Devices, Systems and Methods for Treating Disorders of the Ear, Nose and Throat
First Claim
1. A device for occluding a nostril of a human or animal subject while permitting a catheter, guidewire or other working device to be inserted through that nostril, said device comprising:
- an occluder member that conforms to the shape of the nostril in which it is inserted; and
a passageway that extends through said occluder member to permit the catheter, guidewire or other working device to be inserted through the occluder member when the occluder member is positioned within the nostril.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Sinusitis, mucocysts, tumors, infections, hearing disorders, choanal atresia, fractures and other disorders of the paranasal sinuses, Eustachian tubes, Lachrymal ducts and other ear, nose, throat and mouth structures 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 and endoscopic studies. Access and occluding devices may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices such asendoscopes, wires, probes, needles, catheters, balloon catheters, dilation catheters, dilators, balloons, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, suction or irrigation devices, imaging devices, sizing devices, biopsy devices, image-guided devices containing sensors or transmitters, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for injecting diagnostic or therapeutic agents, devices for implanting devices such as stents, substance eluting or delivering devices and implants, etc.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A device for occluding a nostril of a human or animal subject while permitting a catheter, guidewire or other working device to be inserted through that nostril, said device comprising:
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an occluder member that conforms to the shape of the nostril in which it is inserted; and
a passageway that extends through said occluder member to permit the catheter, guidewire or other working device to be inserted through the occluder member when the occluder member is positioned within the nostril. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5)
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4. A device for occluding a nostril of a human or animal subject while permitting a catheter, guidewire or other working device to be inserted through that nostril, said device comprising:
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an occluder balloon that occludes the nostril, said balloon being configured to resist pulling of the device out of the nostril; and
a passageway that extends through said occluder balloon to permit the catheter, guidewire or other working device to be inserted through the occluder balloon when the occluder balloon is positioned within the nostril.
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6. An adhesive device useable to resist pulling of a device out of a nostril of a human or animal subject, said device comprising:
a flexible article having an inner adhesive surface and an outer non-adhesive surface, said flexible article being shaped such that a portion of the device may be positioned over the nares to deter pulling of the device from the nostril and at least a portion of the inner adhesive surface is adhered to skin to hold the device in place. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A device for occluding the nasal cavity or nasopharynx of a human or animal subject, posterior to the intranasal septum, said device comprising:
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a tube having a proximal portion of a first diameter and a distal portion of a second diameter that is larger than said first diameter;
a balloon mounted on the distal portion of the tube;
said tube being insertable through a nostril to a position where the distal portion of the tube is posterior to the intranasal septum, said balloon being thereafter inflatable to substantially block the nasal cavity or nasopharynx posterior to the nasal septum. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification