Method for treating obstructed paranasal maxillary sinuses

1. A method of treating a patient's maxillary sinus having an obstructed or narrowed maxillary ostium, the method comprising:

during the same medical procedure performing the steps of:

creating an opening into the maxillary sinus for drainage from the maxillary sinus;

pushing a distal segment of a balloon catheter through the opening;

inflating a balloon of the balloon catheter in the opening to enlarge the opening, the opening being enlarged when the balloon is inflated; and

removing the balloon catheter from the now enlarged opening, which remains enlarged for a period of time effective to treat the obstructed or narrowed ostium after the balloon catheter is removed.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

shifting a proximal segment of the balloon catheter to position the distal segment to enter from the patient's nasal cavity into the opening.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

rotating a proximal segment of the balloon catheter to position the distal segment to enter from the patient's nasal cavity into the opening.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the balloon catheter has sufficient stiffness and column strength that the distal segment can be pushed through the opening.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal segment of the balloon catheter is at an angle of between about seventy degrees and about one hundred fifteen degrees to a proximal segment of the balloon catheter.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the angle is about ninety degrees.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting the balloon catheter such that the distal segment, when the balloon is deflated, will fit snugly with the opening.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

medially retracting the patient's middle turbinate.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating the opening in a lateral nasal wall.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the opening is created in a fontanelle.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

placing a distal end of a punch into a nasal cavity along the lateral nasal wall; and

creating the opening in the fontanelle with the distal end of the punch.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

removing the punch from the nasal cavity.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the opening is created in an inferior meatus of the lateral nasal wall.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

placing a distal end of a dissector into a nasal cavity; and

creating the opening in the inferior meatus with the distal end of the dissector.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

removing the dissector from the nasal cavity.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

removing part of the patient's uncinate process.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

using cutting forceps to remove part of the patient's uncinate process.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

inflating the balloon to about nine atmospheres.

19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

deflating the balloon;

repositioning the balloon after said deflating; and

inflating the balloon after said repositioning.

20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

pushing the distal segment of the balloon catheter through an ethmoid infundibulum.