Catheters with non-removable guide members useable for treatment of sinusitis
First Claim
1. A balloon catheter device for dilating an opening of a paranasal sinus in a human or animal subject, said balloon catheter device comprising:
- a catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and
a non-compliant or semi-compliant balloon mounted on the catheter shaft, said balloon being positionable within the opening of the paranasal sinus while in a non-inflated state and thereafter inflatable to an inflated state such that it will cause dilation of the opening of the paranasal sinus;
at least one position indicating element useable to determine when the balloon is positioned within the opening of the paranasal sinus; and
non-removable guide member, at least a portion of which extends from the distal end of the catheter shaft, said non-removable guide member having a limited range of axial movement or no movement relative to the catheter shaft, said non-removable guide member being advanceable through the opening of the paranasal sinus ahead of the catheter shaft, at least a distal portion of said non-removable guide member being more flexible in one plane than another;
wherein the balloon catheter device has a length less than about 20 cm.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Balloon catheter, guide catheter and method for dilating openings in paranasal sinuses. A non-removable guide member (e.g., guidewire) extends from the distal end of the balloon catheter. The non-removable guide member initially passes through the opening of the paranasal sinus and is followed by the catheter body on which the balloon is mounted. The balloon is then inflated causing dilation of the opening of the paranasal sinus. In some embodiments, the non-removable guide member may be shapeable so that the operator may place the non-removable guide member in a desired shape prior to insertion of the balloon catheter. In some embodiments, the length of the non-removable guide member may be adjustable such that the operator may adjust the length of the non-removable guide member prior to insertion of the balloon catheter.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A balloon catheter device for dilating an opening of a paranasal sinus in a human or animal subject, said balloon catheter device comprising:
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a catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and a non-compliant or semi-compliant balloon mounted on the catheter shaft, said balloon being positionable within the opening of the paranasal sinus while in a non-inflated state and thereafter inflatable to an inflated state such that it will cause dilation of the opening of the paranasal sinus; at least one position indicating element useable to determine when the balloon is positioned within the opening of the paranasal sinus; and non-removable guide member, at least a portion of which extends from the distal end of the catheter shaft, said non-removable guide member having a limited range of axial movement or no movement relative to the catheter shaft, said non-removable guide member being advanceable through the opening of the paranasal sinus ahead of the catheter shaft, at least a distal portion of said non-removable guide member being more flexible in one plane than another; wherein the balloon catheter device has a length less than about 20 cm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification