US5827277A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Minimally invasive apparatus for internal ablation of turbinates
Assignee: Somnus Medical Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1997-01-29
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Granted: 1998-10-27
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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 05:53
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: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 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 catheter further including a catheter longitudinal axis and a catheter side wall; 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, wherein the one or more energy delivering probes are extendable from the catheter side wall in a lateral direction relative to the catheter longitudinal axis.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 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 catheter further including a catheter longitudinal axis and a catheter side wall; 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, wherein the one or more energy delivering probes are extendable from the catheter side wall in a lateral direction relative to the catheter longitudinal axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the one or more energy delivering probes extend a fixed distance from the catheter distal portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the distance the one or more energy delivering probes extend from the catheter distal portion can be varied.
Claim 5
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 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the energy delivery device includes at least two energy delivering probes.
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 diffuse 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
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus further includes an insulator positioned adjacent at least a portion of the one or more energy delivering probes to prevent the delivery of energy therethrough.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the insulator is movable relative to the one or more energy delivering probes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes a signal generator coupleable to an energy source for generating pulses of electromagnetic energy having a frequency between about 300 and 700 megahertz.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus further includes a processor coupled to the signal generator for generating pulses of RF energy which provide between about 5 and about 30 watts of RF energy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus further includes at least one sensor coupled to the processor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the sensor measures a property selected from the group consisting of an amount of energy delivered by the energy delivery device, an amount of heat generated at a location, an amount of impedance generated, and a temperature at a location.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the energy delivered to the energy delivery device is controlled by the processor in response to a measured property selected from the group consisting of an amount of energy delivered by the energy delivery device, an amount of heat generated at a location, an amount of impedance generated, and a temperature at a location.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus includes a sensor for measuring the measured property.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
134 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 catheter further including a catheter longitudinal axis and a catheter side wall; 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, wherein the one or more energy delivering probes are extendable from the catheter side wall in a lateral direction relative to the catheter longitudinal axis; and an energy source coupled to the energy delivery device for delivering energy to the probes.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
134 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 catheter further including a catheter longitudinal axis and a catheter side wall; 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, wherein the one or more energy delivering probes are extendable from the catheter side wall in a lateral direction relative to the catheter longitudinal axis; and an energy source coupled to the energy delivery device for delivering energy to the probes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the energy source delivers energy to the one or more energy delivering probes selected from the group consisting of RF, microwave, ultrasonic, pulsed laser and diffuses laser energy.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the one or more energy delivering probes are needle electrodes for delivering RF energy.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the one or more energy delivering probes include an optical fiber for delivering laser energy.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the one or more energy delivering probes are antenna for delivering microwave energy.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the one or more energy delivering probes include transducers for delivering ultrasonic energy.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the apparatus includes a signal generator coupled to the energy source for generating pulses of electromagnetic energy having a frequency between about 300 and 700 megahertz.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the apparatus further includes a processor coupled to the signal generator for generating pulses of RF energy which provide between about 5 and about 30 watts of RF 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) | 2001-10-26 | 2002-04-27 | 2002-10-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-26 | 2006-04-27 | 2006-10-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-26 | 2010-04-27 | 2010-10-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |