the first and second positions;
passing a substance through the catheter into an area of the patient between the fluid tight seals;
collapsing the occluders;
performing a treatment on at least one of a paranasal sinus, a paranasal sinus ostium or a nasal cavity using a treatment device;
removing the catheter from the patient;
advancing a guide device into the nostril;
advancing a balloon dilation catheter over or through the guide to position a balloon of the balloon dilation catheter in a paranasal sinus ostium;
expanding the balloon to expand the ostium;
deflating the balloon;
and
removing the balloon dilation catheter from the patient.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Devices, systems and methods for diagnosing and treating sinusitis and other disorders of the ears, nose and/or throat

Life of this patent

Devices, systems and methods for diagnosing and treating sinusitis and other disorders of the ears, nose and/or throat

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18