US 12,239,508 B2
Flexible patulous eustachian tube implant with integrated venting
Jetmir Palushi, Irvine, CA (US); Fatemeh Akbarian, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US); John H. Thinnes, Jr., Mission Viejo, CA (US); and Marc Dean, Fort Worth, TX (US)
Assigned to Acclarent, Inc., Irvine, CA (US)
Filed by Acclarent, Inc., Irvine, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/112,560.
Application 18/112,560 is a continuation of application No. 17/020,880, filed on Sep. 15, 2020, granted, now 11,607,341, issued on Mar. 21, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/902,489, filed on Sep. 19, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0190528 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. A61F 11/20 (2022.01); A61F 2/18 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 11/202 (2022.01) [A61F 2002/183 (2013.01); A61F 2210/0004 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0016 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0014 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0018 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0067 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An implant configured to bear radially outwardly against an Eustachian tube of a patient, the implant comprising:
a) a proximal end;
b) a distal end; and
c) an array of bodies extending from the proximal end toward the distal end, the array of bodies being configured to repeatedly transition between a compressed state and a naturally expanded state, the repeater transition of the array of bodies being configured to facilitate relief of pressure imbalance in the Eustachian tube, the array of bodies being dimensioned to bear radially outwardly against the Eustachian tube of the patient in the naturally expanded state, wherein the array of bodies, in the naturally expanded state, is configured to provide fluid communication between the proximal end of the implant and the distal end of the implant.