Devices for therapeutic nasal neuromodulation and associated methods and systems

Abstract

Devices for therapeutic nasal neuromodulation and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A system for therapeutic neuromodulation in a nasal region configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, a shaft and a therapeutic element at a distal portion of the shaft. The shaft can locate the distal portion intraluminally at a target site inferior to a patient's sphenopalatine foramen. The therapeutic element can include an energy delivery element configured to therapeutically modulate postganglionic parasympathetic nerves at microforaminaof a palatine bone of the human patient for the treatment of rhinitis or other indications. In other embodiments, the therapeutic element can be configured to therapeutically modulate nerves that innervate the frontal, ethmoidal, sphenoidal, and maxillary sinuses for the treatment of chronic sinusitis.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims priority to US Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 160,289, filed May 12, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. technical field [0003] The present technology generally relates to devices, systems and methods for therapeutically modulating nerves in or associated with a patient's nasal region. In particular, several embodiments of the present technology relate to therapeutic neuromodulation systems and methods for the treatment of rhinitis and other indications. Background technique [0004] Sinusitis is characterized by inflammation of the nasal mucosa and refers to a group of conditions that includes allergic rhinitis, non-allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and drug-resistant rhinitis. Symptoms of sinusitis include nasal congestion, blockage, congestion, runny nose (eg, rhinorrhea and / or postnasal drip), facial pain, facial pressure,...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Due to the lack of good surgical markers for identifying the required posterior nasal nerve, these neurotomy procedures are very complicated and laborious, and even when the desired nerve is localized, the removal of the nerve can be very difficult because the nerve must be separated from the surrounding vasculature (e.g., sphenopalatine artery) phase separation

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