Surgical guide and method for guiding a therapy delivery device into the pterygopalatine fossa

摘要

A surgical guide to facilitate delivery of a therapy delivery device into the pterygopalatine fossa of a subject includes a curvilinear body having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the distal and proximal end portions. The proximal end portion is defined by oppositely disposed first and second surfaces. The proximal end portion and the intermediate portion define a longitudinal plane that extends between the proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion has an arcuate configuration relative to the longitudinal plane and is defined by oppositely disposed third and fourth surfaces.

主权项

1. A method for delivering a therapy delivery device to a location on or proximate a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of a subject, said method comprising the steps of:
inserting a distal end portion of a surgical guide into a labial gingival-buccal insertion site, the surgical guide comprising a curvilinear body having the distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the distal and proximal end portions, the proximal end portion being defined by oppositely disposed first and second surfaces and the distal end portion being defined by oppositely disposed third and fourth surfaces, the proximal end portion and the intermediate portion defining a longitudinal plane extending between the proximal and distal end portions, the distal end portion having an arcuate configuration relative to the longitudinal plane, the body including a groove that extends between the proximal and distal end portions and is embedded in at least a portion of each of the first and third surfaces, wherein the curvilinear body comprises a bottom edge that extends between a proximal end and a distal end of the groove and is opposite a top edge of the groove, the groove having a first depth within the body at the proximal end of the groove and a second depth within the body at the distal end of the groove, the first depth being closer to the bottom edge of the body and being greater than the second depth;
advancing the surgical guide until a distal tip of the distal end portion is positioned about a pterygopalatine fossa (PPF);mating a therapy delivery device with the groove of the surgical guide; andadvancing the therapy delivery device along the groove to the location on or proximate the SPG.