Systems and methods for therapeutic nasal neuromodulation
Inventors
Townley, David • Shields, Brian
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12004800-B2
Publication Date
2024-06-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention generally relates to systems and methods for therapeutically modulating nerves in or associated with a nasal region of a patient for the treatment of a rhinosinusitis condition.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a device for treating a condition within a nasal cavity of a patient using a multi-segment end effector operably associated with a shaft. The device includes a first segment spaced apart from a separate and distinct second segment along a longitudinal axis, with the second segment positioned closer to a distal-most end of the shaft and the first segment positioned closer to a proximal-most end of the shaft. Each of the first and second segments is transformable between a retracted configuration and an expanded deployed configuration, and each segment has a different architecture in the expanded deployed configuration.
In the first segment’s expanded deployed configuration, the first architecture is cooperatively defined by flexible support elements that form an inwardly extending concave shape. The concave shape is defined by a first set of flexible support elements extending outward in a first direction within a first half of the first segment and a second set extending outward in a second, opposite direction within a second half of the first segment, with the two sets cooperating to form inwardly extending concave shapes substantially mirroring each other. Each flexible support element of the first segment includes one or more electrodes provided thereon.
The second segment is expandable and includes a second architecture defined by a third set of flexible support elements that cooperatively form the second segment in the expanded deployed configuration. Each flexible support element in the first, second, and third sets comprises one or more electrodes provided thereon. The device further includes a handle operably associated with the shaft having a first user-manipulatable mechanism for deployment of the first and second segments from the retracted configuration to the expanded deployed configuration, and a second user-manipulatable mechanism, separate from the first, for control of energy output by each of the first, second, and third segments.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim identified in the provided material is clm-00001, which covers a nasal-cavity treating device having a deployable, electrode-bearing, multi-segment end effector with distinct expanded deployed architectures and a handle with separate deployment and energy-output controls. The main inventive features are centered on the segment architecture differences, the flexible support element concave shapes in the expanded deployed configuration, and the separate handle mechanisms for deployment versus energy output control.
Multi-segment end effector with first and second segments having different expanded architectures
A multi-segment end effector with a first segment spaced apart from a separate and distinct second segment along a longitudinal axis, each transformable between a retracted configuration and an expanded deployed configuration, wherein the first segment comprises a first architecture and the second segment comprises a second architecture different than the first architecture in the expanded deployed configuration.
Concave electrode architecture defined by opposing flexible support element sets in the first segment
In the expanded deployed configuration, the first segment comprises a first set of flexible support elements extending in a first outward direction within a first half that cooperatively form an inwardly extending first concave shape, and a second set of flexible support elements extending in a second outward direction opposite the first outward direction within a second half that cooperatively form an inwardly extending second concave shape substantially mirroring the first concave shape, wherein the first and second sets cooperatively define the first architecture.
Second segment electrode architecture defined by flexible support elements forming a second architecture
The second segment comprises a third set of flexible support elements that cooperatively form the second segment and define the second architecture of the second segment when in the expanded deployed configuration, wherein each flexible support element of the first, second, and third sets comprises one or more electrodes provided thereon.
Separate handle mechanisms for deployment and energy output control
A handle operably associated with the shaft having a first user-manipulatable mechanism for deployment of each of the first and second segments from the retracted configuration to the expanded deployed configuration, and a second user-manipulatable mechanism separate from the first for control of energy output by each of the first, second, and third segments of the multi-segment end effector.
Across the independent claim, coverage is anchored by the combination of a two-segment deployable end effector with different expanded deployed architectures, electrode-bearing flexible support elements forming inwardly extending concave shapes in the first segment and a distinct flexible-support-defined architecture in the second segment, and a handle with separate user-manipulatable mechanisms for deploying the segments and controlling energy output for the electrode-bearing segments.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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