Method for ablating turbinates
First Claim
1. A method for reducing the size of a nasal concha comprisingdelivering ablative energy through a surface of the nasal concha into an interior of the nasal concha without introducing an element into the interior of the nasal concha to ablate a portion of the interior of the nasal concha;
- andremoving the ablated interior portion of the nasal concha by natural absorption of ablated tissue by the patient'"'"'s body.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha. By ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha, the size of the nasal concha is reduced. The three nasal concha in the body (inferior, middle and superior nasal concha) form at least a portion of the three nasal meatus (inferior, middle and superior nasal meatus) in the body. By reducing the size of a nasal concha, obstruction of a nasal meatus is reduced or eliminated. As a result, air flow through the nasal meatus is improved. In one embodiment, the method includes taking a catheter having a distal portion with an expandable member and an energy delivery device coupled to an energy source for delivering ablative energy and positioning the catheter distal portion through a nostril of a patient into a nasal meatus adjacent a surface of a nasal concha; expanding the expandable member within the nasal meatus so that the expandable member is brought into contact with the surface of the nasal concha; and delivering sufficient ablative energy from the energy delivery device to the nasal concha to ablate at least a portion of the nasal concha.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for reducing the size of a nasal concha comprising
delivering ablative energy through a surface of the nasal concha into an interior of the nasal concha without introducing an element into the interior of the nasal concha to ablate a portion of the interior of the nasal concha; - and
removing the ablated interior portion of the nasal concha by natural absorption of ablated tissue by the patient'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha comprising:
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taking a catheter having a distal portion with an expandable member and an energy delivery device coupled to an energy source for delivering ablative energy and positioning the catheter distal portion through a nostril of a patient into a nasal meatus adjacent a surface of a nasal concha; expanding the expandable member within the nasal meatus so that the expandable member is brought into contact with the surface of the nasal concha; and delivering sufficient ablative energy from the energy delivery device to the nasal concha to ablate at least a portion of the nasal concha. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for reducing the size of a nasal concha without the formation of a external wound comprising:
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delivering ablative energy through a surface of the nasal concha into an interior of the nasal concha without introducing an element into the nasal concha to ablate a portion of the interior portion of the nasal concha; cooling the surface of the nasal concha while delivering ablative energy such that a layer of tissue adjacent the nasal concha surface is not ablated; and removing the ablated interior portion of nasal concha by natural absorption of ablated tissue by the patient'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification