Devices for Therapeutic Nasal Neuromodulation and Associated Methods and Systems
Devices for therapeutic nasal neuromodulation and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A system for therapeutic neuromodulation in a nasal region configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, a shaft and a therapeutic element at a distal portion of the shaft. The shaft can locate the distal portion intraluminally at a target site inferior to a patient's sphenopalatine foramen. The therapeutic element can include an energy delivery element configured to therapeutically modulate postganglionic parasympathetic nerves at microforamina of a palatine bone of the human patient for the treatment of rhinitis or other indications. In other embodiments, the therapeutic element can be configured to therapeutically modulate nerves that innervate the frontal, ethmoidal, sphenoidal, and maxillary sinuses for the treatment of chronic sinusitis.
1 .- 103 . (canceled)
104 . A method for treating at least one of rhinitis, congestion, and rhinorrhea within a nasal cavity of a patient comprising:
causing multiple points of interruption of neural branches extending through foramina and microforamina of a palatine bone to thereby decrease production of mucus and/or mucosal engorgement.
105 . The method of claim 104 , wherein causing multiple points of interruption is accomplished via ablation.
106 . The method of claim 105 , wherein the ablation is thermal ablation.
107 . The method of claim 106 , wherein the thermal ablation is cyro-ablation.
108 . The method of claim 105 , wherein the ablation is caused by delivery of radiofrequency energy.
109 . The method of claim 105 , wherein the method further comprises receiving feedback, prior to, during, and/or after the ablation.
110 . The method of claim 105 , wherein the ablation is caused by a device comprising an end effector.
111 . The method of claim 110 , wherein the end effector is advanced to into the nasal cavity under image guidance.
112 . The method of claim 110 , wherein the end effector is coupled to a flexible shaft.
113 . The method of claim 112 , wherein the device further comprises a handle operably coupled to the end effector by the flexible shaft.
114 . The method of claim 113 , wherein the handle controls transformation of the end effector for a retracted state to a deployed state.
115 . The method of claim 114 , wherein the end effector comprises a plurality of energy delivery elements.
116 . The method of claim 115 , wherein each of the plurality of energy delivery elements is provided on separate, respective portions of the end effector.
117 . The method of claim 116 , wherein, when in the deployed state, the end effector positions one or more of the plurality of energy delivery elements relative to the neural branches.
118 . The method of claim 115 , wherein the end effector comprises a plurality of deformable wires and the plurality of energy delivery elements are operably associated with the plurality of deformable wires.
119 . The method of claim 118 , wherein the deformable wires comprise shape memory material.
120 . The method of claim 110 , wherein the device is operably associated with a controller configured to control energy output from the end effector, wherein the controller is configured selectively control energy output from one or more of the energy delivery elements of the end effector, wherein some of the plurality of energy delivery elements are configured to be independently activated and controlled to thereby deliver energy independent of one another.
121 . The method of claim 120 , wherein the controller further comprises one or more algorithms to process incoming data from the end effector and provide feedback to an operator.
122 . The method of claim 104 , wherein the neural branches associated with the parasympathetic nerve supply comprise postganglionic parasympathetic nerves innervating nasal mucosa at foramina and microforamina of a palatine bone of the patient.
123 . The method of claim 104 , wherein the at least one of rhinitis, congestion, and rhinorrhea is selected from the group consisting of allergic rhinitis, non-allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinitis, acute rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, acute sinusitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, acute rhinosinusitis, and medical resistant rhinitis.