Sinus ablation devices, methods, and systems

摘要

An embodiment of the invention concerns systems, devices, and methods for minimally invasive sinus mucosal restorative techniques. Such an embodiment may remove persistent mucosal disease while protecting bony structures of sinus cavities from damage. For example, guard members may keep ablation electrodes a set distance away from sinus bone. This may preserve healthy tissue over the bone to thereby facilitate healing while ablating the disease tissue.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
inserting a wand into a patient's sinus that has a diseased mucosal lining covering bone; expanding the wand inside the sinus by deploying first and second guard members, each of the first and second guard members being coupled to the wand; connecting outer portions of the first and second guard members respectively with first and second portions of the mucosal lining to directly compress the first and second portions of the mucosal lining against the bone so a third portion of the mucosal lining, which is not directly compressed by any guard member, lays between the compressed first and second portions of the mucosal lining; and while compressing the first and second portions of the mucosal lining, simultaneously (a) ablating the third portion of the mucosal lining with an ablation electrode, coupled to the wand, and (b) maintaining the outer portions of the first and second guard members between an outer portion of the ablation electrode and the bone to preserve the bone.