Systems and methods for improving sleep with therapeutic nasal treatment
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11998262-B1
Publication Date
2024-06-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention generally relates to systems and methods for improving sleep by treating at least one of rhinitis, congestion, and/or rhinorrhea to thereby reduce or eliminate symptoms associated therewith, including, but not limited to, nasal congestion, coughing, sneezing, and nasal or throat irritation and itching.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method for improving a patient's sleep by treating at least one of rhinitis, congestion, and rhinorrhea within a sino-nasal cavity. The method advances a multi-electrode end effector into the sino-nasal cavity, where the multi-electrode end effector is operably associated with a shaft of a treatment device and is configured for delivering energy to one or more target sites within the sino-nasal cavity.
The multi-electrode end effector includes a first electrode spaced apart from a separate and distinct second electrode along a length of the end effector. Each electrode comprises an active state and an inactive state and has a respective location on the end effector, with the first electrode exposed from an end effector surface and extending outward in a first direction to interact with anatomy at a first location, and the second electrode exposed and extending outward in a second direction to interact with anatomy at a second location.
Energy is delivered via the first and second electrodes to one or more target sites within the sino-nasal cavity to disrupt multiple neural signals and/or to result in local hypoxia of mucus producing and/or mucosal engorgement elements. This reduces production of mucus and/or mucosal engorgement within a nose and reduces or eliminates one or more symptoms associated with at least one of rhinitis, congestion, and rhinorrhea, thereby improving nasal breathability and improving the patient's sleep.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent method claim with four inventive features, centered on a multi-electrode end effector and energy delivery within a sino-nasal cavity to reduce mucus/mucosal engorgement and associated symptoms.
Sleep improvement via sino-nasal treatment for rhinitis-related symptoms
Treating at least one of rhinitis, congestion, and rhinorrhea within a sino-nasal cavity to improve nasal breathability and improve a patient's sleep.
Multi-electrode end effector with spaced active/inactive electrodes
Advancing a multi-electrode end effector into the sino-nasal cavity, where the end effector is operably associated with a shaft and includes a first electrode spaced apart from a separate and distinct second electrode, each having an active state and an inactive state at respective locations on the end effector.
Directional exposed electrodes positioned at separate anatomic locations
The first electrode is exposed from an end effector surface and extends outward in a first direction to interact with anatomy at a first location, and the second electrode is exposed and extends outward in a second direction to interact with anatomy at a second location.
Energy delivery to disrupt neural signals and/or create local hypoxia in mucus/mucosal-engorgement elements
Delivering energy via the first and second electrodes to one or more target sites within the sino-nasal cavity to disrupt multiple neural signals and/or result in local hypoxia of mucus producing and/or mucosal engorgement elements, thereby reducing production of mucus and/or mucosal engorgement and associated symptoms.
The independent claim coverage is directed to a multi-electrode end effector with distinct exposed electrodes having active and inactive states and separate outward directions for interacting with anatomy at separate locations, followed by energy delivery to disrupt multiple neural signals and/or create local hypoxia in mucus producing and/or mucosal engorgement elements.
Stated Advantages
Precise localized treatment of mucus producing and/or mucosal engorgement elements by delivering energy to one or more target sites within the sino-nasal cavity.
Reducing production of mucus and/or mucosal engorgement within a nose.
Reducing or eliminating one or more symptoms associated with at least one of rhinitis, congestion, and rhinorrhea.
Improving nasal breathability.
Improving a patient's sleep.
Documented Applications
Use of the method to improve sleep by treating at least one of rhinitis, congestion, and rhinorrhea within a sino-nasal cavity.
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