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US 8,936,594 B2Granted
Methods and devices to treat nasal airways
AssigneeAerin Medical Inc.
InventorsScott J. Wolf, Andrew Frazier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and devices for treating nasal airways are provided. Such devices and methods may improve airflow through an internal and/or external nasal valve, and comprise the use of mechanical re-shaping, energy application and other treatments to modify the shape, structure, and/or air flow characteristics of an internal nasal valve, an external nasal valve or other nasal airways.
Claims16
A method of treating a patient's nasal airway, the method comprising:
- positioning a treatment surface of a treatment element within the nasal airway adjacent to a nasal tissue to be treated;
- applying the treatment surface to the nasal tissue with sufficient force to alter a shape of the nasal tissue;
- and
- applying energy to the nasal tissue with the treatment element, wherein the nasal tissue at least partially maintains the altered shape after the treating element is removed and the nasal tissue heals.
1 more element
A method of treating a patient's nasal airway, the method comprising:
- positioning a treatment element within the nasal airway adjacent to nasal tissue to be treated, wherein the treatment element comprises a convex treatment surface and one or more electrodes;
- deforming the nasal tissue into a concave shape by pressing the convex surface of the treatment element against the nasal tissue to be treated;
- delivering radiofrequency (RF) energy to the one or more electrodes to locally heat the nasal tissue, wherein delivering RF energy while deforming the nasal tissue causes the nasal tissue to change shape;
- and
- removing the treatment element from the nasal airway,
- wherein the nasal tissue at least partially maintains its changed shape after the treatment element is removed.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.