Endoscopic methods and devices for transnasal procedures

Abstract

Medical devices, systems and methods that are useable to facilitate transnasal insertion and positioning of guidewires and various other devices and instruments at desired locations within the ear, nose, throat, paranasal sinuses or cranium.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE [0001] This application is a confinuation-in-part application of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 522,497, filed Sep. 15, 2006, and is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 193,020 filed Jul. 29, 2005, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10 / 829,917 filed Apr. 21, 2004, Ser. No. 10 / 944,270 filed Sep. 17, 2004, Ser. No. 11 / 116,118 filed Apr. 26, 2005 and Ser. No. 11 / 150,847 filed Jun. 10, 2005, each such application being expressly incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference thereto, and each of which to which we claim priority under 35 USC §120. [0002] This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 844,874, filed Sep. 15, 2006, which application is expressly incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference thereto and to which we claim priority under 35 USC §119.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention relates generally to medical apparatus a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method and device for positioning a working device (e.g., a guidewire, catheter, instrument, or other device) at a desired location within the ear, nose, throat, or cranium of a human or animal subject. The device includes an elongate shaft with a distal end, a working channel through which the working device may be advanced, and an endoscope channel into which an endoscope may be inserted to facilitate visualization. The endoscope allows the user to see at least a portion of the anatomy that would normally block the user's view. The invention also reduces the amount of fluoroscopy or image guidance systems that the user needs, resulting in reduced radiation exposure to the user and the patient. Additionally, the invention provides a disposable, flexible endoscope that can be used with a balloon sinusplasty tool, and a method for positioning a guidewire using the endoscope. The endoscope can be easily inserted through a nostril of the subject and the working device can be advanced through the working channel and over the guidewire to the desired location.

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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