Devices, systems and methods for diagnosing and treating sinusitis and other disorders of the ears, nose and/or throat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020022717-A1
Application number	US-201916532678-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 6, 2019
Priority date	Apr 21, 2004
Publication date	Jan 23, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

Sinusitis, enlarged nasal turbinates, tumors, infections, hearing disorders, allergic conditions, facial fractures and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches and, in many cases, flexible catheters as opposed to instruments having rigid shafts. Various diagnostic procedures and devices are used to perform imaging studies, mucus flow studies, air/gas flow studies, anatomic dimension studies, endoscopic studies and transillumination studies. Access and occluder devices may be used to establish fluid tight seals in the anterior or posterior nasal cavities/nasopharynx and to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g., scopes, guidewires, catheters, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for injecting diagnostic or therapeutic agents, devices for implanting devices such as stents, substance eluting devices, substance delivery implants, etc.

First claim

1 .- 18 . (canceled)

19 . An apparatus comprising:
(a) a catheter shaft, the catheter shaft being configured to fit in a nasal cavity of a patient; (b) a balloon positioned at a distal end of the catheter shaft, the balloon being configured to transition between a non-inflated state and an inflated state, the balloon in the non-inflated state being configured to fit in a passageway associated with a nasal sinus cavity, the balloon in the inflated state being configured to dilate the passageway associated with the nasal sinus cavity; and (c) a therapeutic substance on or in the balloon, the therapeutic substance being configured to provide a therapeutic effect on tissue in or near the passageway associated with the nasal sinus cavity.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , the balloon being coated with the therapeutic substance.

21 . The apparatus of claim 19 , the balloon being impregnated with the therapeutic substance.

22 . The apparatus of claim 19 , the balloon being configured to elute the therapeutic substance onto the tissue in or near the passageway associated with the nasal sinus cavity.

23 . The apparatus of claim 19 , the balloon defining a plurality of apertures.

24 . The apparatus of claim 23 , the balloon being configured to deliver the therapeutic substance to the tissue in or near the passageway associated with the nasal sinus cavity via the apertures.

25 . The apparatus of claim 24 , the balloon being configured to deliver the therapeutic substance to the tissue in or near the passageway associated with the nasal sinus cavity via the apertures under pressure.

26 . The apparatus of claim 19 , the catheter shaft being configured to deliver the therapeutic substance to the tissue in or near the passageway associated with the nasal sinus cavity.

27 . The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising a stent carried by the balloon.

28 . The apparatus of claim 27 , the balloon being operable to expand the stent.

29 . The apparatus of claim 27 , the therapeutic agent being carried by the stent, the stent being positioned on the balloon, such that the therapeutic agent is on the balloon via the stent.

30 . The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising a guidewire, the catheter shaft being configured for advancement along the guidewire.

31 . The apparatus of claim 19 , the balloon being formed of a non-compliant material.

32 . The apparatus of claim 31 , the balloon comprising polyethylene.

33 . An apparatus comprising:
(a) a catheter shaft, the catheter shaft being configured to fit in a nasal cavity of a patient; (b) a balloon positioned at a distal end of the catheter shaft, the balloon being configured to transition between a non-inflated state and an inflated state, the balloon in the non-inflated state being configured to fit in a passageway associated with a nasal sinus cavity, the balloon in the inflated state being configured to dilate the passageway associated with the nasal sinus cavity; and (c) a therapeutic agent on an exterior of the balloon, the therapeutic agent being configured to provide a therapeutic effect on tissue in or near the passageway associated with the nasal sinus cavity.

34 . The apparatus of claim 33 , the therapeutic agent being carried on the balloon as a coating on the exterior of the balloon.

35 . A method comprising:
(a) inserting a balloon catheter into a nasal cavity of a patient; (b) positioning a balloon of the balloon catheter in a passageway associated with a nasal sinus of the patient; (c) expanding the balloon to thereby dilate the passageway; and (d) delivering a therapeutic agent to the passageway via the expanded balloon, the therapeutic agent contacting tissue of the passageway as the balloon is expanded.

36 . The method of claim 35 , the passageway including a sinus ostium.

37 . The method of claim 35 , the therapeutic agent being delivered to the passageway while the expanded balloon dilates the passageway.

38 . The method of claim 35 , the balloon having an exterior surface including a coating containing the therapeutic agent, the therapeutic agent being delivered via contact between the coating and tissue of the passageway.

Assignees

• Acclarent Inc

Inventors

• Chang John Y
• Makower Joshua

Classifications

• A61B18/12

  by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current · CPC title

• A61B18/02

  by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques · CPC title

• A61M29/02

  Dilators made of swellable material {(balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104)} · CPC title

• A61N1/0541

  Cochlear electrodes · CPC title

• A61B17/0218

  for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence) · CPC title