Irrigation devices adapted to be used with a light source for the identification and treatment of bodily passages

1. A method of identifying and treating a bodily passage, the method comprising the steps of:

activating a light source of an irrigation device such that the light source generates light, the irrigation device comprising:

an elongate tubular member having a lengthwise axis and comprising a circumferential wall, a first proximal end, and a first distal end, the circumferential wall defining a first lumen extending between the first proximal end and the first distal end and a plurality of apertures, each aperture of the plurality of apertures extending through the circumferential wall and providing access to the first lumen; and

an optical fiber disposed in the first lumen of the elongate tubular member and comprising a second proximal end operatively connected to the light source and a second distal end attached to the circumferential wall of the elongate tubular member at a point between the plurality of apertures and the distal end relative to the lengthwise axis, the optical fiber emitting light generated by the light source;

inserting the irrigation device into said bodily passage;

visualizing light emitted by the optical fiber;

advancing the irrigation device to a point of treatment within said bodily passage;

irrigating said bodily passage; and

withdrawing the irrigation device from said bodily passage.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of visualizing light emitted by the optical fiber comprises visualizing light emitted by the optical fiber transcutaneously.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber emits light radially such that radially-directed light is emitted through the plurality of apertures; and

wherein the step of visualizing light emitted by the optical fiber comprises visualizing radially-directed light emitted by the optical fiber.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber emits light axially such that axially-directed light is emitted from the second distal end of the optical fiber; and

wherein the step of visualizing light emitted by the optical fiber comprises visualizing axially-directed light emitted by the optical fiber.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of aspirating said bodily passage.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of irrigating said bodily passage and the step of aspirating said bodily passage are completed simultaneously.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of inserting the irrigation device into said bodily passage is completed independent of any other device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the elongate tubular member defines a curve along the lengthwise axis;

wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures is defined by the circumferential wall at a point between the curve and the first distal end.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising an adapter disposed on the first proximal end of the elongate tubular member, the adapter comprising third proximal and distal ends, a fourth proximal end, and defining second and third lumens, the third distal end of the adapter connected to the first proximal end of the elongate tubular member, the second lumen extending between the third proximal end and the third distal end, and the third lumen in communication with the second lumen and extending between the fourth proximal end and the second lumen.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the third distal end of the adapter is rotatably connected to the first proximal end of the elongate tubular member.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the second distal end of the optical fiber is disposed distal to the first distal end of the elongate tubular member.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least two apertures of the plurality of apertures have different diameters.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of inserting the irrigation device into said bodily passage comprises inserting the irrigation device into a sinus cavity;

wherein the step of advancing the irrigation device to a point of treatment within said bodily passage comprises advancing the irrigation device to a point of treatment within the sinus cavity;

wherein the step of irrigating said bodily passage comprises irrigating the sinus cavity; and

wherein the step of withdrawing the irrigation device from said bodily passage comprises withdrawing the irrigation device from the sinus cavity.

14. A method of identifying and treating a sinus cavity, the method comprising the steps of:

activating a light source of an irrigation device such that the light source generates light, the irrigation device comprising:

an elongate tubular member having a lengthwise axis and comprising a circumferential wall, a first proximal end, and a first distal end, the circumferential wall defining a first lumen extending between the first proximal end and the first distal end and a plurality of apertures, each aperture of the plurality of apertures extending through the circumferential wall and providing access to the first lumen; and

an optical fiber disposed in the first lumen of the elongate tubular member and comprising a second proximal end operatively connected to the light source and a second distal end attached to the circumferential wall of the elongate tubular member at a point between the plurality of apertures and the distal end relative to the lengthwise axis, the optical fiber emitting light generated by the light source axially such that axially-directed light is emitted from the second distal end of the optical fiber;

inserting the irrigation device into said sinus cavity;

visualizing axially-directed light emitted by the optical fiber transcutaneously;

advancing the irrigation device to a point of treatment within said sinus cavity;

irrigating said sinus cavity; and

withdrawing the irrigation device from said sinus cavity.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the optical fiber emits light radially such that radially-directed light is emitted through the plurality of apertures; and

wherein the step of visualizing axially-directed light emitted by the optical fiber transcutaneously comprises visualizing axially-directed light and radially-directed light emitted by the optical fiber transcutaneously.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of aspirating said sinus cavity.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of irrigating said sinus cavity and the step of aspirating said sinus cavity are completed simultaneously.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising an adapter disposed on the first proximal end of the elongate tubular member, the adapter comprising third proximal and distal ends, a fourth proximal end, and defining second and third lumens, the third distal end of the adapter connected to the first proximal end of the elongate tubular member, the second lumen extending between the third proximal end and the third distal end, and the third lumen in communication with the second lumen and extending between the fourth proximal end and the second lumen.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the third distal end of the adapter is rotatably connected to the first proximal end of the elongate tubular member.

20. A method of identifying and treating a sinus cavity, the method comprising the steps of:

activating a light source of an irrigation device such that the light source generates light, the irrigation device comprising:

an elongate tubular member having a lengthwise axis and comprising a circumferential wall, a first proximal end, and a first distal end, the circumferential wall defining a first lumen extending between the first proximal end and the first distal end and a plurality of apertures, each aperture of the plurality of apertures extending through the circumferential wall and providing access to the first lumen; and

an optical fiber disposed in the first lumen of the elongate tubular member and comprising a second proximal end operatively connected to the light source and a second distal end attached to the circumferential wall of the elongate tubular member at a point between the plurality of apertures and the distal end relative to the lengthwise axis, the optical fiber emitting light generated by the light source axially such that axially-directed light is emitted from the second distal end of the optical fiber and radially such that radially-directed light is emitted through the plurality of apertures;

inserting the irrigation device into said sinus cavity;

visualizing axially-directed light and radially-directed light emitted by the optical fiber transcutaneously;

advancing the irrigation device to a point of treatment within said sinus cavity;

irrigating said sinus cavity;

aspirating said sinus cavity; and

withdrawing the irrigation device from said sinus cavity.