Methods and devices to treat nasal airways

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018344378-A1
Application number	US-201816041101-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 20, 2018
Priority date	Jun 14, 2011
Publication date	Dec 6, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for reshaping a nasal airway in a patient involves advancing an inflatable balloon of a reshaping device in an uninflated configuration into a nostril of the patient and between a nasal septum and a lateral wall of the nasal airway. The method then involves inflating the inflatable balloon to an inflated configuration to cause the inflatable balloon to contact nasal mucosa covering the nasal septum and the lateral wall, delivering energy from an energy delivery member attached to or inside of the inflatable balloon, and removing the reshaping device from the nasal airway.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for reshaping a nasal airway in a patient, the method comprising:
advancing an inflatable balloon of a reshaping device in an uninflated configuration into a nostril of the patient and between a nasal septum and a lateral wall of the nasal airway; inflating the inflatable balloon to an inflated configuration to cause the inflatable balloon to contact nasal mucosa covering the nasal septum and the lateral wall; delivering energy from an energy delivery member coupled with the inflatable balloon; and removing the reshaping device from the nasal airway.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein inflating the inflatable balloon deforms at least one of the nasal septum or the lateral wall, and wherein a diameter of the nasal airway remains expanded after removal of the reshaping device and healing of treated tissue.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the inflatable balloon is positioned between an upper portion of the nasal septum and the lateral wall, wherein the inflatable balloon is inflated until a nasal valve angle of the nasal airway reaches a desired size, and wherein the diameter of the nasal airway comprises a diameter at or near a nasal valve of the nasal airway.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein inflating the inflatable balloon applies sufficient force to a nasal turbinate to deform and break bone in the nasal turbinate.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy delivery member comprises at least one radiofrequency member attached to an outer surface of the inflatable balloon.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the at least one radiofrequency member comprises multiple bipolar electrodes.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the at least one radiofrequency member comprises multiple expandable electrodes that expand when the inflatable balloon is inflated.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein delivering the energy comprises:
delivering radiofrequency energy via the radiofrequency member; and introducing plasma into the inflatable balloon.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy delivery member comprises a wire mesh attached to an outer surface of the inflatable balloon.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy delivery member comprises heated fluid inside the inflatable balloon, and wherein the inflating and the delivering are performed as one step comprising inflating the inflatable balloon with the heated fluid.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the energy comprises delivering sufficient energy to damage nerve fibers underlying the nasal mucosa.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein delivering the energy to damage the nerve fibers comprises ablating at least one targeted nerve.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one targeted nerve is selected from the group consisting of a sphenopalatine ganglion and a branch of the sphenopalatine ganglion.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining that the patient is suffering from rhinitis before advancing the inflatable balloon.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the energy comprises delivering a form of energy selected from the group consisting of radiofrequency, ultrasound, microwave, heat, electrical, light and laser energy.

16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining the inflatable balloon in the inflated configuration in the nasal airway for a period of time to allow a pharmaceutical substance coated on or contained within the inflatable balloon to leave the inflatable balloon and enter the nasal mucosa.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the pharmaceutical substance comprises a steroid.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is suffering from a nosebleed, the method further comprising maintaining the inflatable balloon in the inflated configuration in the nasal airway for a period of time to stop the nosebleed.

19 . A method for treating a nasal airway in a patient, the method comprising:
advancing an inflatable balloon in an uninflated configuration into the nasal airway; inflating the inflatable balloon to an inflated configuration to cause the inflatable balloon to contact nasal mucosa lining the nasal airway; delivering energy from the inflatable balloon to damage nerve fibers underlying the nasal mucosa; deflating the inflatable balloon; and removing the inflatable balloon from the nasal airway.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising determining that the patient is suffering from rhinitis before advancing the inflatable balloon.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein delivering the energy to damage the nerve fibers comprises ablating at least one targeted nerve.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the at least one targeted nerve is selected from the group consisting of a sphenopalatine ganglion and a branch of the sphenopalatine ganglion.

23 . The method of claim 19 , wherein delivering the energy comprises delivering a form of energy selected from the group consisting of radiofrequency, ultrasound, microwave, heat, electrical, light and laser energy.

24 . A system for treating a nasal airway in a patient, the system comprising:
a treatment device, comprising;
a treatment element comprising an inflatable balloon and an energy delivery member coupled with the energy delivery balloon, wherein the inflatable balloon is configured to be advanced into the nasal airway in an uninflated configuration and inflated to assume an inflated configuration;
a shaft attached to a proximal end of the treatment element; and
a handle attached to a proximal end of the shaft;
a controller coupled with the treatment device; and a power supply coupled with the treatment device.

25 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the energy delivery member comprises a wire mesh attached to an outer surface of the inflatable balloon.

26 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the energy delivery member comprises multiple expandable radiofrequency electrodes attached to an outer surface of the inflatable balloon.

27 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the energy delivery member is configured to deliver a form of energy selected from the group consisting of radiofrequency, ultrasound, microwave, heat, electrical, light and laser energy.

28 . The system of claim 24 , further comprising a pharmaceutical substance coated on or contained within the inflatable balloon, wherein the inflatable balloon is configured to release the pharmaceutical substance within the nasal airway.

29 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the shaft comprises:
an outer shaft; and an inner shaft that extends through an interior of the inflatable balloon, wherein a proximal end and a distal end of the inflatable balloon are attached to the inner shaft, and wherein the inner shaft comprises an inflation lumen and at least one inflation aperture for inflating the inflatable balloon.

30 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the controller is housed in the handle.

31 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the power source is housed in the handle.

32 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the controller and the power source are housed in one device that is coupled with the treatment device via a cable.

Assignees

• Aerin Medical Inc

Inventors

• Wolf Scott J
• Frazier Andrew

Classifications

• A61B5/01

  Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20) · CPC title

• A61B2018/0022

  Balloons · CPC title

• A61N7/022

  intracavitary · CPC title

• A61B2018/00005

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

• A61B18/1442

  Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps · CPC title