Apparatus and methods for treating rhinitis
First Claim
1. A method for treating nerve tissue within a nasal cavity of a patient, the method comprising:
- advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient;
contacting a mucosal surface of the nasal cavity with the treatment delivery portion; and
delivering an energy-based treatment from the treatment delivery portion to treat the nerve tissue underlying the mucosal surface, wherein the delivering of the energy-based treatment comprises delivering energy in a form selected from the group consisting of ultrasound, radiofrequency, and electrical energy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for treating conditions such as rhinitis are disclosed herein where a distal end of a probe shaft is introduced through the nasal cavity where the distal end has an end effector with a first configuration having a low-profile which is shaped to manipulate tissue within the nasal cavity. The distal end may be positioned into proximity of a tissue region having a post nasal nerve associated with a middle or inferior nasal turbinate. Once suitably positioned, the distal end may be reconfigured from the first configuration to a second configuration which is shaped to contact and follow the tissue region and the post nasal nerve may then be ablated via the distal end. Ablation may be performed using various mechanisms, such as cryotherapy, and optionally under direct visualization.
381 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for treating nerve tissue within a nasal cavity of a patient, the method comprising:
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advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient; contacting a mucosal surface of the nasal cavity with the treatment delivery portion; and delivering an energy-based treatment from the treatment delivery portion to treat the nerve tissue underlying the mucosal surface, wherein the delivering of the energy-based treatment comprises delivering energy in a form selected from the group consisting of ultrasound, radiofrequency, and electrical energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for treating nerve tissue within a nasal cavity of a patient, the method comprising:
- advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient;
contacting a mucosal surface of the nasal cavity with the treatment delivery portion;
delivering an energy-based treatment from the treatment delivery portion to treat the nerve tissue underlying the mucosal surface wherein the delivering of the energy-based treatment to treat the nerve tissue underlying the mucosal surface comprises ablating the nerve tissue such that rhinorrhea is reduced; and
wherein the delivering of the energy-based treatment comprises delivering bipolar radiofrequency energy. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
- advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient;
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16. A method for treating nerve tissue within a nasal cavity of a patient, the method comprising:
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advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient, wherein the advancing the treatment delivery portion of the energy-based treatment device into the nostril of the patient comprises positioning the treatment delivery portion relative to a tissue region surrounded by a middle nasal turbinate, an inferior nasal turbinate, and a lateral nasal wall; contacting a mucosal surface of the nasal cavity with the treatment delivery portion; adjusting a shape of the treatment delivery portion of the energy-based treatment device; and delivering an energy-based treatment from the treatment delivery portion to treat the nerve tissue underlying the mucosal surface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for treating nerve tissue within a nasal cavity of a patient, the method comprising:
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advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient; contacting a mucosal surface of the nasal cavity with the treatment delivery portion; adjusting a shape of the treatment delivery portion of the energy-based treatment device, wherein the treatment delivery portion comprises an expandable structure and adjusting the shape of the treatment delivery portion comprises inflating the expandable structure from a deflated configuration into an expanded configuration against the mucosal surface; and delivering an energy-based treatment from the treatment delivery portion to treat the nerve tissue underlying the mucosal surface. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification