Noninvasive apparatus for ablating turbinates
First Claim
1. An apparatus for ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha comprising:
- an introducer having a distal portion with a length operable for positioning the introducer distal portion through a nostril of a patient into a nasal meatus adjacent a surface of a nasal concha, the introducer including a longitudinal axis and a side port formed in a side wall of the introducer;
an energy delivery means coupled to the introducer distal portion for delivering sufficient ablative energy to the nasal concha to create an interior ablation section of the nasal concha; and
a nasal concha ablation protection means coupled to the energy delivery means the nasal concha ablation protection means having a large enough protection surface positionable adjacent to an exterior surface of the nasal concha to minimize an ablation of the exterior surface of the nasal concha when energy is delivered to the interior ablation section.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus 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 apparatus includes a catheter having a distal portion with a dimension configured for positioning the catheter distal portion through a nostril of a patient into a nasal meatus adjacent a surface of a nasal concha and a means at the catheter distal portion for delivering sufficient ablative energy to the nasal concha to ablate at least a portion of the nasal concha through heating without penetrating the surface of the nasal concha with an element of the apparatus.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha comprising:
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an introducer having a distal portion with a length operable for positioning the introducer distal portion through a nostril of a patient into a nasal meatus adjacent a surface of a nasal concha, the introducer including a longitudinal axis and a side port formed in a side wall of the introducer; an energy delivery means coupled to the introducer distal portion for delivering sufficient ablative energy to the nasal concha to create an interior ablation section of the nasal concha; and a nasal concha ablation protection means coupled to the energy delivery means the nasal concha ablation protection means having a large enough protection surface positionable adjacent to an exterior surface of the nasal concha to minimize an ablation of the exterior surface of the nasal concha when energy is delivered to the interior ablation section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for ablating an interior portion of a nasal concha without ablating tissue forming a surface of the nasal concha comprising:
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an introducer having a distal portion with a length operable for positioning and maneuvering the introducer distal portion through a nostril of a patient into a nasal meatus adjacent a surface of a nasal concha; an energy delivery means at the introducer distal portion for delivering sufficient ablative energy to create an internal ablation section of the nasal concha; and a nasal concha ablation protection means coupled to the energy delivery means, the nasal concha ablation protection means having a large enough protection surface positionable adjacent to an exterior surface of the nasal concha to minimize an ablation of the exterior surface of the nasal concha when energy is delivered to the interior ablation section. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification