Pressure sensitive tissue treatment device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018185085-A1
Application number	US-201815893031-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 9, 2018
Priority date	Jun 14, 2011
Publication date	Jul 5, 2018
Grant date	—

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

1 . A device for treating a patient's nasal airway, the device comprising:
an elongate, rigid shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and defining a longitudinal axis; a handle at the proximal end of the elongate shaft; an elongate treatment element extending from the distal end of the elongate shaft, the treatment element having a front tissue-contact surface and a length that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the front tissue-contact surface comprises a shallow convex shape defining a curve that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; at least two bipolar, radiofrequency electrodes protruding from the front tissue-contact surface of the treatment element; and a force control member coupled with the front tissue-contact surface of the treatment element and configured to facilitate requiring a minimum amount of force to be applied against tissue in the nasal airway by the front tissue-contact surface before the radiofrequency electrodes are activated.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the force control member comprises a spring mounted pressure plate coupled with the treatment element, and wherein the front tissue-contact surface of the treatment element comprises a front surface of the pressure plate.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the pressure plate requires that the minimum amount of force be applied before the energy delivery member is activated.

4 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a cooling mechanism coupled with the treatment element for cooling the tissue in the nasal airway.

5 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a controller coupled with the handle and configured to receive a sensed force parameter signal from the force control member, determine whether the minimum amount of force is being applied against the tissue in the nasal airway, based on the sensed force parameter signal, and determine whether to activate the energy delivery member, based on whether the minimum amount of force is being applied.

6 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to control one or more characteristics of energy delivery by the energy delivery member.

7 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the controller comprises an energy delivery box that is further configured to provide energy to the energy delivery member.

8 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a thermocouple coupled with the front tissue-contact surface, configured to measure a temperature near the tissue.

9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least two bipolar, radiofrequency electrodes comprise two rows of bipolar, radiofrequency electrodes.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the nasal tissue treatment device further comprises an insulating material interposed between the at least two radiofrequency electrodes.

11 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a radiofrequency energy source coupled with the elongate treatment element to provide radiofrequency energy to the at least two bipolar, radiofrequency electrodes.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the force control member comprises a force transducer coupled with the treatment element, and wherein the device further comprises a radiofrequency source coupled with the device and configured to receive force measurements from the force transducer and only provide radiofrequency energy to the at least two bipolar, radiofrequency electrodes when the minimum amount of force is applied.

13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the force control member comprises a tissue impedance measurement device coupled with the treatment element, and wherein the device further comprises a radiofrequency source coupled with the device and configured to receive tissue impedance measurements from the tissue impedance measurement device and only provide radiofrequency energy to the at least two bipolar, radiofrequency electrodes when the minimum amount of force is applied.

14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the force control member comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a force transducer and a tissue impedance sensor.

15 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device, when used for a treatment, is configured to at least one of reduce airway resistance or reduce rhinitis.

Assignees

• Aerin Medical Inc

Inventors

• Wolf Scott J
• Frazier Andrew

Classifications

• A61B2018/143

  multiple needles · CPC title

• A61B17/320068

  using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic (A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745) · CPC title

• A61B2018/00595

  Cauterization · CPC title

• A61B2018/0262

  using a circulating cryogenic fluid · CPC title

• A61B2018/0016

  Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array · CPC title