Nasal Neural Tissue Modulation System for Rhinosinusitis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical procedures for treating rhinosinusitis, such as ablation therapy and microdebrider resection, fail to precisely target neural tissue, leading to significant collateral damage to surrounding tissue and complications like bleeding and scarring, without fully addressing the underlying condition.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that characterize tissue properties before and during electrotherapeutic treatment to precisely target neural tissue in the nasal cavity, minimizing collateral damage by determining a specific treatment pattern based on physiological, bioelectric, and thermal properties, and adjusting energy delivery in real-time to prevent damage to adjacent surface tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ablation therapy or microdebrider resection is used to treat rhinosinusitis, then nasal airflow is improved, but collateral damage to surrounding tissue occurs leading to bleeding and scarring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by delivering thermal energy selectively to specific neural tissue targets within the nasal cavity while preserving surrounding non-targeted tissue. The system uses controlled thermal ablation focused on particular nerve bundles or ganglia (such as the sphenopalatine ganglion) rather than broad tissue removal, thereby achieving therapeutic effect with minimal collateral damage to adjacent structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical tissue removal (microdebrider resection) with thermal energy delivery for selective neural tissue modulation. Instead of mechanically cutting or removing inflamed soft tissue, the system uses controlled thermal ablation to target specific neural structures, thereby avoiding the mechanical trauma and associated complications of bleeding and scarring while still improving nasal airflow.
2Productivity
If thermal energy is delivered to inflamed soft tissue to improve nasal airflow, then volumetric reduction of tissue is achieved, but the underlying condition of rhinosinusitis is not fully addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and targets the specific neural control mechanisms that regulate nasal mucosal function. By delivering thermal energy to specific neural tissue (such as parasympathetic nerve bundles or the sphenopalatine ganglion), the system modulates the neural control of mucosal inflammation and secretions, thereby addressing the underlying pathophysiology of rhinosinusitis rather than merely removing inflamed tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the therapeutic parameter from mechanical or broad thermal tissue removal to focused neural tissue modulation. By controlling the depth, duration, and temperature of thermal energy delivery to specific neural structures, the system achieves selective modulation of neural function that regulates nasal mucosal inflammation, thereby treating the underlying condition while preserving overall tissue integrity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If precision targeting of neural tissue is achieved, then collateral damage to surface tissue is minimized, but treatment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by employing a controlled thermal energy delivery system that can be precisely directed to neural tissue targets. The system includes a catheter or applicator that delivers thermal energy through a controlled medium, allowing precise targeting of deep neural structures (such as nerves in the lateral nasal wall or sphenopalatine ganglion) while maintaining a safety margin from surface tissue, thereby minimizing collateral damage despite the complexity of the treatment system.
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
This approach allows for precise modulation of targeted neural tissue while minimizing collateral damage to surface tissue, reducing complications and effectively treating rhinosinusitis by optimizing energy delivery to achieve successful ablation or modulation without unnecessary tissue damage.
Implementation Method 1
delivering thermal energy to the inflamed soft tissue, resulting in scarring and temporary volumetric reduction of the tissue
Implementation Method 2
delivery of thermal energy to the inflamed soft tissue, resulting in scarring and temporary volumetric reduction of the tissue
Implementation Method 3
provide electrotherapeutic stimulation to a nerve tissue, while avoiding providing any such stimulation to an adjacent surface tissue at the target site
Data Source
AI summary
The invention generally relates to systems and methods for providing precision targeting of neural tissue in a nasal region of a patient for the treatment of rhinosinusitis while minimizing or avoiding collateral damage to surrounding tissue, such as surface tissue adjacent to underlying neural tissue.