Devices to treat nasal airways

• US 9,179,967 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2015
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerin Medical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aerin Medical Inc.
• Inventors: Wolf, Scott J., Frazier, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Koharski, Christopher D
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAREY, MICHAEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US14/737,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20150272663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 152 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 607/135
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2816 Pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/06 caused by chemical reaction , e.g. moxaburners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/085 Forceps, scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/16 Indifferent or passive electrodes for grounding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/248 Operations for treatment of snoring, e.g. uvulopalatoplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 : closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 : Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 : Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 : Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00327 : Ear, nose or throat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 : Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 : Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 : with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00708 : switching the power on or off
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 : measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00886 : Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0091 : Handpieces of the surgical instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00922 : by switching or controlling the treatment energy directly within the hand-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 : combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00994 : combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 : using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0225 : using an instrument for clamping tissue, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0262 : using a circulating cryogenic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 : monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 : bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 : Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 : multiple needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1807 : using light other than laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 : with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 : Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/08 : Devices for correcting deformities of the nose ; Devices for enlarging the nostril, e.g. for breathing improvement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 : Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/10 : Cooling bags, e.g. ice-bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 : Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 : for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/025 : Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 : for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0625 : Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 : intracavitary
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/041 : Controlled or regulated

Abstract

A device is described for treating a nasal airway by modifying a property of a nasal tissue of or near a nasal valve of the airway, without using a surgical incision or an implant, to decrease airflow resistance or perceived airflow resistance in the nasal airway. Various embodiments include an elongate shaft, a bipolar radiofrequency delivery member extending from one end of the shaft, and a handle attached to the elongate shaft at an opposite end from the radiofrequency delivery member. The radiofrequency delivery member is sized to be inserted into a nose and configured to at least temporarily deform the nasal tissue and deliver radiofrequency energy. The radiofrequency delivery member includes two rows of protruding electrodes disposed on a tissue contact surface, and the device is configured to deliver radiofrequency energy from one row of electrodes to the other row of electrodes.

Claims

1. A device for treating a nasal airway by modifying a property of a nasal tissue of or near a nasal valve of the airway, without using a surgical incision or an implant, to decrease airflow resistance or perceived airflow resistance in the nasal airway, the device comprising:

a handle;

only one elongate shaft extending from one end of the handle; and

only one treatment element extending from an end of the elongate shaft that is opposite the handle, wherein the treatment element is sized to be inserted into a nostril and configured to at least temporarily deform the nasal tissue and deliver radiofrequency energy to modify the property of the nasal tissue, and wherein the treatment element comprises;

a front, tissue contact surface having a convex shape configured to at least temporarily deform the nasal tissue into a concave shape;

a back surface;

two rows of protruding, bipolar, radiofrequency electrodes disposed along a length of the tissue contact surface, wherein the device is configured to deliver radiofrequency energy from one of the two rows of electrodes to the other of the two rows of electrodes; and

a heat sensor disposed on the tissue contact surface of the treatment element, between the two rows of electrodes.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the radiofrequency electrodes are needle electrodes.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein the radiofrequency electrodes are protruding, non-penetrating electrodes.

4. A device as in claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a connector for connecting the handle with a power source.

5. A device as in claim 1, wherein the back surface of the treatment element varies in width along a length of the back surface.

6. A device as in claim 5, wherein the back surface widens moving distally along a first, proximal portion of the treatment element, and then narrows towards a distal tip of the treatment element.

7. A device as in claim 1, further comprising a tissue cooling member attached to the device at or near the radiofrequency delivery member.

8. A device as in claim 1, wherein the heat sensor comprises a thermocouple that protrudes from the tissue contact surface of the treatment element between the two rows of electrodes.