EUSTACHIAN TUBE DILATION BALLOON WITH VENTILATION PATH
First Claim
1. A dilator assembly comprising:
- (a) a shaft defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft comprises;
(i) a distal end,(ii) a proximal end, and(iii) at least one shaft lumen;
(b) an expandable dilator located on the at shaft, wherein the expandable dilator is positioned between the distal end of the shaft and the proximal end of the shaft, wherein the expandable dilator comprises a body configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded state, wherein the body is configured to dilate a Eustachian tube of a patient in the expanded state, wherein the body further comprises a distal end and a proximal end; and
(c) at least one ventilation pathway configured to provide ventilation from the distal end of the body to the proximal end of the body when the body is in the expanded state, wherein the at least one ventilation pathway comprises one or both of the following;
(i) a set of transversely oriented vent openings formed through the shaft, wherein at least one vent opening is distal to the distal end of the body and at least one other vent opening is proximal to the proximal end of the body, or(ii) a space defined by one or more radially outwardly protruding features of the expandable dilator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus comprises a shaft, an expandable dilator, and at least one ventilation pathway. The shaft defines a longitudinal axis and comprises a distal and proximal ends with at least one shaft lumen. The expandable dilator comprises body with its own proximal and distal ends. The body is configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded state. The body is configured to dilate a Eustachian tube of a patient in the expanded state. The at least one ventilation pathway is configured to provide ventilation from the distal end of the body to the proximal end of the body when the body is in the expanded state. In some examples, the ventilation pathway comprises a set of transversely oriented vent openings formed through the shaft. In some other examples, the ventilation pathway comprises a space defined between one or more radially outwardly protruding features of the expandable dilator.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A dilator assembly comprising:
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(a) a shaft defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft comprises; (i) a distal end, (ii) a proximal end, and (iii) at least one shaft lumen; (b) an expandable dilator located on the at shaft, wherein the expandable dilator is positioned between the distal end of the shaft and the proximal end of the shaft, wherein the expandable dilator comprises a body configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded state, wherein the body is configured to dilate a Eustachian tube of a patient in the expanded state, wherein the body further comprises a distal end and a proximal end; and (c) at least one ventilation pathway configured to provide ventilation from the distal end of the body to the proximal end of the body when the body is in the expanded state, wherein the at least one ventilation pathway comprises one or both of the following; (i) a set of transversely oriented vent openings formed through the shaft, wherein at least one vent opening is distal to the distal end of the body and at least one other vent opening is proximal to the proximal end of the body, or (ii) a space defined by one or more radially outwardly protruding features of the expandable dilator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for dilating a Eustachian tube of a patient, the method comprising:
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(a) advancing a dilator comprising a distal end and a proximal end through a nasal passage of the patient to position at least the distal end of the dilator in the Eustachian tube of the patient; (c) expanding the distal end of the dilator to dilate a portion of the Eustachian tube while the proximal end of the dilator remains unexpanded; (d) expanding the proximal end of the dilator to dilate a portion of the Eustachian tube after the distal end of the dilator has been expanded and while the distal end of the dilator remains expanded; (e) collapsing the dilator; and (f) removing the dilation device from the patient. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A guidewire comprising:
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(a) a body having a length sufficient to extend from exterior of a patient through the nasal cavity of the patient and into a Eustachian tube of the patient; and (b) a flexible distal end portion comprising; (i) a coil having a first outer diameter, and (ii) a tip comprising having a second outer diameter, wherein the second outer diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the coil, wherein the second outer diameter of the tip is small enough to fit the tip in a Eustachian tube, wherein the second outer diameter of the tip is large enough to prevent the tip from fitting in an isthmus of a Eustachian tube, thereby preventing insertion of the tip into a middle ear region; and (c) at least one optical fiber extending through the body, wherein the at least one optical fiber is configured to communicate light; wherein the tip is configured to convey light communicated from the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification