Apparatus, System, and Method for Treating Atypical Headaches

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for facilitating intranasal administration of a medication to a patient's sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess. The apparatus includes a catheter having a lumen disposed therethrough, the catheter comprising an insertion end and a manipulation end, the insertion end having an intrinsic curvature with respect to a longitudinal axis of the catheter such that the insertion end of the catheter lies in a first plane and the manipulation end lies in a second plane, wherein the catheter smoothly transitions between the first plane and the second plane, the intrinsic curvature conforming to a patients nasal anatomy such that the catheter may be inserted into a sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess. The apparatus also includes a straightening member configured to removably engage the catheter. The straightening member straightens the intrinsic curvature such that the first plane and the second plane are aligned when the catheter is engaged by the straightening member.

1 . An apparatus facilitating intranasal administration of a medication to a patients sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess, the apparatus comprising:
 a catheter having a lumen disposed therethrough, the catheter comprising an insertion end and a manipulation end, the insertion end having an intrinsic curvature with respect to a longitudinal axis of the catheter such that the insertion end of the catheter lies in a first plane and the manipulation end lies in a second plane, wherein the catheter smoothly transitions between the first plane and the second plane, the intrinsic curvature conforming to a patients nasal anatomy such that the catheter may be inserted into a sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess;   a straightening member configured to removably engage the catheter, wherein the straightening member straightens the intrinsic curvature of the insertion end such that the first plane and the second plane are aligned when the catheter is engaged by the straightening member;   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter further comprising a second lumen, wherein the straightening member comprises a stylus configured to be received within the second lumen. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the stylus is keyed to fit within the second lumen in one predefined orientation, the stylus identifying a direction of the intrinsic curvature when the stylus is disposed within the second lumen. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a spray orifice and a medication delivery port, the spray orifice disposed adjacent to the insertion end of the catheter, the spray orifice in fluid communication with the lumen, the medication delivery port configured to receive a medication and deliver the medication through the lumen to the spray orifice. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the straightening member comprises a sleeve configured to receive the catheter, wherein the sleeve straightens the intrinsic curvature of the catheter when the catheter is received within the sleeve. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotational direction indicator disposed on the catheter, the rotational direction indicator identifying a direction of the intrinsic curvature. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a depth indicator disposed on the catheter, the depth indicator identifying a defined depth. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the defined depth comprises a depth equaling a distance between an entrance to a patient's sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess and an external entrance to the patient's nostril. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a second depth indicator disposed on the catheter, the second depth indicator identifying a second defined depth, the second defined depth comprising a depth equaling a distance between a location at a posterior position within a patient's sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess and an external entrance to the patient's nostril. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the depth indicator is moveable on the catheter such that a physician can adjust a position of the depth indicator according to a patient's nasal anatomy. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the depth indicator identifies the typical distance between a patient's external opening of a nostril and the patient's sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess according to a criteria selected from a patient's gender and age. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus facilitating intranasal administration of a medication to a patients sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess, the apparatus comprising:
 a catheter having a first lumen and a second lumen, the catheter comprising an insertion end and a manipulation end, the insertion end having an intrinsic curvature with respect to a longitudinal axis of the catheter such that the insertion end of the catheter lies in a first plane and the manipulation end lies in a second plane, wherein the catheter smoothly transitions between the first plane and the second plane, the intrinsic curvature conforming to a patients nasal anatomy such that the catheter may be inserted into a sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess;   a stylus configured to be removably received within one of the first lumen and the second lumen, wherein the stylus straightens the intrinsic curvature of the insertion end such that the first plane and the second plane are aligned when the stylus is received within one of the first lumen and the second lumen;   a spray orifice disposed adjacent to the insertion end of the catheter, the spray orifice in fluid communication with at least one of the first lumen and the second lumen; and   a medication delivery port disposed adjacent to the manipulation end of the catheter, the medication delivery port configured to receive a medication and deliver a medication through at least one of the first lumen and the second lumen to the spray orifice.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the stylus is keyed to fit within at least one of the first lumen and the second lumen in one predefined orientation, the stylus identifying a direction of the intrinsic curvature when the stylus is disposed within one of the first lumen and the second lumen. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a rotational direction indicator disposed on the catheter, the rotational direction indicator identifying a direction of the intrinsic curvature. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a depth indicator disposed on the catheter, the depth indicator identifying a defined depth, wherein the defined depth comprises a depth equaling a distance between an entrance to a patient's sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess and an external entrance to the patient's nostril. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a second depth indicator disposed on the catheter, the second depth indicator identifying a second defined depth, the second defined depth comprising a depth equaling a distance between a location at a posterior position within a patient's sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess and an external entrance to the patient's nostril. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the depth indicator is moveable on the catheter such that a physician can adjust a position of the depth indicator according to a patient's nasal anatomy. 
   
   
       18 . A method for treating migraines, the method comprising:
 inserting a catheter and a straightening member into a nostril of a patient, the catheter comprising an insertion end and a manipulation end, the insertion end having an intrinsic curvature with respect to a longitudinal axis of the catheter such that the insertion end of the catheter lies in a first plane and the manipulation end lies in a second plane, wherein the catheter smoothly transitions between the first plane and the second plane, the intrinsic curvature conforming to a patients nasal anatomy such that the catheter may be inserted into a sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess, the straightening member removably engaging the catheter, wherein the straightening member straightens the intrinsic curvature of the insertion end such that the first plane and the second plane are aligned when the catheter is engaged by the straightening member;   advancing the catheter and the straightening member past a middle sinus turbinate in the nostril of the patient;   removing the straightening member from the catheter such that the catheter bends in a direction towards a sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess of the patient;   advancing the catheter into the sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess; and   dispensing a medication to a sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine ganglia disposed within the sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess of the patient.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising identifying a direction of the intrinsic curvature and aligning the intrinsic curvature of the catheter with the patient's sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising identifying a defined depth of the catheter, the defined depth comprising a depth equaling a distance between an entrance to a patient's sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess and an external entrance to the patient's nostril.