METHODS AND DEVICES TO TREAT NASAL AIRWAYS

• US 20120323232A1
• Filed: 06/13/2012
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerin Medical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aerin Medical Inc.
• Inventors: Frazier, Andrew, Wolf, Scott J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,237,924 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2816 Pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/06 caused by chemical reaction , e.g. moxaburners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/085 Forceps, scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/16 Indifferent or passive electrodes for grounding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/248 Operations for treatment of snoring, e.g. uvulopalatoplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 : closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 : Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 : Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 : Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00327 : Ear, nose or throat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 : Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 : Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 : with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00708 : switching the power on or off
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 : measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00886 : Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0091 : Handpieces of the surgical instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00922 : by switching or controlling the treatment energy directly within the hand-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 : combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00994 : combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 : using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0225 : using an instrument for clamping tissue, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0262 : using a circulating cryogenic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 : monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 : bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 : Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 : multiple needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1807 : using light other than laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 : with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 : Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/08 : Devices for correcting deformities of the nose ; Devices for enlarging the nostril, e.g. for breathing improvement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 : Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/10 : Cooling bags, e.g. ice-bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 : Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 : for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/025 : Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 : for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0625 : Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 : intracavitary
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/041 : Controlled or regulated

Abstract

Methods and devices for treating nasal airways are provided. Such devices and methods may improve airflow through an internal and/or external nasal valve, and comprise the use of mechanical re-shaping, energy application and other treatments to modify the shape, structure, and/or air flow characteristics of an internal nasal valve, an external nasal valve or other nasal airways.

Claims

1. A device for treating a patient'"'"'s nasal airway, the device comprising:

an energy delivery element sized to be inserted into a nose or to be delivered external to a nose and configured to deliver energy to tissues within the nose to reshape a region of the nose to a new conformation.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery element is configured to be positioned internally within the nose.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery element comprises a convex shape configured to create a concavity in nasal tissue.

4. The device of claim 1, comprising a re-shaping element having a shape configured to alter a conformation of a region of the nose to a new conformation.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the energy delivery element and the re-shaping element are separate elements.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the energy delivery element and the re-shaping element are part of the same element.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the energy delivery element and the re-shaping element are both configured to be positioned within a single nostril.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the energy delivery element and the re-shaping element are configured to be positioned on opposite sides of nasal tissue.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery element is configured to be positioned external to the nose.

10. A system for improving airflow in a patient'"'"'s nasal airway, the system comprising:

the device of claim 1; and

at least one of an energy source and a cooling mechanism.

11. A device for treating a patient'"'"'s nasal airway, the device comprising:

an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

a handle at the proximal end of the elongate shaft; and

a treatment element at the distal end of the elongate shaft, the treatment element sized to be inserted into the nasal airway or to be delivered external to a nose and configured to reshape region of the nose to a new conformation, the treatment element comprising an electrode configured to deliver radiofrequency (RF) energy to the nasal tissue.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the handle comprises a button configured to activate the electrode.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the treatment element comprises one or more monopolar needles.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the treatment element comprises a monopolar plate electrode.

15. The device of claim 11, further comprising a grounding pad.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the treatment element comprises one or more bipolar electrode pairs.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein a first electrode surface of a bipolar electrode pair is positionable internal to the nose and a second electrode surface of a bipolar electrode pair is positionable external to the nose, so that the two electrode surfaces are positionable on opposite sides of nasal tissue.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the first electrode surface comprises one or more needles or a plate and the second electrode surface comprises one or more needles or a plate.

19. The device of claim 11, further comprising an adaptor configured to be connected to an RF energy source.

20. The device of claim 11, further comprising a control system configured to control the characteristics of energy applied to tissue.

21. The device of claim 20, further comprising a thermocouple configured to measure a temperature near tissue to be treated.

22. The device of claim 11, wherein the treatment element is configured to be inserted into the nasal airway and comprises a convex shape configured to create a concavity in nasal tissue.

23. A system for treating a patient'"'"'s nasal airway, the system comprising:

the device of claim 11; and

an RF energy source.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a cooling mechanism.