Methods and apparatus for treating disorders of the ear, nose and throat

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for treating disorders of the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, including methods and apparatus for dilating ostia, passageways and other anatomical structures, endoscopic methods and apparatus for endoscopic visualization of structures within the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, navigation devices for use in conjunction with image guidance or navigation system and hand held devices having pistol type grips and other handpieces.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10 / 829,917 entitled Devices, Systems and Methods for Diagnosing and Treating Sinusitis and Other Disorders of the Ears, Nose and / or Throat filed on Apr. 21, 2004; Ser. No. 10 / 944,270 entitled Apparatus and Methods for Dilating and Modifying Ostia of Paranasal Sinuses and Other Intranasal or Paranasal Structures filed on Sep. 17, 2004; Ser. No. 11 / 116,118 entitled Methods and Devices for Performing Procedures Within the Ear, Nose, Throat and Paranasal Sinuses filed Apr. 26, 2005 and [Serial No. to be determined] entitled Devices, Systems And Methods Useable For Treating Sinusitus filed on Jun. 10, 2005, each such application being expressly incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to medical apparatus and methods and more particularly to devices and methods that are useable to treat disorders of the paranas...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016] Still further in accordance with the invention, there are provided inflator handpiece devices that are attachable to balloon catheters or other balloon equipped devices (e.g., balloon equipped tubular guides, seekers, guidewires, etc, as described herein and elsewhere) and useable to inflate the balloon. An inflator handpiece of the present invention may comprise a) a handpiece body configured to be grasped by a human hand, such handpiece body being attachable to the proximal end of a balloon catheter or other balloon equipped device, b) an inflator (e.g., a pump or source of compressed inflation fluid) and an inflation trigger useable to cause the inflator to inflate the balloon. These handpieces may facilitate precise handling and positioning of balloon catheters and other balloon equipped devices. In some embodiments, the handpiece may comprise and elongate body having a grip member that extends at an angle from the elongate body (e.g., generally similar to a pistol grip type of arrangement). In some embodiments, the handpiece and inflation trigger may be configured to be useable by a single hand, thereby freeing the operators other hand for handling of other instruments or performing other tasks. In embodiments where the catheter or other balloon equipped device has a lumen useable for passage of a guidewire or other device or substance, the inflator handpiece device may incorporate a port or passage to permit a guidewire or other device to be advanced through that lumen and / or to permit fluids to be infused or suction applied through that lumen. Various valves, grippers, etc. may be associated with such passageway or port to provide hemostasis, prevent fluid leakage, deter unwanted movement of guidewires or devices, etc.

[0020] Further yet in accordance with the present invention, there are provided methods where one or more anatomical structures (e.g. uncinate process, wall of ethmoid air cell, turbinate) and / or pathological structures (e.g., polyps, etc) are removed or modified in combination with a procedure where a dilator is inserted transnasally and used to dilate an opening of a paranasal sinus (as defined hereabove) or other anatomical structure within the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinus of a human or animal subject. Such removal or modification of normal or pathological anatomical structures may facilitate visualization and / or access to various anatomical locations during and after the procedure.

[0021] Still further in accordance with the invention, there is provided a nasal introducer that comprises an introducer body (e.g., a plug) that insets into the nostril of a human or animal subject. One or more lumen(s) (e.g., passageway(s) or bore(s)) extend through the introducer body to allow one or more catheters or other devices (e.g., endoscopes, dilators, seekers, tubular guides, etc.) to be advanced through the introducer and into the nasal cavity or beyond. Various valves, grippers, etc. may be associated with such lumen(s) to provide hemostasis, prevent fluid leakage and / or deter unwanted movement of catheters or other devices that have been inserted through the lumen(s).

Problems solved by technology

Indeed, in most traditional FESS procedures, if the uncinate process is allowed to remain, such can interfere with endoscopic visualization of the maxillary sinus ostium and ethmoid bulla, as well as subsequent dissection of deep structures using the available rigid instrumentation.

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