Post nasal drip treatment

#This application relates generally to the field of medical devices and treatments. More specifically, the application relates to systems, devices and methods for treating structures within the upper airway to reduce and/or prevent overproduction and/or flow of mucus to alleviate the discomfort of post nasal drip symptoms.

#In a healthy human body, glands in the lining of the nose, throat and airways produce about 1 to 1.5 liters daily of a thick, wet substance called mucus. The purpose of mucus is to help trap and destroy harmful bacteria and viruses in the airways before they can enter the body. Mucus produced in the nose is transported toward the throat and into the digestive system. This process is called mucociliary clearance and generally goes unnoticed, similar to breathing or blinking. However, viruses, infections, and the inhalation of airborne irritants, particles and micro-organisms can trigger an overproduction of mucus and/or thicker-than-usual mucus. This increased/thickened mucus causes irritation, which is known as post nasal drip syndrome (PNDS) or upper airway cough syndrome (UACS).

#Nasal mucus is produced by the nasal mucosa and mucosal tissues lining airways (trachea, bronchus, bronchioles). Mucosal tissues include specialized airway epithelial cells (goblet cells) and submucosal glands. Goblet cells are situated in the epithelium of the conducting airways, often with their apical surfaces protruding into the lumen, a location which allows them to aid in a rapid response to inhaled airway insults. Goblet cells may have a much greater potential for mucus secretion than do the submucosal glands. Thus, goblet cells may represent the principal front-line defender of the airway.

#FIG. 1 is a side-view diagram of a mucus producing cell in the lining of a nasal epithelium.

#FIG. 2 is a diagram of a process of exocytosis.

#FIG. 3 is a diagram of a Ca2+ filled vesicle fusing with a membrane and opening up to an extracellular space containing Na+ and Cl—.

#The following disclosure provides embodiments of systems and methods for treating PNDS and/or UACS, which may be generally referred to herein as “post-nasal drip” or “PND.” Certain embodiments include methods and devices for reshaping, remodeling, strengthening, and/or changing a property and/or type of tissue of the nose and/or upper airway, including but not limited to the epithelial layer, skin, muscle, mucosa, submucosa, and cartilage in the upper airway. Certain embodiments may be used to decrease or eliminate mucus production in the upper airway. While some embodiments may change a property of a tissue, such as an ability of a tissue to produce mucus, other embodiments may change a tissue from one type to another type. One example of this latter change is changing goblet cells to scar tissue. Various embodiments may be used to reduce movement of mucus, reduce amount of mucus produced, reduce frequency of mucus production, change the mucus viscosity/consistency, and/or change the path of mucus flow.

#Remodeling or changing the properties of the tissues in the upper airway linings can improve the condition of PND caused by mucus hypersecretion. Methods and devices described herein may be used to treat upper airways without the need for more invasive procedures (e.g., ablation or surgery).

#PND symptoms may be alleviated by decreasing mucus production in the upper airways. In certain implementations, mucus production may be decreased by modifying the properties of mucus producing cells in the upper airway epithelium. In some implementations, modifying the properties of the mucus producing cells may include reducing the rate at which cells produce mucus. In some implementations, modifying the properties of mucus producing cells may include deactivating some or all mucus producing cells in a region. Modifying these cells can be performed alone or together with other procedures (e.g., surgical procedures), such as those described above. Such methods and devices may alleviate PND symptoms.