Methods and devices for treatment of migraines

Abstract

Methods for treating a migraine by cooling a patient's nasopharyngeal cavity are described. In one method, a cooling assembly is inserted into a nasal cavity through a patient's nostril. The cooling assembly includes a flexible balloon defining a chamber and a first elongate tubular member having a lumen in fluid communication with the chamber. A liquid having a temperature between about −20° C. and about 37° C. is infused through the lumen of the first elongate tubular member into the chamber, wherein the flexible balloon expands to place it in contact with the nasal cavity. In another method, an elongate member having a plurality of ports is inserted into the nasal cavity. A perfluorocarbon spray and a gas are then delivered onto a surface of the nasal cavity through the plurality of ports.

1 .- 32 . (canceled)  
     
     
         33 . A method for treating a migraine, comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a patient suffering from a migraine; and    cooling the patient's nasopharyngeal cavity to treat the migraine.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising the step of delivering a drug to the patient.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the drug is delivered onto a surface of the patient's nasal cavity.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the drug is sumatriptan.  
     
     
         37 .- 51 . (canceled)