Patent US5843077A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5843077A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Minimally invasive apparatus for internal ablation of turbinates with surface cooling
Assignee: Somnus Medical Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1997-01-29
•
Granted: 1998-12-01
•
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 23:19
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.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4011872A
Cited
US4532924A
Cited
US4411266A
Cited
US4565200A
Cited
EP0105677A1
Cited
US4658836A
Cited
US5215103A
Cited
US4907589A
Cited
US4947842A
Cited
US4966597A
Cited
US4976711A
Cited
US5057107A
Cited
US5078717A
Cited
EP0392837A2
Cited
US5125928A
Cited
US5122137A
Cited
WO1991017717A1
Cited
US5083565A
Cited
US5100423A
Cited
US5190541A
Cited
WO1992007622A1
Cited
WO1992010142A1
Cited
US5257451A
Cited
US5197964A
Cited
US5197963A
Cited
US5443470A
Cited
US5292320A
Cited
US5370675A
Cited
US5366490A
Cited
WO1995013113A1
Cited
WO1995025472A1
Cited
WO1995031142A1
Cited
WO1996000042A1
Cited
WO1996029946A1
Cited
WO1996037146A1
Cited
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 |