Guide Catheter Suction for Sinus Dilation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical methods for treating chronic sinusitis, such as FESS, are invasive, require general anesthesia, and can result in significant bleeding, pain, and prolonged recovery times due to the use of straight, rigid instruments.

Innovation Solution

A guide catheter system with a suction capability is developed, featuring a catheter shaft that can receive a balloon catheter and provide suction, along with a distal portion that is flexible and curved to navigate complex nasal anatomy with minimal trauma.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If FESS procedures use straight, rigid instruments to target deep areas of anatomy, then surgical effectiveness is improved, but postoperative bleeding and pain increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical effectivenessVSAvoidpostoperative bleeding and pain

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs curved catheters with flexible distal portions that can navigate the complex, tortuous anatomy of the nasal cavity and sinus ostia. The curved design allows the catheter to follow natural anatomical pathways rather than requiring straight-line access, thereby avoiding trauma to surrounding tissues while reaching deep sinus areas effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter incorporates a flexible distal portion that can bend and conform to the irregular shapes of nasal passages and sinus openings. This flexibility allows the catheter to navigate tight spaces and complex angles without requiring forceful insertion or removal of anatomical structures, significantly reducing tissue trauma, bleeding, and postoperative pain while maintaining surgical effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If FESS procedures remove significant amounts of soft tissue and bone to open up sinuses, then drainage restoration is improved, but recovery time and postoperative discomfort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrainage restorationVSAvoidrecovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the obstructing mucosal tissue blocking the sinus ostia using the catheter-based system, rather than removing large amounts of healthy bone and soft tissue. By selectively removing only the pathological obstructions and dilating the ostia, the procedure restores drainage while preserving surrounding anatomical structures, leading to significantly reduced recovery time and postoperative discomfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical FESS instruments (shavers, graspers, drills) with a catheter-based system that uses suction and balloon dilation. This substitution eliminates the need for extensive tissue and bone removal, achieving drainage restoration through minimally invasive means that preserve anatomical integrity and accelerate recovery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If FESS procedures require general anesthesia, then surgical control is improved, but patient risk and procedural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical controlVSAvoidanesthesia requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the key parameter of procedural invasiveness by transitioning from open surgical FESS to a catheter-based minimally invasive approach. This parameter change allows the procedure to be performed under local anesthesia rather than general anesthesia, reducing patient risk and procedural complexity while maintaining adequate surgical control through the flexible, navigable catheter system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-affected harmful factors

If nasal packing is placed after FESS to control bleeding, then hemorrhage control is improved, but patient comfort and breathing are significantly compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehemorrhage controlVSAvoidpatient comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the source of bleeding through selective debridement of only the necessary obstructing tissue, rather than creating extensive surgical wounds that require packing. By minimizing tissue removal and preserving anatomical structures, the procedure achieves hemorrhage control without the need for uncomfortable nasal packing, allowing patients to breathe and eat normally immediately after the procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The guide catheter system allows for less invasive treatment of sinusitis by facilitating the dilation of sinus ostia with reduced bleeding and pain, leading to faster recovery times and improved patient outcomes.

Implementation Method 1

a catheter shaft configured to receive a balloon catheter and to provide suction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentUS12303154B2Guide system with suction

Publication Date: 2025.05.20 ACCLARENT INC

AI summary

A guide catheter for use in treating sinuses, the catheter including a catheter shaft configured to provide suction about a balloon catheter and a distal portion shaped for navigating body anatomy. In one embodiment, the guide catheter includes a valve for sealing the balloon catheter and a vent for controlling suction.