Methods and devices to treat nasal airways

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10028780-B2
Application number	US-201715480575-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2017
Priority date	Jun 14, 2011
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for dilating a nasal valve in a nostril of a patient without piercing nasal mucosa of the nostril, the method comprising:
advancing a treatment element of a cryotherapy treatment device into a nostril of the patient in an uninflated configuration, wherein the treatment element comprises an inflatable balloon;
inflating the inflatable balloon to contact nasal mucosa at the nasal valve and dilate the nasal valve to a modified shape;
circulating a low-temperature liquid within the inflatable balloon to apply cryotherapy to tissue underlying the nasal mucosa, thus transferring heat out of the tissue and cooling the tissue;
deflating the inflatable balloon; and
removing the treatment element from the nostril, wherein the nasal valve at least partially retains the modified shape after the treatment element is removed.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying an adhesive strip to an external surface of the patient's nose after removing the treatment element from the nostril, to facilitate the nasal valve at least partially retaining the modified shape.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein inflating the inflatable balloon and circulating the low-temperature fluid strengthens the tissue underlying the nasal mucosa.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cryotherapy is applied uniformly over an entire outer surface of the inflatable balloon, thereby treating the tissue in contact with the treatment element.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the low-temperature liquid comprises liquid nitrogen.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein activating the treatment element comprises applying the cryotherapy to a selected tissue depth, and wherein the tissue comprises cartilage at the selected tissue depth.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue to which the cryotherapy is applied comprises cartilage.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that the patient suffers from rhinitis.

Assignees

• Aerin Medical Inc

Inventors

• Wolf Scott J
• Frazier Andrew

Classifications

• A61B2018/00005

  Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe · CPC title

• A61B18/1815

  using microwaves · CPC title

• A61B2018/00875

  Resistance or impedance · CPC title

• A61B2018/00642

  with feedback, i.e. closed loop control · CPC title

• A61B2018/00327

  Ear, nose or throat · CPC title