Transnasal method and catheter for lacrimal system

Abstract

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 patient'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.

1 . A device for dilating an opening between a patient's lacrimal sac and nasal cavity to treat the: lacrimal system, comprising: 
 a tubular body, said tubular body having a proximal end, a proximal segment, a distal end, a distal segment, said distal segment having a fixed angle relative to said proximal segment, and said tubular body having sufficient compressive strength to resist buckling and sufficient lateral stiffness to retain said angle when correctly utilized during treatment;    a luer, said luer fixedly attached to said proximal end;    an inflatable member, said inflatable member being proximate to said distal segment, said inflatable member, when inflated, having a center region sufficiently dimensioned to dilate said opening.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said body further has a rounded bend between said proximal segment and said distal segment.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein inflatable member comprises a working segment located entirely distal to said bend.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said tubular body is a stainless steel hypotube having a wall thickness of at least 0.035″.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said tubular body is a stainless steel hypotube having an outer diameter of 0.083″ and an inner diameter of 0.039″ with a wall thickness of 0.044″.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said angle is from 70° to 115°.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said luer has a means for improving a user's manipulating of said device during treatment.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said inflatable member has a length of 4 millimeters to 30 millimeters.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said inflatable member has an inflated diameter of 2 millimeters to 14 millimeters.