Devices to treat nasal airways
First Claim
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;
an elongate shaft extending from the handle;
a treatment element extending from the elongate shaft; and
one or more wings extending from the treatment element,wherein the treatment element is sized to be inserted into a nostril and configured to at least temporarily deform nasal tissue and deliver radiofrequency energy to modify the property of the nasal tissue, and wherein the treatment element comprises;
a tissue contact surface having a shape configured to at least temporarily deform the nasal tissue into a desired shape; and
a bipolar electrode pair disposed on the tissue contact surface.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
9 Claims
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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:
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a handle; an elongate shaft extending from the handle; a treatment element extending from the elongate shaft; and one or more wings extending from the treatment element, wherein the treatment element is sized to be inserted into a nostril and configured to at least temporarily deform nasal tissue and deliver radiofrequency energy to modify the property of the nasal tissue, and wherein the treatment element comprises; a tissue contact surface having a shape configured to at least temporarily deform the nasal tissue into a desired shape; and a bipolar electrode pair disposed on the tissue contact surface.
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2. The device of claim 1, wherein the shape of the tissue contact surface comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a flat shape, a convex shape, and a concave shape.
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3. The device of claim 1, wherein the shape of the tissue contact surface is adjustable.
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4. The device of claim 3, wherein the treatment element further comprises an adjustment element configured to adjust the shape of the tissue contact surface, the adjustment element selected from the group consisting of a joint, an arm, a guidewire, a balloon, a screw, a stent, and a scissoring arm.
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5. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft is flexible such that a user can adjust an angle of the elongate shaft by bending the elongate shaft.
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6. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more wings are configured to resist the treatment element contacting tissue that a user does not want to treat.
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7. The device of claim 6, wherein the tissue that a user does not want to treat comprises tissue located near an intersection between a nasal lateral wall and a nasal septum.
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8. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more wings are adjustable.
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9. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more wings are expandable.
Specification