Methods and devices for facilitating visualization in a surgical environment
First Claim
1. A sinusitis treatment system comprising:
- (a) an illuminating guidewire device having a proximal end, the proximal end comprising a proximal end portion, and a distal end, the distal end comprising a flexible distal end portion and being configured to be inserted through a nostril and into a paranasal sinus of a patient, the illuminating guidewire device having sufficient length to extend from the proximal end located outside the patient to the distal end located within the paranasal sinus of the patient, the illuminating guidewire device comprising;
(i) a distal tip on the flexible distal end portion; and
(ii) at least one light emitting element configured to project light distally through the distal tip on the flexible distal end portion;
(b) a guide device having a first lumen configured to receive the illuminating guidewire device; and
(c) a balloon catheter having;
(i) a balloon; and
(ii) a lumen, wherein the lumen is sized for passage over the illuminating guidewire device to position the balloon of the catheter within an opening into the paranasal sinus;
wherein the balloon is operable to pass within and through the first lumen of the guide device in an unexpanded configuration such that the balloon catheter is operable to extend from a distal end of the guide device so as to position the balloon distally of the guide device, wherein the balloon is configured to remain in the unexpanded configuration when positioned distally of the guide device prior to introduction of a fluid into the balloon, wherein the balloon is configured to expand upon introduction of fluid into the balloon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for visually confirming the positioning of a distal end portion of an illuminating device placed within a patient include inserting a distal end portion of an illuminating device internally into a patient, emitting light from the distal end portion of the illuminating device, observing transillumination resulting from the light emitted from the distal end portion of the illuminating device that occurs on an external surface of the patient, and correlating the location of the observed transillumination on the external surface of the patient with an internal location of the patient that underlies the location of observed transillumination, to confirm positioning of the distal end portion of the illuminating device.
938 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A sinusitis treatment system comprising:
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(a) an illuminating guidewire device having a proximal end, the proximal end comprising a proximal end portion, and a distal end, the distal end comprising a flexible distal end portion and being configured to be inserted through a nostril and into a paranasal sinus of a patient, the illuminating guidewire device having sufficient length to extend from the proximal end located outside the patient to the distal end located within the paranasal sinus of the patient, the illuminating guidewire device comprising; (i) a distal tip on the flexible distal end portion; and (ii) at least one light emitting element configured to project light distally through the distal tip on the flexible distal end portion; (b) a guide device having a first lumen configured to receive the illuminating guidewire device; and (c) a balloon catheter having; (i) a balloon; and (ii) a lumen, wherein the lumen is sized for passage over the illuminating guidewire device to position the balloon of the catheter within an opening into the paranasal sinus; wherein the balloon is operable to pass within and through the first lumen of the guide device in an unexpanded configuration such that the balloon catheter is operable to extend from a distal end of the guide device so as to position the balloon distally of the guide device, wherein the balloon is configured to remain in the unexpanded configuration when positioned distally of the guide device prior to introduction of a fluid into the balloon, wherein the balloon is configured to expand upon introduction of fluid into the balloon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system comprising:
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(a) an illuminating guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being configured to be inserted through a nostril and into a paranasal sinus of a patient, the illuminating guidewire having sufficient length to extend from the proximal end located outside the patient to the distal end located within the paranasal sinus of the patient, the illuminating guidewire comprising a flexible body terminating at a distal tip, wherein the distal tip includes a light emitting feature configured to project light distally from the distal tip; (b) a guide device having a lumen configured to accommodate the illuminating guidewire; and (c) a dilation catheter comprising an expandable dilator, wherein the expandable dilator is movable within and through the lumen of the guide device relative to the guide device in an unexpanded configuration and relative to the illuminating guidewire to position the expandable dilator relative to the paranasal sinus, wherein the dilator is configured to remain in the unexpanded configuration when positioned distally of the guide device prior to introduction of a fluid into the dilator, wherein the dilator is configured to expand upon introduction of fluid into the dilator. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A system comprising:
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(a) an illuminating guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being configured to be inserted through a nostril and into a paranasal sinus of a patient, the illuminating guidewire having sufficient length to extend from the proximal end located outside the patient to the distal end located within the paranasal sinus of the patient, the illuminating guidewire distally terminating at a distal tip, wherein the distal tip includes a light emitting feature configured to project light distally from the distal tip; (b) a guide device having a lumen configured to accommodate the illuminating guidewire; and (c) a dilation catheter comprising an expandable dilator, wherein the expandable dilator is movable within and through the lumen of the guide device and over the illuminating guidewire in an unexpanded configuration to position the expandable dilator relative to the paranasal sinus, wherein the balloon is configured to remain in the unexpanded configuration when positioned distally of the guide device prior to introduction of a fluid into the balloon, wherein the balloon is configured to expand upon introduction of fluid into the dilator.
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Specification