Treating upper airway nerve tissue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12357378-B2
Application number	US-202318458458-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2023
Priority date	Jun 14, 2011
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

Systems and methods for treating a patient's mucus hypersecretion condition are disclosed herein. Certain implementations may involve a method for reducing mucus secretion in an upper airway of a patient to treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough. The method may include advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient. The treatment delivery portion may contact mucosal tissue of the upper airway without piercing the mucosal tissue. The treatment delivery portion may deliver treatment to at least one tissue selected from the group of the mucosal tissue and another tissue underlying the mucosal tissue to modify a property of the at least one tissue and thus treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough in the patient.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for treating a target tissue in a nasal airway of a patient, the device comprising:
a handle;
a shaft extending from a distal end of the handle;
at least one treatment element extending from a distal end of the shaft, wherein the at least one treatment element is sized to pass through a nostril of the patient; and
at least two rows of microneedle electrodes with each row having multiple microneedle electrodes, each row of the at least two rows being disposed longitudinally along a surface of the at least one treatment element to allow the at least two rows of microneedles electrodes to puncture the target tissue to apply a treatment at a predetermined tissue depth to reach mucus producing cells in the nasal airway.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a cable attached to a proximal end of the handle for connecting the handle to a source of radiofrequency energy.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least two rows of microneedle electrodes comprises multiple bipolar electrode pairs, and wherein each of the multiple bipolar electrode pairs has a separate, controlled channel, configured to allow different regions of the at least one treatment element to be activated separately to allow for accurate temperature control and precise targeting of tissue.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the device is configured to select one or more of the multiple bipolar electrode pairs and separately deliver radiofrequency energy between the one or more selected bipolar electrode pairs.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least two rows of microneedle electrodes comprises radiofrequency electrodes, wherein the device further comprises a control system including a radiofrequency energy source, and wherein the handle further comprises a cable for attaching to the control system.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the control system is configured to control one or more characteristics of radiofrequency energy delivered to the at least two rows of microneedle electrodes.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the control system comprises a sensor configured to sense impedance of nasal tissue between multiple pairs of electrodes of the at least two rows of microneedle electrodes.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one treatment element comprises one elongate, flat, rigid treatment element with one treatment surface on which the at least two rows of microneedle electrodes is located.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one treatment element comprises multiple expandable members, and wherein each of the multiple expandable members includes at least one row of the at least two rows of microneedle electrodes.

10. A device for treating a target tissue in a nasal airway of a patient, the device comprising:
a handle;
a shaft extending from a distal end of the handle;
at least one treatment element extending from a distal end of the shaft, wherein the at least one treatment element is sized to pass through a nostril of the patient; and
a plurality of rows of microneedle electrodes, wherein each of the plurality of rows comprises a plurality of microneedle electrodes disposed longitudinally along a surface of the at least one treatment element to allow the plurality of microneedle electrodes to puncture the target tissue to apply a treatment at a predetermined tissue depth to reach mucus producing cells in the nasal airway.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of microneedle electrodes comprises multiple bipolar electrode pairs, and wherein each of the multiple bipolar electrode pairs has a separate, controlled channel, configured to allow different regions of the at least one treatment element to be activated separately to allow for accurate temperature control and precise targeting of tissue.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the device is configured to select one or more of the multiple bipolar electrode pairs and separately deliver radiofrequency energy between the one or more selected bipolar electrode pairs.

13. The device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of microneedle electrodes comprises radiofrequency electrodes, wherein the device further comprises a control system including a radiofrequency energy source, and wherein the handle further comprises a cable for attaching to the control system.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the control system is configured to control one or more characteristics of radiofrequency energy delivered to the plurality of microneedle electrodes.

15. The device of claim 13 , wherein the control system comprises sensor configured to sense impedance of nasal tissue between multiple pairs of electrodes of the plurality of microneedle electrodes.

16. The device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one treatment element comprises one elongate, flat, rigid treatment element with one treatment surface on which the plurality of microneedle electrodes is located.

17. The device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one treatment element comprises multiple expandable members, and wherein each of the multiple expandable members includes at least one row of the plurality of rows of microneedle electrodes.

18. The device of claim 10 , further comprising a cable attached to a proximal end of the handle for connecting the handle to a source of radiofrequency energy.

Assignees

• Aerin Medical Inc

Inventors

• Wolf Scott J
• Frazier Andrew

Classifications

• A61N7/022

  intracavitary · CPC title

• A61M2025/105

  having a balloon suitable for drug delivery, e.g. by using holes for delivery, drug coating or membranes · CPC title

• A61M2025/0091

  the single injection needle being fixed · CPC title

• A61M25/10

  Balloon catheters ({A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02;} inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 {; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00}) · CPC title

• A61M25/0084

  being one or more injection needles · CPC title