Method for treating obstructed paranasal maxillary sinuses

• US 7,753,930 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2008
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US12/118,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20080215083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 606/191, 606/192, 606/194, 606/196, 606/199, 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 maxillary sinus having an obstructed or narrowed maxillary ostium. An opening is created into the maxillary sinus. A balloon of a balloon catheter is inflated in the opening to enlarge the opening. The opening remains enlarged after the balloon catheter is removed.

Claims

1. A method of treating a patient'"'"'s maxillary sinus having an obstructed or narrowed maxillary ostium, the method comprising:

during the same medical procedure performing the steps of;

creating an opening into the maxillary sinus for drainage from the maxillary sinus;

pushing a distal segment of a balloon catheter through the opening;

inflating a balloon of the balloon catheter in the opening to enlarge the opening, the opening being enlarged when the balloon is inflated; and

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

2. 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 opening.

3. 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 opening.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the balloon catheter has sufficient stiffness and column strength that the distal segment can be pushed through the opening.

5. 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.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the angle is about ninety degrees.

7. 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 opening.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating the opening in a lateral nasal wall.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the opening is created in a fontanelle.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

placing a distal end of a punch into a nasal cavity along the lateral nasal wall; and

creating the opening in the fontanelle with the distal end of the punch.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

removing the punch from the nasal cavity.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the opening is created in an inferior meatus of the lateral nasal wall.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

placing a distal end of a dissector into a nasal cavity; and

creating the opening in the inferior meatus with the distal end of the dissector.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

removing the dissector from the nasal cavity.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

using cutting forceps to remove part of the patient'"'"'s uncinate process.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inflating the balloon to about nine atmospheres.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deflating the balloon;

repositioning the balloon after said deflating; and

inflating the balloon after said repositioning.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

pushing the distal segment of the balloon catheter through an ethmoid infundibulum.