Multi-Conduit Balloon Catheter for Sinus Dilation and Debris Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sinus surgery techniques, including endoscopic methods, face challenges such as obstructed visualization due to blood, mucus, or debris, and the need for multiple bulky systems, which can lead to complications and inefficiencies in treating sinus disease, especially in the paranasal sinuses.
Innovation Solution
A multi-conduit balloon catheter with integrated suction, irrigation, and endoscopic capabilities, allowing for the dilation of sinus ostia, creation of new openings, and excision of sinus tissue while maintaining visualization and minimizing damage to surrounding structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate systems (suction, irrigation, endoscopic) are used for sinus surgery, then each function can be performed effectively, but the device complexity and bulkiness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines suction, irrigation, and endoscopic functions into a single integrated catheter device. The catheter includes a balloon for dilation, a suction conduit with distal opening for debris removal, an irrigation conduit for fluid delivery, and an endoscope positioned within the catheter body for visualization. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate systems while maintaining all necessary surgical functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter device is designed as a multi-functional instrument that can simultaneously perform sinus ostium dilation, suction of blood and debris, irrigation with saline or medications, and endoscopic visualization. The single device serves multiple purposes that previously required separate instruments, reducing procedural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If traditional endoscopic sinus surgery is performed, then sinus ostia can be dilated, but visualization is obstructed by blood, mucus, or debris
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter enables continuous simultaneous suction and irrigation during the dilation and visualization process. The suction conduit continuously removes blood and debris from the surgical site, while the irrigation conduit continuously delivers fluid to flush the area, maintaining clear visualization throughout the procedure rather than in intermittent steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter acts as an intermediary device that facilitates both visualization and debris removal. The endoscope positioned within the catheter body provides a clear view of the sinus ostium and surrounding structures, while the integrated suction and irrigation conduits mediate the removal of obstructing materials, ensuring continuous visual access during surgery.
3Device complexity
If a single integrated catheter is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to perform multiple functions simultaneously may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is segmented into distinct functional components: a balloon segment for dilation, a suction conduit segment with distal opening for debris removal, an irrigation conduit segment for fluid delivery, and an endoscope segment for visualization. Each segment is optimized for its specific function while being integrated into a unified catheter structure, allowing simultaneous operation of all functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The endoscope is nested within the catheter body, with the endoscope positioned inside the catheter lumen. The suction and irrigation conduits are also integrated within the catheter structure. This nesting arrangement allows multiple functions to be contained within a single device without interfering with each other, maintaining versatility while reducing overall complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A suctioning and irrigating sinus balloon catheter is provided for treating a patient's paranasal sinus system, including dilating prepared openings, and natural ostia and ducts and excising sinus cavities and choana. The catheter has a number of fluid carrying conduits to provide irrigation, suction and inflation/deflation to the distally mounted balloon. The catheters have sufficient stiffness and column strength that the balloon carrying distal segment of the catheter can be pushed into the prepared opening, natural ostium or duct, choana or sinus to be excised. Some catheters can be hand bendable by the surgeon. Some catheters provide the capability of threading an endoscope through one of the conduits. The methods use the balloon catheters to dilate prepared openings to selected parts of the sinus system, to dilate natural ostia and ducts of the sinus system, choana, and/or to dilate sinus cavities to remove them.