ETHMOIDAL NERVE TREATMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

1 . A method for treating a nasal airway to ameliorate one or more symptoms of rhinitis in a patient, the method comprising:

advancing a treatment tip of a treatment device into a nostril of the patient;

contacting nasal mucosa with the treatment tip at a first location overlying an anterior ethmoidal nerve;

delivering energy from the treatment tip, to change a property of the anterior ethmoidal nerve; and

removing the treatment tip from the nostril.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

moving the treatment tip to a second location overlying additional nerve tissue selected from the group consisting of the anterior ethmoidal nerve, a branch of the anterior ethmoidal nerve, and a posterior nasal nerve; and

delivering energy from the treatment tip at the second location.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

moving the treatment tip to a third location; and

delivering energy from the treatment tip at the third location, wherein the energy is delivered in a pulsed or sinusoidal modality.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the third location is selected from the group consisting of a turbinate, a swell body, and a nasal septum.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein changing the property of the anterior ethmoidal nerve comprises ablating the anterior ethmoidal nerve.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the energy comprises delivering an energy type selected from the group consisting of radiofrequency, DC current, microwave, heat, cryotherapy, ultrasound, and chemical energy.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising sensing at least one of temperature or impedance with a sensor of the treatment device.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising automatically shutting off delivery of energy from the treatment device if the temperature or the impedance exceeds a preset maximum.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising bending a shaft of the treatment device before advancing the treatment tip into the nostril.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising treating the nasal airway in conjunction with treatment of one or more of: asthma; chronic rhino sinusitis (CRS); chronic cough; sneezing; eustachian tube dysfunction; emphysema; and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

11 . A device for treating an anterior ethmoidal nerve to ameliorate one or more symptoms of rhinitis, the device comprising:

a handle;

a shaft extending from the handle; and

an energy delivery treatment tip extending from a distal end of the shaft.

12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the shaft is malleable and has a width of 4 millimeters to 5 millimeters.

13 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the energy delivery treatment tip comprises at least two radiofrequency electrodes, and wherein the device further comprises a power cord connected at one end to the handle and including a connector at an opposite end for connecting to an outlet of a radiofrequency console.

14 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the energy delivery treatment tip is configured to deliver energy selected from the group consisting of radiofrequency, DC current, heat, microwave, ultrasound, cryotherapy, and chemical energy.

15 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the energy delivery treatment tip comprises an expandable cryotherapy balloon.

16 . The device of claim 11 , wherein a length of the shaft is selected to extend from a first end that is attached to the handle, located just outside a nostril of a patient, to a second end, attached to the energy delivery treatment tip located at the anterior ethmoidal nerve in a nasal cavity of the patient.

17 . The device of claim 11 , wherein treatment of the anterior ethmoidal nerve is performed in conjunction with treatment of one or more of: asthma; chronic rhino sinusitis (CRS); chronic cough; sneezing; eustachian tube dysfunction; emphysema; and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

18 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the energy delivery treatment tip is configured to deliver energy in a pulsed or sinusoidal modality.