Methods and apparatus for treating disorders of the ear nose and throat

• US 8,080,000 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Makower, Joshua, Chang, John Y., Muni, Ketan P., Morriss, John H., Ha, Hung V., Kim, Isaac J., Vrany, Julia D.
• Primary Examiner(s): KASZTEJNA, MATTHEW JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/929,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20080097154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 600114-116
• US Class Current: 604/510
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/233 for the nose, i.e. nasoscopes , e.g. testing of patency of Eustachian tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2804 with two or more pivotal connections A61B17/29 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/282 Jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3445 used as instrument channel for multiple instruments catheters A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3447 Linked multiple cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2055 Optical tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2065 Tracking using image or pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/063 for measuring volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/376 using X-rays, e.g. fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3941 Photoluminescent markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3954 magnetic, e.g. NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 : Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 : Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2029/025 : characterised by the guiding element
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0681 : Sinus (maxillaris)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 : Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for treating disorders of the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, including methods and apparatus for dilating ostia, passageways and other anatomical structures, endoscopic methods and apparatus for endoscopic visualization of structures within the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, navigation devices for use in conjunction with image guidance or navigation system and hand held devices having pistol type grips and other handpieces.

Claims

1. A seeker/guide system accessing a paranasal sinus of a patient, said system comprising:

a luminal seeker apparatus comprising;

i) a rigid shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, a proximal region, a bend closer to the distal end than to the proximal end, and a length configured to extend from just outside of a nostril of a patient to an opening of a paranasal sinus of the patient;

ii) an enlarged, atraumatic tip at the distal end of the shaft; and

iii) a lumen extending through the shaft and terminating distally in an opening in the atraumatic tip; and

a guidewire advanceable through the lumen of the luminal seeker apparatus and into a paranasal sinus of the patient;

wherein the luminal seeker apparatus further comprises a slit along a portion of the length of the shaft, starting at the proximal region, through which the guidewire may be withdrawn, and extending to just proximal of the atraumatic tip.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a balloon on the shaft proximal to the atraumatic distal tip.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising an expandable dilator on the shaft proximal to the atraumatic distal tip.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the atraumatic tip has a shape selected from the group consisting of spherical and bulbous.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the bend in the shaft has an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft selected from the group consisting of about 30 degrees, about 60 degrees, about 90 degrees and about 110 degrees.

6. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a treatment apparatus for treating the accessed paranasal sinus, the treatment apparatus comprising:

a balloon dilation catheter configured for advancement over the guidewire; and

an inflation device for inflating the catheter to dilate an opening into the paranasal sinus.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the treatment apparatus further comprises an irrigation catheter configured for advancement over the guidewire into the paranasal sinus.

8. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a handle attached to the rigid shaft, the handle including first and second projection members extending laterally from opposite sides of the rigid shaft and which define structure having a height less than a cross-sectional dimension of the shaft, wherein the slit extends along the shaft through a portion but not an entire longitudinal dimension of the shaft attached to the handle.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the enlarged atraumatic tip defines a lateral dimension which is greater than any other portion of the luminal seeker.