Patent ID: 8114113
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method of treating a patient's nasal sinuses, comprising: providing a balloon catheter having: an oblong body having a proximal segment and a distal segment, an expandable balloon located on said distal segment, and, a first conduit having a first distal nozzle; carrying an endoscope in said first conduit; pushing said distal segment with said balloon deflated into a space associated with a nasal sinus of said patient; irrigating said space through said first conduit; and, inflating said balloon to dilate said space; wherein said space is the maxillary ostium of the patient's maxillary sinus, said distal segment with said balloon deflated being pushed through said maxillary ostium into said maxillary sinus, said maxillary ostium being dilated when said inflatable member is inflated to complete antrostomy of said maxillary ostium; wherein prior to said step of pushing said distal segment through said maxillary ostium, said method further comprises: medially retracting the patient's middle turbinate to gain access to the patient's middle meatus; and, exposing the patient's ethmoid infundibulum by removing part of the patient's uncinate process; wherein said endoscope has a minimum bend radius, and wherein said method further comprises bending said body to have a bend not greater than said minimum bend radius.