Method for treating patulous eustachian tube

Abstract

A method of treating a patulous Eustachian tube includes forming a first pocket in a wall of a nasopharynx region proximate to a pharyngeal ostium, inserting a resiliently biased implant within the first pocket, and allowing the resiliently biased implant to expand within the first pocket to thereby urge the Eustachian tube towards a closed state. The wire implant may include a resilient stent or other resilient wire structure. In some versions, a deployment device having a balloon is used to deploy a malleable implant. This deployment device has a malleable implant disposed around the balloon, which is disposed around a guide catheter. The balloon is inflated and expands the malleable implant. The malleable implant retains the expanded shape and urges the Eustachian tube toward a closed state.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of treating a patulous Eustachian tube, the method comprising:
 (a) inserting a first implant within a first pocket of tissue in a region of tissue near the patulous Eustachian tube; and   (b) expanding the first implant within the first pocket to thereby urge the Eustachian tube toward a closed state.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising forming the first pocket in the tissue. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising inserting a cutting device through a nostril and through a nasal cavity to position the cutting device proximate to a pharyngeal ostium, the act of forming the first pocket being performed using the cutting device. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising inserting a cutting device through a patient's mouth through a throat to position the cutting device proximate to a pharyngeal ostium, the act of forming the first pocket being performed using the cutting device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , the act of forming the first pocket comprising making an incision into the tissue located in a wall of a nasopharynx region proximate to a pharyngeal ostium. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising enlarging the formed first pocket. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , the region of tissue near the patulous Eustachian tube including a wall of a nasopharynx. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , the region of tissue being proximate to a pharyngeal ostium. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , the first implant being resiliently biased to expand, the act of expanding the first implant within the first pocket comprising allowing the first implant to resiliently expand. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , the first implant comprising a wire structure. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , the first implant comprising a stent. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 (a) inserting an endoscope through a nostril; and   (b) providing visual guidance of a nasopharynx region with the endoscope.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 (a) inserting an endoscope through a patient's mouth; and   (b) providing visual guidance of a nasopharynx region with the endoscope.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 (a) inserting into the first pocket a deployment device with a balloon disposed around a guide catheter, the first implant being disposed around the balloon;   (b) inflating the balloon to thereby expand the first implant;   (c) deflating the balloon; and   (d) removing the balloon from the first pocket.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 (a) inserting a second implant within a second pocket of tissue in the region of tissue near the patulous Eustachian tube; and   (b) allowing the second implant to expand within the second pocket.   
     
     
         36 . A method of treating a patulous Eustachian tube, the method comprising:
 (a) inserting a first wire structure within a first pocket of tissue in a region of tissue near the patulous Eustachian tube; and   (b) expanding the first wire structure within the first pocket to thereby urge the Eustachian tube toward a closed state.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 (a) inserting a second wire structure within a second pocket of tissue in the region of tissue near the patulous Eustachian tube; and   (b) expanding the second wire structure within the second pocket to thereby urge the Eustachian tube towards the closed state.   
     
     
         38 . A method of treating a patulous Eustachian tube, the method comprising:
 (a) inserting a first stent within a first pocket of tissue in a region of tissue near the patulous Eustachian tube; and   (b) expanding the first stent within the first pocket to thereby urge the Eustachian tube toward a closed state.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 (a) inserting a second stent within a second pocket of tissue in the region of tissue near the patulous Eustachian tube; and   (b) expanding the second stent within the second pocket to thereby urge the Eustachian tube towards the closed state.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising forming the first and second pockets in the tissue.