Method for treating obstructed paranasal frontal sinuses

• US 8,100,933 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2008
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• 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): Jackson, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hollm, Jonathan A
• Application Number:
  US12/117,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20090125046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 606/162, 606/192, 606/196, 606/199, 604/96.01, 604/103.01, 604/104, 604/500, 604/514, 604/509, 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, such as the frontal sinus, having an obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring ostium or nasofrontal 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 ostium or nasofrontal duct to enlarge the ostium or nasofrontal duct. The ostium or nasofrontal duct remains enlarged after the balloon catheter is removed.

Claims

1. A method of treating a patient'"'"'s frontal sinus having an obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring nasofrontal 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 nasofrontal duct which does not have scar tissue or granulation tissue;

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 nasofrontal duct which does not have scar tissue or granulation tissue;

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

removing the balloon catheter from the now enlarged naturally occurring nasofrontal duct which remains enlarged for a period of time effective to treat the obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring nasofrontal duct after the balloon catheter is removed without any surgical material remaining within the now enlarged naturally occurring nasofrontal duct.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

performing an ethmoidectomy.

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 obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring nasofrontal duct which does not have scar tissue or granulation tissue.

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 obstructed or narrowed naturally occurring nasofrontal duct which does not have scar tissue or granulation tissue.

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

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

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

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

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inflating the balloon to nine atmospheres.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deflating the balloon;

repositioning the balloon; and

inflating the balloon.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the balloon catheter comprises a tube having the balloon mounted over the tube.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the tube comprises a stainless steel tube.