US 11,850,120 B2
Eustachian tube dilation balloon with ventilation path
Peter F. Campbell, San Jose, CA (US); Daniel T. Harfe, Los Altos, CA (US); Hung V. Ha, San Jose, CA (US); Ketan P. Muni, San Jose, CA (US); Andy Nguyen, San Jose, CA (US); Sivette Lam, Milpitas, CA (US); John Y. Chang, Los Altos, CA (US); and Eric Goldfarb, Belmont, CA (US)
Assigned to Acclarent, Inc., Irvine, CA (US)
Filed by Acclarent, Inc., Irvine, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/704,077.
Application 17/704,077 is a continuation of application No. 16/207,373, filed on Dec. 3, 2018, granted, now 11,311,419.
Application 16/207,373 is a continuation of application No. 14/674,639, filed on Mar. 31, 2015, granted, now 10,206,821, issued on Feb. 19, 2019.
Application 14/674,639 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/777,856, filed on May 11, 2010, abandoned.
Application 12/777,856 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/649,078, filed on Dec. 29, 2009, abandoned.
Application 12/649,078 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/340,226, filed on Dec. 19, 2008, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/015,647, filed on Dec. 20, 2007.
Prior Publication US 2022/0211546 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. A61F 11/20 (2022.01); A61M 25/09 (2006.01); A61B 1/07 (2006.01); A61B 1/233 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/12 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/227 (2006.01); A61B 8/12 (2006.01); A61N 7/02 (2006.01); A61B 5/03 (2006.01); A61M 25/00 (2006.01); A61M 25/10 (2013.01); A61M 29/02 (2006.01); A61M 31/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/20 (2006.01); A61M 25/01 (2006.01); A61N 1/30 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 11/202 (2022.01) [A61B 1/07 (2013.01); A61B 1/227 (2013.01); A61B 1/233 (2013.01); A61B 5/036 (2013.01); A61B 5/411 (2013.01); A61B 5/415 (2013.01); A61B 5/6852 (2013.01); A61B 8/12 (2013.01); A61B 17/00234 (2013.01); A61B 17/12104 (2013.01); A61B 17/12131 (2013.01); A61M 25/0041 (2013.01); A61M 25/0068 (2013.01); A61M 25/09 (2013.01); A61M 25/10 (2013.01); A61M 29/02 (2013.01); A61M 31/00 (2013.01); A61M 31/002 (2013.01); A61N 7/02 (2013.01); A61B 18/20 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00296 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00787 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00327 (2013.01); A61B 2018/144 (2013.01); A61F 11/20 (2022.01); A61F 2250/0067 (2013.01); A61M 25/007 (2013.01); A61M 25/0032 (2013.01); A61M 25/0054 (2013.01); A61M 25/01 (2013.01); A61M 25/0102 (2013.01); A61M 25/0105 (2013.01); A61M 25/0147 (2013.01); A61M 2025/0008 (2013.01); A61M 2025/0166 (2013.01); A61M 2025/09008 (2013.01); A61M 2025/09183 (2013.01); A61M 2025/105 (2013.01); A61M 2025/1075 (2013.01); A61M 2210/0681 (2013.01); A61N 1/30 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating an apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a handle comprising a body;
(b) a first fluid coupling; and
(c) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body and defining a central longitudinal axis, the shaft assembly including:
(i) a shaft having a rounded, atraumatic distal tip and a bent region proximal to the rounded, atraumatic distal tip such that the rounded, atraumatic distal tip is offset from the central longitudinal axis, the shaft being malleable such that the shaft is configured to maintain a bend of the bent region as the shaft is inserted into a nasal cavity, the bent region having a bend angle being configured to promote entry of the rounded, atraumatic distal tip into a Eustachian tube, the rounded, atraumatic distal tip being configured to enter a Eustachian tube, and
(ii) a balloon, the balloon being positioned at a distal region of the shaft and proximal to the rounded, atraumatic distal tip, a proximal portion of the shaft being positioned proximally in relation to the balloon, the balloon being in fluid communication with the first fluid coupling such that the balloon is configured to inflate in response to fluid communicated via the first fluid coupling, the balloon being further configured to dilate the Eustachian tube when the balloon is inflated;
the method comprising:
(a) inserting the rounded, atraumatic distal tip into the Eustachian tube, the shaft maintaining the bend of the bent region as the rounded, atraumatic distal tip is inserted into the Eustachian tube, the bent region having a bend angle being configured to promote entry of the rounded, atraumatic distal tip into the Eustachian tube;
(b) positioning the balloon in the Eustachian tube;
(c) inflating the balloon in the Eustachian tube to thereby dilate the Eustachian tube;
(d) deflating the balloon after inflating the balloon in the Eustachian tube; and
(e) removing the balloon from the Eustachian tube.