Drug delivery systems and methods for treating the nasal cavity
In an example, a method for delivery of a therapeutic agent to at least one of a palatine canal or a pterygopalatine fossa of a patient is described. The method includes inserting a delivery device into a nasal cavity of a patient. The delivery device includes an elongated shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, a handpiece coupled to the proximal end of the elongated shaft, and a boring element disposed on the distal end of the elongated shaft. The method also includes advancing the distal end of the elongated shaft to a position proximate to a palatine bone within the nasal cavity, actuating the boring element to form a passage in the palatine bone between the nasal cavity and a palatine canal of the patient, and delivering a therapeutic agent into the palatine canal.
1 . A delivery device for delivering a therapeutic agent to at least one of a palatine canal or a pterygopalatine fossa of a patient, the delivery device comprising:
an elongated shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the elongated shaft comprises at least one lumen that extends through the elongated shaft to an output port at a distal portion of the elongated shaft, wherein the output port is proximal of the distal end of the elongated shaft;
a handpiece coupled to the proximal end of the elongated shaft; and
a boring element at the distal portion of the elongated shaft and configured to form a passage in a palatine bone;
a therapeutic agent delivery member configured to deliver a therapeutic agent via the output port of the elongated shaft to the passage formed by the boring element; and
one or more user control devices on the handpiece, wherein the one or more user control devices are operable to cause the boring element to form the passage in the palatine bone,
wherein the boring element comprises: a needle that is configured to move through the output port and away from the elongated shaft to form the passage in the palatine bone responsive to an operation of the one or more user control devices, and
a needle actuator that is configured to apply a force to the needle to cause the needle to (i) move through the output port and (ii) penetrate through the palatine bone responsive to operation of the one or more user control devices.
2 . The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the needle actuator comprises an expandable member coupled to the needle, wherein the expandable member is configured to be inflated to project the needle from the distal portion of the elongated shaft and through the palatine bone.
3 . The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the needle actuator comprises a compressed spring coupled to the needle, wherein the compressed spring is configured to be released to project the needle from the distal portion of the elongated shaft and through the palatine bone.
4 . The delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more stabilizer features configured to retain the delivery device at a relatively fixed position while the boring element forms the passage in the palatine bone and/or while the therapeutic agent delivery member delivers the therapeutic agent.
5 . The delivery device of claim 4 , wherein the one or more stabilizer features include an expandable member coupled to the distal end of the elongated shaft.
6 . The delivery device of claim 4 , wherein the one or more stabilizer features include one or more suction ports.
7 . The delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors configured to indicate whether the distal end of the elongated shaft is proximate to a tissue surface.
8 . The delivery device of claim 7 , further comprising a controller configured to prevent the boring element from being activated by disabling the one or more user control devices associated with the boring element if the one or more sensors do not indicate that the distal end is proximate to the tissue surface.
9 . The delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising a cryotherapy delivery feature configured to cryo-ablate target nerve to reduce a symptom of rhinitis after delivery of the therapeutic agent.
10 . The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more user control devices comprise at least one device selected from a group consisting of: a trigger, a knob, a button, a switch, a lever, and/or a dial on the handpiece.
11 . The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic agent delivery member comprises a lumen of the needle.
12 . The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic agent delivery member comprises a delivery conduit that is separate and distinct from the needle.