Patent ID: 11963896
Assignee: nan
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 5:
6. A method of maintaining an open nasal ostium in a mammal using a polymeric nasal implant comprising:
a) an aqueous swellable polymeric cylinder having an aqueous-removable protective cover,
b) the swellable polymeric cylinder comprising a polymeric cylinder of an aqueous swellable and biodegradable polymer having a length, an outer surface with a first diameter, and a cross-section;
c) the aqueous-removable protective cylinder being in contact with and positioned over the outer surface of the polymeric cylinder;
d) the aqueous-removable protective cover maintaining the dimensions of the cylindrical polymeric cylinder against forces of expansion until the aqueous-removeable protective cover loses its mechanical strength subsequent to hydration, the aqueous-removable protective cover being disruptable by at least one property selected from the group consisting of aqueous solubility, aqueous dispersibility, and aqueous degradeability; the method comprising:
e) supporting the polymeric nasal implant on a guide shaft having a distal end, a lumen, and a bent tip that is bent between 70 and 115 degrees;
f) manually supporting the guide shaft;
g) manually inserting the polymeric nasal implant into the mammalian nasal ostium using the guide shaft;
h) hydrating the aqueous-removable protective cover in contact with and positioned over the outer surface of the polymeric cylinder to disrupt the aqueous-removable protective cover and allow the polymeric cylinder to expand;
i) hydrating the polymeric cylinder implant to swell the cylindrical polymeric core; and
j) removing the guide shaft without removing the polymeric cylinder, the first diameter expanding by at least 15% when water is absorbed in the polymeric cylinder as compared to the first diameter of the polymeric cylinder in a dry state.