Method for treating naturally obstructed paranasal sinuses

• US 7,740,642 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2008
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Becker, Bruce B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan; Todd E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hollm; Jonathan A
• Application Number:
  US12/117,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20080208242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 606/196, 606/199, 606/192, 604/28, 604/96.01, 604/103.01, 604/104, 604/500, 604/514, 623/1.11, 623/10, 623/66.1
• US Class Current: 606/196
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0681 Sinus (maxillaris)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10181 Means for forcing inflation fluid into the balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104

Abstract

A method of treating a patient'"'"'s paranasal sinus having an obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring bony and mucosal ostium or duct which does not have scar tissue or granulation tissue. A balloon of a balloon catheter is inflated in the obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring bony and mucosal ostium or duct to enlarge the naturally occurring bony and mucosal ostium or duct. The ostium or duct remains enlarged after the balloon catheter is removed.

Claims

1. A method of treating a patient'"'"'s paranasal sinus having an obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring bony and mucosal ostium or duct which does not have scar tissue or granulation tissue, the method comprising:

pushing a distal segment of a balloon catheter through the obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring bony and mucosal ostium or duct which does not have scar tissue or granulation tissue;

inflating a balloon of the balloon catheter in the obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring bony and mucosal ostium or duct which does not have scar tissue or granulation tissue to enlarge the naturally occurring bony and mucosal ostium or duct, the bony and mucosal ostium or duct being enlarged when the balloon is inflated; and

removing the balloon catheter from the now enlarged ostium or duct, which remains enlarged for a period of time effective to treat the obstructed ostium after the balloon catheter is removed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing an ethmoidectomy.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

shifting a proximal segment of the balloon catheter to position the distal segment to enter from the patient'"'"'s nasal cavity into the obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring ostium or duct which does not have scar tissue or granulation tissue.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rotating a proximal segment of the balloon catheter to position the distal segment to enter from the patient'"'"'s nasal cavity into the obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring ostium or duct which does not have scar tissue or granulation tissue.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the balloon catheter has sufficient stiffness and column strength that the distal segment can be pushed through the obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring ostium or duct which does not have scar tissue or granulation tissue.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the distal segment of the balloon catheter is at an angle of between about seventy degrees and about one hundred fifteen degrees to a proximal segment of the balloon catheter.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the angle is about ninety degrees.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the balloon catheter such that the distal segment, when the balloon is deflated, will fit snugly with the obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring ostium or duct which does not have scar tissue or granulation tissue.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

medially retracting the patient'"'"'s middle turbinate.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

removing part of the patient'"'"'s uncinate process.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inflating the balloon to about nine atmospheres.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deflating the balloon;

repositioning the balloon after said deflating; and

,

inflating the balloon after said repositioning.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the distal segment of the balloon catheter is at an angle of between about one hundred thirty degrees and about one hundred eighty degrees to a proximal segment of the balloon catheter.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the angle is about one hundred eighty degrees.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring ostium or duct which does not have scar tissue or granulation tissue is a nasofrontal duct.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating a prepared opening in a wall of the patient'"'"'s paranasal sinus.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

pushing the distal segment of the balloon catheter through the prepared opening.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inflating the balloon of the balloon catheter in an infundibulum.