Methods, devices and systems for treatment and/or diagnosis of disorders of the ear, nose and throat

• US 20080183128A1
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Morriss, John, Pader, Mei, Makower, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US12/011,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20080183128A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/35
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0004 having two or more concentrically arranged tubes for forming a concentric catheter system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0073 Tip designed for influencing the flow or the flow velocity of the fluid, e.g. inserts for twisted or vortex flow general flow characteristics A61M2206/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0681 Sinus (maxillaris)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0052 Localized reinforcement, e.g. where only a specific part of the catheter is reinforced, for rapid exchange guidewire port
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0053 having a variable stiffness along the longitudinal axis, e.g. by varying the pitch of the coil or braid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/008 Strength or flexibility characteristics of the catheter tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0283 with at least two inner passageways, a first one for irrigating and a second for evacuating suction-irrigation systems A61M1/77; aspiration tips with fluid supply means A61M1/85; for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92

Abstract

A method for irrigating a paranasal sinus may involve advancing a distal portion of a sinus irrigation catheter through an ostium of a paranasal sinus into the sinus and passing fluid through multiple ports disposed at different locations along a length of the catheter distal portion into the sinus. A flexible irrigation catheter device for irrigating a paranasal sinus may include: an elongate catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen therebetween, and a tapered distal portion extending proximally from the distal end of the catheter body; a proximal hub coupled with the proximal end of the catheter body for connecting to a source of irrigation fluid; multiple side ports disposed along the catheter body closer to the distal end than the proximal end and in fluid communication with the lumen; and a distal end port at the distal end of the catheter body.

Claims

1. A method for irrigating a paranasal sinus, the method comprising:

advancing a distal portion of a sinus irrigation catheter through an ostium of a paranasal sinus into the sinus; and

passing fluid through multiple ports disposed at different locations along a length of the catheter distal portion into the sinus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein advancing the distal portion comprises advancing over a guidewire.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising removing the guidewire through the irrigation catheter before passing the fluid.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein passing the fluid comprises passing fluid through three side ports distributed in a helical pattern along a length of the irrigation catheter and one distal port on the irrigation catheter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein advancing the distal portion comprises advancing over a stylet.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein passing the fluid comprises passing fluid through multiple side ports and one distal end port on the irrigation catheter.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein passing the fluid comprises forming a vortex of fluid in the sinus.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein passing the fluid comprises passing fluid through three side ports distributed in a helical pattern along a length of the irrigation catheter and one distal port on the irrigation catheter.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

bending the distal portion before advancing it into the sinus; and

turning the irrigation catheter while advancing it to steer the bent distal portion toward the sinus ostium.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising suctioning at least some of the fluid back into the irrigation catheter through at least one of the ports.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising suctioning at least some of the fluid out of the sinus using a separate suction device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising viewing a radiopaque marker of the irrigation catheter within the sinus using fluoroscopy.

13. A method for irrigating a paranasal sinus, the method comprising:

advancing a distal portion of a sinus irrigation catheter through an ostium of a paranasal sinus into the sinus; and

passing fluid through a distal end port disposed on the distal end of the irrigation catheter and three side ports disposed in a helical pattern distributed in a helical pattern along a length of the irrigation catheter into the sinus to form a vortex of irrigation fluid in the sinus.

14. A flexible irrigation catheter device for irrigating a paranasal sinus, the device comprising:

an elongate catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen therebetween, and a tapered distal portion extending proximally from the distal end of the catheter body, wherein at least a portion of the catheter body is sized to pass through a nasal cavity and through a sinus ostium to enter a paranasal sinus;

a proximal hub coupled with the proximal end of the catheter body for connecting to a source of irrigation fluid;

multiple side ports disposed along the catheter body closer to the distal end than the proximal end and in fluid communication with the lumen; and

a distal end port at the distal end of the catheter body.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the tapered distal portion of the catheter body measures between 0.140 inches and 0.160 inches.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the side ports are located proximal to the tapered distal portion.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the side ports comprise three side ports disposed in a helical pattern along the catheter body.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the three side ports are located 5 mm±

0.5 mm, 6 mm±

0.5 mm and 7 mm±

0.5 mm from the distal end of the catheter body.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein each of the side ports has a diameter of 0.033 inches±

0.003 inches.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein each of the three side ports is disposed approximately 120°

around a circumference of the catheter body relative to the other two side ports.

21. The device of claim 14, further comprising a radiopaque marker coupled with the catheter body at or near the tapered distal portion.

22. The device of claim 14, wherein a distal portion of the irrigation catheter is malleable.

23. A flexible irrigation catheter device for irrigating a paranasal sinus, the device comprising:

an elongate catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen therebetween, and a tapered distal portion extending between 0.140 inches and 0.160 inches proximally from the distal end of the catheter body, wherein at least a portion of the catheter body is sized to pass through a nasal cavity and through a sinus ostium to enter a paranasal sinus;

a proximal hub coupled with the proximal end of the catheter body for connecting to a source of irrigation fluid;

three side ports disposed in a helical pattern along the catheter body proximal to the tapered distal portion and in fluid communication with the lumen, wherein the three side ports are located 5 mm±

0.5 mm, 6 mm±

0.5 mm and 7 mm±

0.5 mm from the distal end of the catheter body, wherein each of the side ports has a diameter of 0.033 inches±

0.003 inches, and wherein each of the three side ports is disposed approximately 120°

around a circumference of the catheter body relative to the other two side ports;

a distal end port at the distal end of the catheter body; and

a radiopaque marker coupled with the tapered distal portion of the catheter body.

24. A system for irrigating a paranasal sinus, the system comprising:

an irrigation catheter comprising;

an elongate catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen therebetween, and a tapered distal portion extending proximally from the distal end of the catheter body, wherein at least a portion of the catheter body is sized to pass through a nasal cavity and through a sinus ostium to enter a paranasal sinus;

a proximal hub coupled with the proximal end of the catheter body for connecting to a source of irrigation fluid;

multiple side ports disposed along the catheter body closer to the distal end than the proximal end and in fluid communication with the lumen; and

a distal end port; and

a guidwire over which the irrigation catheter is passable into the sinus.

25. A system as in claim 24, wherein the side ports comprise three side ports disposed in a helical pattern along the catheter body proximal to the tapered distal portion and in fluid communication with the lumen, wherein the three side ports are located 5 mm±

0.5 mm, 6 mm±

0.5 mm and 7 mm±

0.5 mm from the distal end of the catheter body, wherein each of the side ports has a diameter of 0.033 inches±

0.003 inches, and wherein each of the three side ports is disposed approximately 120°

around a circumference of the catheter body relative to the other two side ports.