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

Claim 0:
1. A method of maintaining an open nasal ostium in a mammal comprising:
inserting a polymeric medical implant comprising an aqueous swellable and biodegradable polymer into the nasal ostium in a mammal, wherein the medical implant comprises:
a) a cylindrical polymeric tube having a length, an outer surface with a first diameter in a dry state, and a cross-section;
b) an aqueous-removable protective cover over the cylindrical polymeric tube comprising an aqueous soluble, aqueous dispersible, or aqueous degradable organic material;
c) the aqueous-removable protective cover being in contact with and positioned over the outer surface of the cylindrical polymeric tube such that when the protective cover loses its mechanical strength, the cylindrical polymeric tube expands;
d) the aqueous-removable protective cover maintaining the dimensions of the polymeric medical implant 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:
i) supporting the polymeric medical implant on a guide shaft having a distal end, a lumen and a bent tip;
ii) inserting the polymeric medical implant on the guide shaft into the mammalian nasal ostium, while the guide shaft has a bent tip;
iii) hydrating the aqueous-removable protective cover to disrupt the aqueous-removable protective cover and allow the cylindrical polymeric tube to expand and hydrating the cylindrical polymeric tube; and
iv) removing the guide shaft without removing the cylindrical polymeric tube, the first diameter of the cylindrical polymeric tube in a dry state expanding by at least 15% when water is absorbed therein as compared to the first diameter of the cylindrical polymeric tube in a dry state;
v) the swollen cylindrical polymeric tube remaining in the mammalian nasal ostium for at least one hour after insertion of the cylindrical polymeric tube into the mammalian nasal ostium and after being swollen and being kept moist; and vi) the cylindrical polymeric tube biodegrading within the mammalian nasal ostium.