Method and System for Treating Target Tissue Within the Eustachian Tube
A method for dilating a Eustachian tube of a patient is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method may involve advancing a dilation device through a nasal passage of the patient to position a dilator of the device at least partially in a Eustachian tube of the patient, expanding the dilator to an expanded configuration to dilate a portion of the Eustachian tube, collapsing the dilator, and removing the dilation device from the patient. The dilated portion of the Eustachian tube remains at least partially dilated after removal of the device.
1 . A method for dilating a Eustachian tube of a patient, the method comprising:
advancing a dilation device through a nasal passage of the patient to position a dilator of the device at least partially in a Eustachian tube of the patient;
expanding the dilator to dilate a portion of the Eustachian tube;
collapsing the dilator; and
removing the dilation device from the patient, wherein the dilated portion of the Eustachian tube remains at least partially dilated after removal of the device.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a distal portion of the dilation device is malleable, the method further comprising forming, by a user of the dilation device, a bend in the distal portion.
3 . The method of claim 1 , a distal portion of the dilation device includes a bend of between about 30 degrees and about 90 degrees.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the Eustachian tube comprises a pharyngeal ostium of the Eustachian tube, and wherein the dilation device is advanced to position the dilator in the pharyngeal ostium.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dilation device includes a guide portion slidably coupled with the dilator, and wherein advancing the dilation device comprises:
advancing the dilation device into the nasal cavity to position a distal end of the device at or near the opening of the Eustachian tube; and
advancing the dilator relative to the guide portion to position the dilator in the opening.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the guide portion comprises an inner shaft coupled with a handle of the dilation device, and wherein the dilator is advanced over the inner shaft.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the inner shaft is malleable, the method further comprising forming, by a user of the dilation device, a bend in the inner shaft.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dilator comprises a balloon, and wherein expanding the dilator comprises inflating the balloon.
9 . The method of claim 3 , wherein inflating the balloon expands a stent within the Eustachian tube.
10 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the balloon includes cutting members, and wherein expanding the dilator further comprises cutting the Eustachian tube wall with the cutting members.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
advancing an endoscope through the nasal passage; and
viewing at least one of the advancing, expanding, collapsing or removing steps using the endoscope.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein viewing includes viewing a marker on the dilation device, and wherein the method further comprises approximating a location of the dilator relative to the opening of the Eustachian tube based on a distance of the marker from a proximal end of the dilator.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying at least one substance to the Eustachian tube using the dilator.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the dilator comprises a porous balloon for delivering the substance.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the dilator comprises a balloon with a plurality of needles for delivering the substance.
16 . A device for dilating a Eustachian tube of a patient, the device comprising:
a handle;
a guide member coupled with the handle;
a dilator slidably coupled with the handle and disposed over at least part of the guide member;
an actuator on the handle for advancing the dilator along the guide member; and
an expansion member coupled with the handle for allowing expansion of the dilator.
17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the dilator comprises a balloon catheter including an inflatable balloon, and wherein the expansion member comprises an inflation port in fluid communication with an inflation lumen of the balloon catheter.
18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the balloon includes multiple apertures through which one or more drugs may be passed to contact the Eustachian tube.
19 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the balloon includes at least one cutting member for cutting tissue within the Eustachian tube upon expansion.
20 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the guide member comprises a shaft over which the dilator slides.
21 . The device of claim 20 , wherein the shaft is malleable.
22 . The device of claim 20 , wherein the shaft has a bend with an angle of between about 30 degrees and about 90 degrees.
23 . The device of claim 20 , wherein a distal end of the shaft has a ball tip.
24 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the advancement member comprises a slide.
25 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the dilator comprises:
a rigid proximal portion; and
a flexible distal portion.
26 . The device of claim 25 , wherein the rigid proximal portion comprises a hypotube.
27 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the guide member comprises a tubular shaft through which the dilator slides.
28 . The device of claim 27 , wherein the shaft is malleable.
29 . The device of claim 27 , wherein the shaft has a bend with an angle of between about 30 degrees and about 90 degrees.
30 . The device of claim 16 , further comprising a suction port disposed on the handle and in fluid communication with a suction lumen passing through the guide member or the dilator.
31 . The device of claim 16 , further comprising an endoscope connection member for coupling an endoscope with the device.