Devices, systems and methods for treating disorders of the ear, nose and throat

• US 8,088,101 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Chang, John Y., Makower, Joshua, Vrany, Julia D., Lamson, Theodore C., Walke, Amrish Jayprakash
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall, Deanna K
• Application Number:
  US11/925,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20080097514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96.01, 604/94.01, 604/523, 128/207.17
• US Class Current: 604/96.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/06 Biopsy forceps , e.g. with cup-shaped jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1204 temporary occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12045 double occlusion, e.g. during anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12104 in an air passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1604 Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1608 the two jaw elements being linked to two elongated shaft elements moving longitudinally relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1679 for the ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1688 for the sinus or nose
• 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 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32075 Pullback cutting; combined forward and pullback cutting, e.g. with cutters at both sides of the plaque
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00247 Making holes in the wall of the heart, e.g. laser Myocardial revascularization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320004 abrasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3486 Balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00392 Transmyocardial revascularisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• 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 5/065 : Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 : Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/15 : Mayo stands; Tables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/20 : Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/16 : Bite blocks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 : Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/202 : Surgical middle-ear ventilation or drainage, e.g. permanent; Implants therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 : Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/105 : having a balloon suitable for drug delivery, e.g. by using holes for delivery, drug coating or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1052 : for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 : Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• 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

Abstract

Sinusitis, mucocysts, tumors, infections, hearing disorders, choanal atresia, fractures and other disorders of the paranasal sinuses, Eustachian tubes, Lachrymal ducts and other ear, nose, throat and mouth structures are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches and, in many cases, flexible catheters as opposed to instruments having rigid shafts. Various diagnostic procedures and devices are used to perform imaging studies, mucus flow studies, air/gas flow studies, anatomic dimension studies and endoscopic studies. Access and occluding devices may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices such as endoscopes, wires, probes, needles, catheters, balloon catheters, dilation catheters, dilators, balloons, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, suction or irrigation devices, imaging devices, sizing devices, biopsy devices, image-guided devices containing sensors or transmitters, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for injecting diagnostic or therapeutic agents, devices for implanting devices such as stents, substance eluting or delivering devices and implants, etc.

Claims

1. A method for performing a sinusitis treatment in a patient, the method comprising:

advancing a distal end of a working device through an opening of a paranasal sinus of a patient to a desired location within the patient'"'"'s head;

stabilizing the working device with a stabilizing device coupled with the working device and the patient'"'"'s head; and

performing a sinusitis treatment using the stabilized working device;

wherein stabilizing the working device resists pulling of the distal end of the working device out of the desired location during the treatment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the working device is advanced through a nostril of the patient, and wherein stabilizing the working device comprises:

advancing the stabilizing device into the nostril through which the working device is advanced; and

stabilizing the working device against an inner surface of the nostril.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising advancing a secondary working device through a nostril of the patient.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising stabilizing the secondary working device with the stabilizing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein advancing the working device comprises advancing it through a lumen in the stabilizing device, and wherein the stabilizing device is advanced into a nostril of the patient before the working device is advanced through its lumen.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising advancing a secondary working device through a secondary lumen of the stabilizing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein stabilizing the working device comprises advancing a moldable material stabilizing device into a nostril of the patient.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the sinusitis treatment comprises performing a treatment selected from the group consisting of dilating a paranasal sinus ostium using a balloon dilatation catheter, dilating a manmade opening into a paranasal sinus using a balloon dilation catheter, removing tissue from a paranasal sinus using a working device positioned in the sinus, and irrigating a paranasal sinus using an irrigation catheter positioned in the sinus.