Systems and methods for therapeutic nasal treatment using handheld device
Inventors
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12096974-B1
Publication Date
2024-09-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention generally relates to systems and methods for improving sleep by treating at least one of rhinitis, congestion, and/or rhinorhea 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 patent describes a handheld therapeutic nasal neuromodulation system and a method for treating at least one of rhinitis, congestion, and rhinorrhea within a sino-nasal cavity of a patient. A multi-electrode end effector is advanced into the sino-nasal cavity while the end effector is operably associated with a shaft of a treatment device and configured for delivering energy to one or more target sites. The multi-electrode end effector includes a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart along a length of the multi-electrode end effector, with each electrode having an active state and an inactive state and being positioned on a respective discrete portion of the end effector.
At least a portion of the multi-electrode end effector includes a diameter larger than a diameter of the shaft, and the first electrode and second electrode are exposed from a surface at discrete locations such that each electrode extends outward in a respective outward direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft to interact with anatomy at a first location and a second location within the nasal cavity. Energy delivered via the first and second electrodes disrupts multiple neural signals associated with mucus producing and/or mucosal engorgement elements, thereby reducing production of mucus and/or mucosal engorgement and reducing or eliminating one or more symptoms associated with rhinitis, congestion, and rhinorrhea to improve nasal breathability.
The patent also describes system features for delivering and monitoring energy, including console/controller functionality and feedback mechanisms such as temperature sensing with a predetermined temperature threshold and automatic shutoff, as well as impedance/resistance sensing and nerve monitoring/evaluation. The document describes targeted interaction with anatomy in regions associated with postganglionic parasympathetic signaling controlling mucus production and mucosal engorgement, and discusses deploying energy to specified target sites to reduce symptoms and improve nasal breathability.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim (method) describing delivery of energy via multiple exposed electrodes at discrete outward-extending locations to disrupt neural signals controlling mucus production and mucosal engorgement. The dependent claims refine the method by specifying electrode/energy type and adding console/control feedback features and particular device construction and parameter constraints.
Multi-electrode outward-extending electrode end effector for discrete nasal target sites
Advancing 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 configured for delivering energy to one or more target sites, the multi-electrode end effector comprises a first electrode spaced apart from a second electrode along a length of the multi-electrode end effector, each of the first and second electrodes comprise an active state and an inactive state and comprise a respective location on the multi-electrode end effector, and at least one portion of the multi-electrode end effector comprises a diameter larger than a diameter of the shaft; wherein the first electrode is exposed from a surface and positioned at a discrete portion and extends in a first outward direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft to interact with anatomy at a first location, and the second electrode is exposed from a surface and positioned at a discrete portion and extends in a second outward direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft to interact with anatomy at a second location.
Disrupt multiple neural signals to reduce mucus and mucosal engorgement symptoms
Delivering energy, via the first and second electrodes, to one or more target sites within a sino-nasal cavity to disrupt multiple neural signals to mucus producing and/or mucosal engorgement elements, thereby reducing production of mucus and/or mucosal engorgement within a nose of the patient and reducing or eliminating one or more symptoms associated with at least one of rhinitis, congestion, and rhinorrhea to improve nasal breathability.
Overall claim coverage focuses on a method that advances a multi-electrode end effector with exposed electrodes extending outward to discrete anatomical locations in a sino-nasal cavity and delivers energy to disrupt multiple neural signals driving mucus production and/or mucosal engorgement, thereby improving nasal breathability. Dependent refinements include console-based control using temperature feedback and additional device construction and parameter constraints as reflected in the provided dependent claim descriptions.
Stated Advantages
Reduces production of mucus and/or mucosal engorgement within a nose of the patient.
Reduces or eliminates one or more symptoms associated with at least one of rhinitis, congestion, and rhinorrhea.
Improves nasal breathability.
Documented Applications
Therapeutic treatment of at least one of rhinitis, congestion, and rhinorrhea within a patient’s sino-nasal cavity to improve nasal breathability.
Interested in licensing this patent?