Devices, systems and methods for diagnosing and treating sinusitus and other disorders of the ears, nose and/or throat
First Claim
33. An anterior/posterior occlusion and access device for use in the diagnosis and/or treatment of sinusitis or a disorder of the ear, nose or throat, said device comprising:
- a tube having an anterior end, a posterior end and at least one lumen;
an anterior occluder at a first location on the tube;
a posterior occluder at a second location on the tube, said second location being posterior to said first location;
a working device insertion opening located anterior to the anterior occluder; and
a working device exit opening located between the anterior occluder and the posterior occluder; and
at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of a) a valve that is operative to allow a working device to be inserted through said device insertion port while preventing blood or other fluid from backflowing out of the device insertion port at least when no working device is inserted therethrough, b) at least one moveable suction port for suctioning blood, fluid or debris from a plurality of locations between the anterior occluder and posterior occluder and/or c) separate infusion and suction lumens such that fluid may be infused into a location between the anterior and posterior occluders at the same time that fluid is being suctioned from a location between the anterior and posterior occluders. said nasal access and occlusion device being deployable such that i) the anterior occluder occludes the nostril or nasal cavity on one side of the intranasal septum ii) the posterior occluder occludes the nasopharynx at a location posterior to the intranasal septum and iii) a working device may be inserted through the working device insertion opening and advanced out of the working device exit opening to a location within the nose, nasopharynx or paranasal sinus.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
91 Claims
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33. An anterior/posterior occlusion and access device for use in the diagnosis and/or treatment of sinusitis or a disorder of the ear, nose or throat, said device comprising:
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a tube having an anterior end, a posterior end and at least one lumen;
an anterior occluder at a first location on the tube;
a posterior occluder at a second location on the tube, said second location being posterior to said first location;
a working device insertion opening located anterior to the anterior occluder; and
a working device exit opening located between the anterior occluder and the posterior occluder; and
at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of a) a valve that is operative to allow a working device to be inserted through said device insertion port while preventing blood or other fluid from backflowing out of the device insertion port at least when no working device is inserted therethrough, b) at least one moveable suction port for suctioning blood, fluid or debris from a plurality of locations between the anterior occluder and posterior occluder and/or c) separate infusion and suction lumens such that fluid may be infused into a location between the anterior and posterior occluders at the same time that fluid is being suctioned from a location between the anterior and posterior occluders. said nasal access and occlusion device being deployable such that i) the anterior occluder occludes the nostril or nasal cavity on one side of the intranasal septum ii) the posterior occluder occludes the nasopharynx at a location posterior to the intranasal septum and iii) a working device may be inserted through the working device insertion opening and advanced out of the working device exit opening to a location within the nose, nasopharynx or paranasal sinus. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 91)
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43. A nasal access and anterior occlusion device for use in the diagnosis and/or treatment of sinusitis or a disorder of the ear, nose or throat, said device comprising:
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an anterior occluder for occluding the nostril or nasal cavity on one side of the nasal septum; and
a working device insertion port through which a working device may be inserted and advanced past the anterior occluder to a location within the nose, nasopharynx or paranasal sinus; and
at least one valve that allows a working device to be inserted through said working device insertion port and prevents blood or other fluid from backflowing out of the working device insertion port, at least when no working device is inserted therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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47. A method for diagnosing or locating an obstruction that impedes drainage from a paranasal sinus or for assessing the efficacy of previously rendered treatment intended to improve or modify drainage from a paranasal sinus, said method comprising the steps of:
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A. introducing a flowable medium into the paranasal sinus; and
,B. monitoring the flow or diffusion of the flowable medium from the paranasal sinus. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A method for diagnosing or locating an obstruction that impedes drainage from a paranasal sinus or for assessing the efficacy of previously rendered treatment intended to improve or modify drainage from a paranasal sinus, said method comprising the steps of:
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(A) introducing into the paranasal sinus a substance that causes tissues lining the paranasal sinus to secrete mucous or other secretions; and
,(B) monitoring the flow of the mucous or other secretions from the paranasal sinus. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A device for removing polyps or other tissue from the nose, nasopharynx or paranasal sinus, said device comprising:
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a flexible catheter having a distal end and a lumen;
a flexible tube having an open distal end and a lumen extending therethrough, said flexible tube being rotatably disposed within a lumen of the catheter such that the flexible tube may rotate while the catheter does not rotate;
a rotating cutter on the distal end of the flexible tube; and
an opening formed in the catheter such that matter may be received through the opening and cut by the rotating cutter. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
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81-1. A method according to claim 81 wherein Step A comprises using a scope to visualize the Eustachian tube and guiding said catheter into the Eustachian tube.
Specification