Patent ID: 8317816

Claim:
A device for dilating a surgically prepared small, tight opening in a paranasal sinus, an obstructed or narrowed bony duct, opening or ostium between the paranasal sinus and nasal cavity, said device comprising: a tubular body having a proximal end, a proximal segment, a distal end, and a distal segment; an inflatable member proximate to said distal segment; said inflatable member being capable of dilating a surgically prepared small, tight opening in a paranasal sinus, an obstructed or narrowed bony duct, opening or ostium between the paranasal sinus and nasal cavity; wherein said distal segment is at a preset angle of less than 180 degrees to said proximal segment; wherein said tubular body is dimensioned and has sufficient stiffness and column strength to enable said inflatable member, when said inflatable member is deflated, to be inserted transnasally through a nasal cavity and pushed, without being supported and guided by a guide wire, snugly into a surgically prepared small, tight opening in a paranasal sinus, an obstructed or narrowed bony duct, opening or ostium between the paranasal sinus and nasal cavity.