Methods and devices to treat nasal airways

Abstract

Methods and devices for treating nasal airways are provided. Such devices and methods may improve airflow through an internal and/or external nasal valve, and comprise the use of mechanical re-shaping, energy application and other treatments to modify the shape, structure, and/or air flow characteristics of an internal nasal valve, an external nasal valve or other nasal airways.

1 . A device for treating nasal tissue from within a nasal cavity, the device comprising:
 a handle;   a shaft extending from the handle; and   an expandable treatment element at a distal end of the shaft, the expandable treatment element comprising:
 multiple shape memory material segments; and 
 multiple pairs of bipolar electrodes disposed on the multiple shape memory material segments; 
   wherein the expandable treatment element is configured to transmit radiofrequency energy from the multiple pairs of bipolar electrodes, such that the radiofrequency energy passes through the nasal tissue at a selected tissue depth, and   wherein the multiple shape memory material segments are configured to expand to a size and a shape for contacting at least some of the multiple pairs of bipolar electrodes with the nasal tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one heat sensor coupled with at least one of the multiple shape memory material segments. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one heat sensor is located between the multiple pairs of bipolar electrodes. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one heat sensor comprises at least one thermocouple. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one heat sensor comprises multiple heat sensors configured to measure a temperature at different locations along the expandable treatment element. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to provide the radiofrequency energy individually to any one or more of the multiple pairs of bipolar electrodes. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple shape memory material segments comprise at least one shape memory material selected from the group consisting of nickel-cobalt, nickel-titanium, shape memory polymers, biodegradable polymers, and other shape memory metals. 
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 the device according to any of the preceding  claim 1 ; and   a generator configured to communicate the radiofrequency energy to the multiple pairs of bipolar electrodes of the expandable treatment element, such that the radiofrequency energy passes through the nasal tissue at the selected tissue depth.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the generator is integrated into the handle. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the generator has a separate assembly from the device for treating the nasal tissue; and wherein the system further comprises a cable for connecting the generator to the device.