Nasal fluid management device
AssigneeAcclarent, Inc.
InventorsThomas R. Jenkins, Jessica M. Liberatore, Randy J. Kesten, Radit Tantisira
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus comprises a body and a conduit. The body comprises an absorbent material. The conduit is in fluid communication with the body. The conduit has a suction opening positioned within the absorbent material. The conduit is operable to draw fluid away from the absorbent material. The apparatus may be positioned within the posterior choana or the nasopharynx of a patient using a deployment instrument. The apparatus may prevent fluids from draining from the nasal cavity into the patient's throat. In some instances, the apparatus is used as a plug during a sinus irrigation procedure to prevent irrigation fluid from traveling down the patient's throat.
Claims18
An apparatus comprising:
- (a) a body, wherein the body comprises an absorbent material, wherein the body is configured to be disposed within an anatomical passageway, wherein the body is configured to expand to an expanded state, wherein the body is configured to absorb fluid to thereby expand the body to the expanded state, wherein an outer perimeter of the body is configured to contact an inner wall of the anatomical passageway in the expanded state, wherein the body defines a first distal recess and a second distal recess, wherein the first distal recess is proximal in location relative to the second distal recess, wherein the first distal recess is larger than the second distal recess;
- and
- (b) a conduit in fluid communication with the body, wherein the conduit includes a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of the conduit is disposed within the body, wherein the distal end of the conduit defines an oblique angle such that a first portion of the distal end is more proximal in relation to a second portion of the distal end, wherein the first portion of the distal end corresponds with the first distal recess defined by body, wherein the second portion of distal end corresponds with the second distal recess defined by body, wherein the conduit is operable to draw fluid away from the absorbent material via the distal end of the conduit;
- wherein the body defines a gap at the distal end of the conduit, wherein the gap is enclosed by the body.
An apparatus comprising:
- (a) a body comprising:
- (i) an absorbent material,
- (ii) a distal face, and
- (iii) a proximal face, wherein the absorbent material defines a channel extending from the proximal face, wherein the channel terminates proximal in relation to the distal face,
- wherein the body is configured to be disposed within an anatomical passageway, wherein the body is configured to expand to an expanded state, wherein the body is configured to absorb fluid to thereby expand the body to the expanded state, wherein an outer perimeter of the body is configured to contact an inner wall of the anatomical passageway in the expanded state;
- and
- (b) a conduit in fluid communication with the body, wherein the conduit includes a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of the conduit is disposed within the channel of the body, wherein the channel defines a gap, wherein the conduit is operable to draw fluid away from the absorbent material via the distal end of the conduit, wherein the conduit includes a plurality of lateral openings within the channel of the body, wherein the channel defines a plurality of recesses, wherein the plurality of recesses extend toward the outer perimeter but terminate prior to reaching the outer perimeter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.