Curved Sinus Finder with Guide Wire
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sinusitis treatments, such as FESS, are associated with significant post-operative pain, bleeding, and nasal packing discomfort, and often require multiple procedures, with existing devices unable to accurately locate and dilate paranasal sinus ostia efficiently, especially the maxillary sinus ostium, which can be difficult to access.
Innovation Solution
A sinus ostium finder device with a curved shaft and extensible guide wire, allowing for precise localization and dilation of paranasal sinus ostia, including the maxillary sinus, using a probe with a dilator and optional expandable elements, facilitating minimally invasive procedures without tissue removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If FESS procedures are performed with straight rigid instruments, then deep areas of sinus anatomy can be targeted, but significant tissue trauma, post-operative pain, and bleeding occur
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument shaft is curved rather than straight, allowing the distal end to navigate around anatomical structures and reach deep sinus areas without requiring resection of intervening tissue. The curved shaft follows the natural contours of the nasal passage and sinus openings, enabling precise targeting while minimizing tissue trauma.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft is constructed with flexible materials that allow bending and conforming to the complex three-dimensional anatomy of the sinus cavity. This flexibility enables the instrument to reach deep areas through natural openings without requiring aggressive tissue removal, thereby reducing post-operative pain and bleeding.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are used to locate and dilate sinus ostia, then comprehensive treatment can be achieved, but procedural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device combines multiple previously separate functions into a single integrated instrument: the shaft provides structural support and navigation, the dilator expands the sinus ostium, and the guide wire directs the instrument to the target location. This integration allows comprehensive treatment of sinus ostia without requiring multiple separate devices or complex procedural steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument is designed with universal applicability to treat different sinus ostia (frontal, maxillary, sphenoid, ethmoid) using the same device. The curved shaft and adjustable dilator configuration enable the single device to adapt to various anatomical locations and treatment requirements, simplifying the procedure while maintaining comprehensive treatment capability.
3Ease of operation
If extensive tissue resection is performed to access sinus ostia, then direct access is achieved, but post-operative recovery time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved shaft design allows the instrument to navigate around anatomical barriers rather than requiring their removal. By following the natural curvature of the nasal passage and sinus openings, the device achieves direct access to sinus ostia through minimally invasive pathways, significantly reducing recovery time while maintaining ease of operation.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If nasal packing is placed after FESS, then post-operative bleeding is controlled, but patient comfort and normal function are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible shaft and dilator design minimizes tissue trauma and bleeding during the procedure, reducing or eliminating the need for post-operative nasal packing. The minimally invasive approach preserves patient comfort and allows normal functions such as breathing, eating, and drinking to continue without significant interference.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for locating sinus ostia and positioning a guide wire within the sinus ostia. The subject devices include a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, a curved region located between the distal and proximal ends, and an interior channel, an extensible and retractable guide wire movably mounted within the interior channel and a probe tip joined to the guide wire. Certain devices further include expandable portions for engaging and treating body anatomy.