System and method to map structures of nasal cavity

Abstract

An apparatus includes a handle assembly, a guide tube, and a wire. The handle assembly includes a body and an actuator. The guide tube extends distally from the handle assembly and includes a distal end. The wire is slidably disposed in the guide tube. The wire has a distal end including a sensor. The sensor is configured to cooperate with a navigation system to generate a map of anatomical structures within a patient. The wire is coupled with the actuator. The actuator is movable relative to the body to move the wire relative to the guide tube.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus comprising:
 (a) a handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly comprises:
 (i) a body, and 
 (ii) an actuator; 
   (b) a guide tube assembly extending distally from the handle assembly, wherein the guide tube assembly comprises a rigid member and a malleable member; and   (c) a wire slidably disposed in the guide tube assembly, wherein the wire has a distal end including at least one sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to cooperate with a navigation system to provide image guided navigation of anatomical structures within a patient, wherein the wire is coupled with the actuator, wherein the actuator is movable relative to the body to move the wire relative to the guide tube assembly.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a position sensor. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the position sensor includes a coil, wherein the coil is responsive to movement of the distal end of the wire in an electromagnetic field. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one sensor includes an ultrasound sensor. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one sensor includes both a position sensor and an ultrasound sensor. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the distal end of the wire has a ball tip, wherein the at least one sensor is integrated into the ball tip. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the malleable member comprises an inner tube, wherein the rigid member comprises an outer sheath. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the inner tube defines a plurality of lumens, wherein a first lumen of the plurality of lumens is configured to guide the wire along a length of the guide tube assembly as the wire translates within and relative to the inner tube. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the body comprises a luer port in fluid communication with a suction source and a second lumen of the plurality of lumens, wherein the second lumen is configured to provide suction to the distal end of the inner tube. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the body further includes a suction port that is in fluid communication with the second lumen, wherein the suction port is located at a position that enables an operator to selectively cover and uncover the suction port while simultaneously operating the actuator with the same hand that is used to selectively cover and uncover the suction port. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the rigid member includes a preformed rigid bend. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the actuator is configured to drive the wire between a proximal position relative to the guide tube assembly and a distal position relative to the guide tube assembly, wherein the distal end of the wire is flush with a distal end of the guide tube assembly when the wire is in the proximal position, wherein the distal end of the wire is distal to the distal end of the guide tube assembly when the wire is in the distal position. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the actuator comprises a rotatable member operable to rotate the wire within the guide tube assembly. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the handle assembly includes a plurality of position indicators, wherein the position indicators comprise a first indicator and a second indicator, wherein the first indicator is associated with the proximal position, wherein the second indicator is associated with the distal position. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the first and second indicators comprise at least one of visual indicators or tactile feedback features. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus comprising:
 (a) a handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly comprises:
 (i) a body, and 
 (ii) an actuator; 
   (b) a guide tube assembly extending distally from the handle assembly, wherein the guide tube assembly comprises a rigid member and a malleable member wherein the malleable member extends distally from the rigid member, wherein the malleable member defines at least first and second lumens; and   (c) a wire slidably disposed in the first lumen of the malleable member, wherein the wire has a distal end that includes a position sensor, wherein the position sensor is configured to cooperate with a navigation system to provide image guided navigation of anatomical structures within a patient, wherein the wire is coupled with the actuator, wherein the actuator is movable relative to the body to move the wire relative to the guide tube assembly to a position that is distally past a distal end of the malleable member.   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the handle assembly provides a plurality of position indicators, wherein the position indicators comprise a first position indicator and a second position indicator, wherein the first position indicator is associated with a proximal position, wherein the second position indicator is associated with a distal position. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the plurality of position indicators further comprises a third position indicator, wherein the third position indicator is associated with the actuator and the wire being located in an intermediate position, wherein the intermediate position is positioned between the distal position and the proximal position. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the body includes a suction port that is in fluid communication with the second lumen of the malleable member, wherein the suction port is located at a position that enables an operator to selectively cover and uncover the suction port while simultaneously operating the actuator with the same hand that is used to selectively cover and uncover the suction port. 
     
     
         40 . A method of using an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises:
 (a) a handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly comprises:
 (i) a body, and 
 (ii) an actuator; and 
   (b) a guide tube extending distally from the handle assembly, wherein the guide tube has a distal end; and a wire slidably disposed in the guide tube, wherein the wire has a distal end including a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to cooperate with a navigation system to generate a map of anatomical structures within a patient, wherein the wire is coupled with the actuator, wherein the actuator is movable relative to the body to move the wire relative to the guide tube,   the method comprising:   (a) inserting a distal end of the guide tube through a nostril of a patient;   (b) actuating the actuator to drive the wire relative to the guide tube such that the distal end of the wire is located distal to the distal end of the guide tube; and   (c) using the distal end of the wire in conjunction with a navigation system to map anatomical structures within a nasal cavity of the patient.