Apparatus and methods for treating rhinitis
First Claim
1. A method for treating a tissue region within a nasal cavity, comprising:
- advancing a distal end of a surgical probe shaft through the nasal cavity and into proximity of the tissue region having at least one posterior nasal nerve;
introducing a cryogenic fluid into an expandable structure coupled to the distal end of the probe shaft such that the expandable structure inflates from a deflated configuration into an expanded configuration against the tissue region, wherein the cryogenic fluid evaporates within the expandable structure;
adjusting a position of a member relative to the tissue region, wherein the member is disposed at to the distal end of the probe shaft and extends within the expandable structure which encloses the member such that the member is unattached to an interior of the expandable structure;
applying a pressure against the tissue region having the at least one posterior nasal nerve via the member pressing against the interior of the expandable structure, wherein the member defines an atraumatic shape which is sized for pressing against and manipulating the tissue region through the expandable structure; and
maintaining the member against the interior of the expandable structure and the tissue region until the tissue region is cryogenically ablated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for treating conditions such as rhinitis are disclosed herein where a distal end of a probe shaft is introduced through the nasal cavity where the distal end has an end effector with a first configuration having a low-profile which is shaped to manipulate tissue within the nasal cavity. The distal end may be positioned into proximity of a tissue region having a post nasal nerve associated with a middle or inferior nasal turbinate. Once suitably positioned, the distal end may be reconfigured from the first configuration to a second configuration which is shaped to contact and follow the tissue region and the post nasal nerve may then be ablated via the distal end. Ablation may be performed using various mechanisms, such as cryotherapy, and optionally under direct visualization.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method for treating a tissue region within a nasal cavity, comprising:
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advancing a distal end of a surgical probe shaft through the nasal cavity and into proximity of the tissue region having at least one posterior nasal nerve; introducing a cryogenic fluid into an expandable structure coupled to the distal end of the probe shaft such that the expandable structure inflates from a deflated configuration into an expanded configuration against the tissue region, wherein the cryogenic fluid evaporates within the expandable structure; adjusting a position of a member relative to the tissue region, wherein the member is disposed at to the distal end of the probe shaft and extends within the expandable structure which encloses the member such that the member is unattached to an interior of the expandable structure; applying a pressure against the tissue region having the at least one posterior nasal nerve via the member pressing against the interior of the expandable structure, wherein the member defines an atraumatic shape which is sized for pressing against and manipulating the tissue region through the expandable structure; and maintaining the member against the interior of the expandable structure and the tissue region until the tissue region is cryogenically ablated. - 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)
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31. A method for treating a tissue region within a nasal cavity, comprising:
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advancing a distal end of a surgical probe shaft through the nasal cavity and into proximity of the tissue region having at least one posterior nasal nerve; introducing a cryogenic fluid into an expandable structure coupled to the distal end of the probe shaft such that the expandable structure inflates from a deflated configuration into an expanded configuration against the tissue region, wherein the expandable structure is inflated in response to evaporation of the cryogenic fluid within an interior of the expandable structure; adjusting a position of a member relative to the tissue region, wherein the member is disposed at the distal end of the probe shaft and extends within the expandable structure which encloses the member such that the member is unattached to the interior of the expandable structure; applying a pressure against the tissue region having the at least one posterior nasal nerve via the member pressing against the interior of the expandable structure, wherein the member defines an atraumatic shape which is sized for pressing against and manipulating the tissue region through the expandable structure; and maintaining the member against the interior of the expandable structure and the tissue region until the tissue region is cryogenically ablated.
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32. A method for treating rhinitis, comprising:
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advancing a distal end of a surgical probe shaft through the nasal cavity and into proximity of a tissue region surrounded by the middle nasal turbinate, inferior nasal turbinate, and lateral wall forming a cul-de-sac and having at least one posterior nasal nerve; introducing a cryogenic fluid into an expandable structure coupled to the distal end of the probe shaft such that the expandable structure inflates from a deflated configuration into an expanded configuration against the tissue region, wherein the distal end has a member which extends within the expandable structure such that the member is unattached to the interior of the expandable structure, wherein the expandable structure is inflated in response to evaporation of the cryogenic fluid within an interior of the expandable structure; applying a pressure against the tissue region via the member pressing against the interior of the expandable structure, wherein the member defines an atraumatic shape; and maintaining the member against the interior of the expandable structure and the tissue region until the tissue region is cryogenically ablated.
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33. A method for treating rhinitis, comprising:
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advancing a distal end of a surgical probe shaft through the nasal cavity and into proximity of a tissue region surrounded by the middle nasal turbinate, inferior nasal turbinate, and lateral wall forming a cul-de-sac and having at least one posterior nasal nerve; introducing a cryogenic fluid into an expandable structure coupled to the distal end of the probe shaft such that the expandable structure inflates from a deflated configuration into an expanded configuration against the tissue region, wherein the distal end has a member which extends within the expandable structure such that the member is unattached to the interior of the expandable structure, wherein the cryogenic fluid evaporates within the expandable structure; applying a pressure against the tissue region via the member pressing against the interior of the expandable structure, wherein the member defines an atraumatic shape and is unattached to the interior of the expandable structure; and maintaining the member against the interior of the expandable structure and the tissue region until the tissue region is cryogenically ablated. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification