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US5843077A
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Minimally invasive apparatus for internal ablation of turbinates with surface cooling
Assignee: Somnus Medical Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1997-01-29
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Granted: 1998-12-01
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Expires: 2017-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha. The apparatus includes a catheter having a distal portion with a dimension configured for positioning through a nostril of a patient into a nasal meatus adjacent a nasal concha, and an energy delivery device coupled to the catheter distal portion including one or more energy delivering probes extendable from the catheter distal portion a sufficient distance to be inserted into an interior of the nasal concha to deliver ablative energy therein. The distal portion of the apparatus may also include an expandable member, expansion of the expandable member within the nasal meatus immobilizing the distal portion within the nasal meatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart D. Edwards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1477; A61B18/148; A61B18/1485; A61B18/1492; A61M; A61M16/00; A61M16/04; A61M16/0475; A61M16/0477; A61M16/0481; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06; A61B18/18; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00084; A61B2017/00106; A61B17/42; A61B2017/4216; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00029; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00065; A61B2018/00071; A61B2018/00083; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0022; A61B2018/0025; A61B2018/00261; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00559; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00642; A61B2018/00654; A61B2018/00666; A61B2018/00678; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00702; A61B2018/00708; A61B2018/00761; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00827; A61B2018/00869; A61B2018/00875; A61B2018/00886; A61B2018/00892; A61B2018/00898; A61B2018/0091; A61B2018/00916; A61B2018/00982; A61B2018/044; A61B2018/046; A61B18/1206; A61B2018/124; A61B2018/1472; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/1052; A61M2025/1086; A61M25/1002; A61N5/00; A61N5/02; A61N5/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
An apparatus for ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha comprising: a catheter having a distal portion with a length operable for positioning through a nostril of a patient into a nasal meatus adjacent a nasal concha, the distal portion including an expandable member, expansion of the expandable member within the nasal meatus immobilizing the distal portion within the nasal meatus; and an energy delivery device coupled to the catheter distal portion including one or more energy delivering probes extendable from the catheter distal portion a sufficient distance to be inserted into an interior of the nasal concha to deliver ablative energy therein.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
An apparatus for ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha comprising: a catheter having a distal portion with a length operable for positioning through a nostril of a patient into a nasal meatus adjacent a nasal concha, the distal portion including an expandable member, expansion of the expandable member within the nasal meatus immobilizing the distal portion within the nasal meatus; and an energy delivery device coupled to the catheter distal portion including one or more energy delivering probes extendable from the catheter distal portion a sufficient distance to be inserted into an interior of the nasal concha to deliver ablative energy therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the expandable member is shaped to conform to a surface of the nasal concha when expanded.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the expandable member is shaped to conform to a contour of the nasal concha when expanded.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus further includes a lumen positioned within the catheter for delivering a medium into the expandable member to expand the expandable member; and a medium source for delivering the medium through the lumen into the expandable member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the one or more energy delivering probes are retractable into the catheter distal portion and extendable from the catheter distal portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the one or more energy delivering probes deliver energy selected from the group consisting of RF, microwave, ultrasonic, pulsed laser and diffuses laser energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the one or more energy delivering probes are needle electrodes for delivering RF energy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the one or more energy delivering probes include an optical fiber for delivering laser energy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the one or more energy delivering probes are antenna for delivering microwave energy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the one or more energy delivering probes include transducers for delivering ultrasonic energy.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for ablating an interior portion of a nasal concha comprising: a catheter having a distal portion with a length operable for positioning through a nostril of a patient into a nasal meatus adjacent a surface of a nasal concha; an energy delivery device coupled to the catheter distal portion including one or more energy delivering probes extendable from the catheter distal portion a sufficient distance to be inserted into an interior of the nasal concha to deliver ablative energy therein; and an expandable member coupled to the distal portion having a cooling surface, expansion of the expandable member within the nasal meatus placing the cooling surface into contact with a surface of the nasal concha to coal the nasal concha surface.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for ablating an interior portion of a nasal concha comprising: a catheter having a distal portion with a length operable for positioning through a nostril of a patient into a nasal meatus adjacent a surface of a nasal concha; an energy delivery device coupled to the catheter distal portion including one or more energy delivering probes extendable from the catheter distal portion a sufficient distance to be inserted into an interior of the nasal concha to deliver ablative energy therein; and an expandable member coupled to the distal portion having a cooling surface, expansion of the expandable member within the nasal meatus placing the cooling surface into contact with a surface of the nasal concha to coal the nasal concha surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, further including a lumen positioned within the catheter for delivering a medium into the expandable member to expand the expandable member adjacent the surface of the nasal concha; and a medium source for delivering medium of a sufficiently low temperature to cool the surface of the nasal concha.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein expansion of the expandable member also serves to immobilize the catheter distal end within the nasal meatus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the expandable member includes a sheath substantially surrounding the lumen having apertures through which the medium can pass from the lumen into the expandable member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the expandable member is shaped to conform to the surface of the nasal concha when expanded.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the expandable member is shaped to conform to a contour of the nasal meatus when expanded.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the one or more energy delivering probes are retractable into the catheter distal portion and extendable from the catheter distal portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the one or more energy delivering probes deliver energy selected from the group consisting of RF, microwave, ultrasonic, pulsed laser and diffuses laser energy.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the one or more energy delivering probes are needle electrodes for delivering RF energy.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the one or more energy delivering probes include an optical fiber for delivering laser energy.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the one or more energy delivering probes are antenna for delivering microwave energy.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the one or more energy delivering probes include transducers for delivering ultrasonic energy.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-30 | 2002-06-01 | 2002-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-30 | 2006-06-01 | 2006-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-30 | 2010-06-01 | 2010-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |