Patent ID: 9072626
Filing Date: 2015-07-07
Classification: A61F,H01S

Abstract:
1. A method for providing a gas pathway in the middle ear region of a patient, the method comprising: (a) advancing a guide catheter into the Eustachian tube (ET) of the patient via the patient's nasopharynx; (b) introducing an interventional device through the guide catheter into the ET of the patient to relieve obstruction or blockage in the ET; (c) removing the interventional device from the ET; (d) introducing an endoluminal ET ventilating implant into the ET of the patient through the guide catheter; (e) advancing the implant into the ET adjacent the cartilage and tensor villi palatine or the levator villi palatine muscles, wherein the implant is dimensioned for insertion into the ET adjacent the nasopharynx; (f) tethering the implant to tissue; and (g) removing the guide catheter from the ET, leaving the implant tethered in the tissue; thereby providing a gas pathway between the ET lumen and the nasopharynx using the implant, the implant being dimensioned and configured to modulate an opening in a gas pathway in communication with the ET lumen and the nasopharynx.