IMPLANTABLE DEVICES AND METHODS FOR DELIVERING DRUGS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES TO TREAT SINUSITIS AND OTHER DISORDERS

摘要

The present application relates generally to medical systems and more particularly to substance delivering implants for treating a broad range of disorders including but not limited to sinusitis and other ear, nose and throat disorders. The system includes a guide catheter for insertion into the nose and a balloon catheter comprising a balloon. The balloon catheter is advanceable through the guide catheter to a location where the balloon is within the Eustachian tube and inflatable to enlarge the Eustachian tube. It is thereafter removable leaving the guide catheter in place. The system also includes a device for delivering a substance to a location within the body of a human or animal subject to diagnose or treat a disorder. The device includes a reservoir that may be loaded with the substance and a barrier located in relation to the reservoir such that substance that has been loaded into the reservoir will pass out of the reservoir and through the barrier at a known rate. A delivery catheter is advanceable through the guide catheter into the Eustachian tube and useable to deliver the implantable substance delivery device to the enlarged Eustachian tube.