Method for providing access to a paranasal sinus

1. A method for providing access to a paranasal sinus of a human to permit performance of medical treatments or procedures in the paranasal sinus over an extended time, the method comprising:

surgically forming a fistula between a location in the lacrimal apparatus and a paranasal sinus;

implanting an implant device with a conduit of the implant device disposed through the fistula to maintain patency of the fistula;

the implant device comprises a proximal end at a first longitudinal end of the implant device, a distal end at a second longitudinal end of the implant device that is longitudinally opposite the first longitudinal end, and an internal passage for fluid communication through the implant device;

as implanted during the implanting the implant device is in an implantation position, wherein:

with the conduit is disposed through the fistula;

the proximal end of the implant device is disposed in the lacrimal apparatus in the orbit;

the distal end of the implant device is disposed in the paranasal sinus; and

the internal passage opens into the lacrimal apparatus in the orbit and into the paranasal sinus to provide fluid communication through the internal passage between the lacrimal apparatus in the orbit and the paranasal sinus.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the implant device comprises:

a length longitudinally along the device between the proximal end and the distal end in a range of from 2 millimeters to 50 millimeters; and

a width of the internal passage transverse to the length in a range of from 0.25 millimeter to 5 millimeters.

3. A method according to claim 1 , comprising performing a procedure through the fistula directed to treatment for sinusitis.

4. A method according to claim 1 , comprising aspirating fluid from the paranasal sinus through the fistula.

5. A method according to claim 1 , comprising irrigating the paranasal sinus with an irrigation fluid introduced into the paranasal sinus through the fistula.

6. A method according to claim 1 , comprising introducing a drug formulation into the paranasal sinus through the fistula.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the paranasal sinus is an ethmoid sinus.

8. A method according to claim 1 , comprising during the forming the fistula is formed with a diameter of not greater than 3.5 millimeters.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the implanting comprises advancing the distal end of the implant device from a location in the conjunctival sac in the orbit into and through the fistula and into the paranasal sinus.

10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein:

during the advancing the implant device is mounted on a carrier of a surgical tool with a member of the carrier disposed through the internal passage of the implant device; and

the implanting comprises after the advancing, retracting the carrier to remove the member from the internal passage and leave the implant device implanted with the conduit disposed through the fistula.

11. A method according to claim 9 , comprising prior to the implanting, forming the fistula by advancing a distal end of a surgical tool through conjunctiva in the orbit and then through a wall of a bone in which is disposed the paranasal sinus.

12. A method according to claim 9 , comprising;

initially forming the fistula with a first member of a first surgical tool; and

after the initially forming, the implanting comprises positioning the implant device in the implantation position with the implant device mounted on a second surgical tool with a second member of the second surgical tool disposed through the internal passage of the implant device; and

with the implant device in the implantation position, disengaging the second member from the implant device; and

wherein the second member is a hollow member and the implanting comprises guiding the second member into position with the implant device in the implantation position by a guide wire disposed through the hollow member and into the fistula.

13. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the conduit has a length in a range of from 8 millimeters to 30 millimeters and the internal passage has a width transverse to the length of the conduit in a range of from 0.25 to 5 millimeters; and

the conduit has a maximum exterior width in a range of from 1.5 millimeters to 3 millimeters.

14. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the implant device is constructed of medical grade silicone having a durometer (Shore A) in a range of from 50 to 80.

15. A method according to claim 9 , comprising after the implanting, administering a drug formulation to the paranasal sinus through the internal passage of the implant device.

16. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the drug formulation comprises at least one drug selected from the group consisting of anti-inflammatories, antimicrobials, analgesics, mucolytics, antivirals, decongestants and anti-fungals.

17. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the drug formulation comprises a steroid.

18. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the drug formulation comprises an antihistamine.

19. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the drug formulation comprises an antibiotic.

20. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the implant device comprises a head adjacent the conduit at the proximal end of the implant device, the head having a flanged tissue engagement surface on a side of the head disposed toward the conduit and in the implantation position the tissue engagement surface is engaged with conjunctiva in the orbit adjacent the fistula.