Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080208242 | Method for treating naturally obstructed paranasal sinuses - A set of sinus balloon catheters are provided for treating a patient's naturally obstructed paranasal sinus system, including dilating prepared openings, and natural ostia and ducts and excising sinus cavities. These include a balloon catheter with a bend placing a distal segment at 90 degrees to a proximal segment and a balloon catheter which is substantially straight. The catheters have sufficient stiffness and column strength that the balloon carrying distal segment of the catheter can be pushed into the prepared opening, natural ostium or duct, or sinus to be excised. The catheters have appropriate inflated working diameters and appropriate outer diameters with the balloon deflated that will enable the catheter to be pushed into the respective prepared opening, natural ostium or duct, or sinus cavity to be excised. The methods use the balloon catheters to dilate prepared openings to selected parts of the sinus system, to dilate natural ostia and ducts of the sinus system, and/or to dilate sinus cavities to remove them. | 08-28-2008 |
20080208243 | Method for treating obstructed paranasal ethmoid sinuses - A set of sinus balloon catheters are provided for treating a patient's paranasal ethmoid sinus system, including dilating prepared openings, and natural ostia and ducts and excising sinus cavities. These include a balloon catheter with a bend placing a distal segment at 90 degrees to a proximal segment and a balloon catheter which is substantially straight. The catheters have sufficient stiffness and column strength that the balloon carrying distal segment of the catheter can be pushed into the prepared opening, natural ostium or duct, or sinus to be excised. The catheters have appropriate inflated working diameters and appropriate outer diameters with the balloon deflated that will enable the catheter to be pushed into the respective prepared opening, natural ostium or duct, or sinus cavity to be excised. The methods use the balloon catheters to dilate prepared openings to selected parts of the sinus system, to dilate natural ostia and ducts of the sinus system, and/or to dilate sinus cavities to remove them. | 08-28-2008 |
20080215082 | Method for treating obstructed paranasal sphenoid sinuses - A set of sinus balloon catheters are provided for treating a patient's paranasal sphenoid sinus system, including dilating prepared openings, and natural ostia and ducts and excising sinus cavities. These include a balloon catheter with a bend placing a distal segment at 90 degrees to a proximal segment and a balloon catheter which is substantially straight. The catheters have sufficient stiffness and column strength that the balloon carrying distal segment of the catheter can be pushed into the prepared opening, natural ostium or duct, or sinus to be excised. The catheters have appropriate inflated working diameters and appropriate outer diameters with the balloon deflated that will enable the catheter to be pushed into the respective prepared opening, natural ostium or duct, or sinus cavity to be excised. The methods use the balloon catheters to dilate prepared openings to selected parts of the sinus system, to dilate natural ostia and ducts of the sinus system, and/or to dilate sinus cavities to remove them. | 09-04-2008 |
20080215083 | Method for treating obstructed paranasal maxillary sinuses - A set of sinus balloon catheters are provided for treating a patient's paranasal sinus system, including dilating prepared openings, and natural ostia and ducts and excising sinus cavities. These include a balloon catheter with a bend placing a distal segment at 90 degrees to a proximal segment and a balloon catheter which is substantially straight. The catheters have sufficient stiffness and column strength that the balloon carrying distal segment of the catheter can be pushed into the prepared opening, natural ostium or duct, or sinus to be excised. The catheters have appropriate inflated working diameters and appropriate outer diameters with the balloon deflated that will enable the catheter to be pushed into the respective prepared opening, natural ostium or duct, or sinus cavity to be excised. The methods use the balloon catheters to dilate prepared openings to selected parts of the sinus system, to dilate natural ostia and ducts of the sinus system, and/or to dilate sinus cavities to remove them. | 09-04-2008 |
20090125046 | Method for treating obstructed paranasal frontal sinuses - A set of sinus balloon catheters are provided for treating a patient's paranasal sinus system, including dilating prepared openings, and natural ostia and ducts and excising sinus cavities. These include a balloon catheter with a bend placing a distal segment at 90 degrees to a proximal segment and a balloon catheter which is substantially straight. The catheters have sufficient stiffness and column strength that the balloon carrying distal segment of the catheter can be pushed into the prepared opening, natural ostium or duct, or sinus to be excised. The catheters have appropriate inflated working diameters and appropriate outer diameters with the balloon deflated that will enable the catheter to be pushed into the respective prepared opening, natural ostium or duct, or sinus cavity to be excised. The methods use the balloon catheters to dilate prepared openings to selected parts of the sinus system, to dilate natural ostia and ducts of the sinus system, and/or to dilate sinus cavities to remove them. | 05-14-2009 |
20090281621 | Punctal anchor for lacrimal stent, introducer tool and method - A device and method for performing stenting and intubation of the nasolacrimal system to treat for stenosis or obstruction includes a semi-rigid tubular guide sleeve through which a flexible tubular stent, having an oversized length, is inserted from a punctal opening into the nasal cavity. The guide sleeve is removed and a resilient, radially expandable punctal anchor is placed through the punctal opening, to contact the stent and hold it in place. An introducer device having a hollow tubular core and a coaxially mounted, axially translatable outer sheath is provided to facilitate placement of the anchor. The anchor is stretched over the distal end of the core and the stent threaded into the central lumen of the core. Once the anchor is in place, the sheath is translated to push the anchor off the distal end. Excess stent at its proximal end is then trimmed off. | 11-12-2009 |
20100179468 | Side-by-side lacrimal intubation threader and method - A device to facilitate insertion or threading of a flexible silicone intubation stent into the lacrimal drainage system of a patient. The device has an oblong hollow semi-rigid probe having the flexible stent releasably secured to its blunted distal end. The probe and stent are oriented in a side-by-side configuration and inserted endwise through the punctal opening, down through the nasolacrimal duct and into the nasal cavity. The flexible stent is detached from the distal end of the probe, and the probe withdrawn, leaving the stent in place. The flexible stent can be temporarily secured to the distal end of the probe through a number of means. One preferred way is to friction fit a resilient distal aperture of the stent upon the distal end of the probe and occlude the probe's distal opening. The stent is detached by injecting a pressurized fluid through the channel of the probe thereby forcing the distal end of the stent to pop off. The proximal extremity of the stent is secured in the patient by an integrated or separate punctal anchor. | 07-15-2010 |
20110105989 | In vivo punctal anchoring method for lacrimal stents - A device and method for performing stenting and intubation of the nasolacrimal system to treat for stenosis or obstruction includes a semi-rigid tubular guide sleeve through which a flexible tubular stent, having an oversized length, is inserted from a punctal opening into the nasal cavity. The guide sleeve is removed and a resilient, radially expandable punctal anchor is placed through the punctal opening, to contact the stent and hold it in place. An introducer device having a hollow tubular core and a coaxially mounted, axially translatable outer sheath is provided to facilitate placement of the anchor. The anchor is stretched over the distal end of the core and the stent threaded into the central lumen of the core. Once the anchor is in place, the sheath is translated to push the anchor off the distal end. Excess stent at its proximal end is then trimmed off. | 05-05-2011 |
20120172835 | Multi-Conduit Balloon Catheter - A suctioning and irrigating sinus balloon catheter is provided for treating a patient's paranasal sinus system, including dilating prepared openings, and natural ostia and ducts and excising sinus cavities and choana. The catheter has a number of fluid carrying conduits to provide irrigation, suction and inflation/deflation to the distally mounted balloon. The catheters have sufficient stiffness and column strength that the balloon carrying distal segment of the catheter can be pushed into the prepared opening, natural ostium or duct, choana or sinus to be excised. Some catheters can be hand bendable by the surgeon. Some catheters provide the capability of threading an endoscope through one of the conduits. The methods use the balloon catheters to dilate prepared openings to selected parts of the sinus system, to dilate natural ostia and ducts of the sinus system, choana, and/or to dilate sinus cavities to remove them. | 07-05-2012 |
20130023837 | Punctal plug inserter and method - A surgical tool for inserting a spile or plug into the punctal opening of a meatus such as a lacrimo-nasal canaliculus comprises an oblong, hollowed member shaped and dimensioned to be conveniently manipulated with one hand and having at one of its end a punctal opening and meatus-dilating shaft and, at the opposite end, a plug inserter. The dilating shaft has a cross-diameter substantially equal to the cross-diameter of the plug and is terminated by a conical spike. The inserter comprises a tip extending axially from the member and having, at its distal end, a cup whose internal geometry is commensurate with a cap at the proximal end of the plug. A penetration-resisting bearing surface is provided by the cup rim. The plug can be allowed to retract within the cup under the force of insertion. A steel wire running through the inserter has its distal end inserted into the cap of the plug. The wire can be axially withdrawn by unidirectionally pressing a button in order to release the plug after insertion into the meatus. | 01-24-2013 |
20130030349 | Side-by-side lacrimal intubation threader device - A device for inserting a flexible silicone intubation stent into the lacrimal drainage system of a patient. The device has an oblong hollow semi-rigid probe having the flexible stent releasably secured to its blunted distal end. The probe and stent are oriented in a side-by-side configuration for endwise insertion into the punctum. The stent can be temporarily secured to the distal end of the probe by engaging the probe's distal opening. The stent can be detached by injecting a pressurized fluid through the channel of the probe thereby forcing the distal end of the stent to pop off. The proximal extremity of the stent is secured in the patient by an integrated or separate punctal anchor. | 01-31-2013 |
20130072848 | Threaded lacrimal drainage tube method - A threaded lacrimal bypass drainage device uses a threaded cannula or tube for greater axial friction and adjustability. The tube has a keyed flange for engagement by a keyed screwdriver-type tool having a trocar coaxially engaging the tube and providing a distal cutting blade. A removable, coaxial, biocompatible washer discourages tissue overgrowth of the tube immediately after emplacement. One or more radial drainage holes formed near the distal end of the tube overcome axial blockages. Adjustments to the axial position of the tube can be readily made during successive office visits by the patient. | 03-21-2013 |
20130131713 | Transnasal method and catheter for lacrimal system - A balloon catheter for treatment of a patient's lacrimal system is applied transnasally without the use of a guide wire or a curve retention member. The catheter is formed of a stainless steel hypotube and is of sufficient stiffness and column strength to enable the deflated catheter to be pushed from the patent's nasal cavity through a prepared small-tight opening, which is formed through the lateral nasal wall and lacrimal fossa, into the lacrimal sac. The catheter has a proximal shaft and a distal segment positioned by a bend at an angle of 70° to 115°, preferably 90°, to the proximal shaft. An inflatable member is mounted about the distal segment and is adhesively bonded to the distal end of the proximal shaft, the bend, and the proximal end of the distal segment and to the distal portion of the distal segment. The prepared, small-tight opening is formed by pushing small holes through the medial sac, lacrimal fossa, and lateral nasal wall with an instrument and coalescing the holes to form the prepared small-tight opening. The catheter is introduced into the nasal cavity and rotated, or moved, to align the distal segment with the prepared opening. The distal segment is then pushed through the prepared opening, and fluid under pressure is applied to the catheter to inflate the inflatable member and dilate the prepared opening. | 05-23-2013 |
20150039013 | Nasolacrimal obstruction treatment device and method - A device and method for performing probing and intubation of the nasolacrimal system includes a tubular probe through which a tracer fluid is injected and collected in the nasal cavity to verify that the tip of the probe has passed through an obstruction and reached the nasal cavity. A sleeve fitted over the probe has distal segment that is inflated in order to retain the sleeve in the nasolacrimal system once the tubular probe has been withdrawn. Removal of blood and other obstructions encountered during the probing or intubation process is accomplished by connecting the proximal end of the probe to a suction device. | 02-05-2015 |