Patent ID: 7947076

Claim:
A method of treating a nasal valve condition of a patient's nose, the method comprising: a) providing a tool defining a longitudinal axis that extends from a distal tip to a proximal end, the tool having a flat cutting blade, the flat cutting blade defining a hole, the hole extending through the flat cutting blade in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tool; b) making an entry incision in only the bottom edge of the patient's alar rim; c) forming a pocket that spans a junction between upper and lower cartilages on the side of the patient's nose by advancing the tool through the entry incision in a direction toward the cartilages and between the outer skin tissue and the inner mucosal tissue of the nose; and d) implanting an implant in the pocket including positioning the implant such that a length of the implant spans the junction between the upper and lower cartilages and such that the implant resides completely on the side of the nose without extending over the bridge of the nose; e) wherein the tool carries the implant during formation of the pocket, and wherein the implant is deployed through the hole defined by the flat cutting blade during implantation.