| 摘要 |
A balloon catheter for treatment of a patient's lacrimal system is applied transnasally without the use of a guide wire or a curve retention member. The catheter is formed of a stainless steel hypotube and is of sufficient stiffness and column strength to enable the deflated catheter to be pushed from the patent's nasal cavity through a prepared small-tight opening, which is formed through the lateral nasal wall and lacrimal fossa, into the lacrimal sac. The catheter has a proximal shaft and a distal segment positioned by a bend at an angle of 70° to 115°, preferably 90°, to the proximal shaft. An inflatable member is mounted about the distal segment and is adhesively bonded to the distal end of the proximal shaft, the bend, and the proximal end of the distal segment and to the distal portion of the distal segment. The prepared, small-tight opening is formed by pushing small holes through the medial sac, lacrimal fossa, and lateral nasal wall with an instrument and coalescing the holes to form the prepared small-tight opening. The catheter is introduced into the nasal cavity and rotated, or moved, to align the distal segment with the prepared opening. The distal segment is then pushed through the prepared opening, and fluid under pressure is applied to the catheter to inflate the inflatable member and dilate the prepared opening.
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