Device for maintaining patent paranasal sinus ostia

Abstract

There is disclosed a method for maintaining a patent paranasal sinus ostium. In an embodiment, the method includes delivering a tubular element in an insertion state to the sinus ostium. The tubular element includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a center region between the proximal end and distal end. The method includes expanding the tubular element from the insertion state to a deployment state when located in the sinus ostium. In the deployment state, the center region confronts the sinus ostium with an outward radial force.

1 . A device for maintaining a patent paranasal sinus ostium comprising a tubular element including a first end, a second end, and a center region between the proximal end and distal end, the tubular element having an insertion state and a deployment state, the tubular element configured in a liquid state at an above-body temperature to locate in a sinus ostium when in the insertion state and the tubular element configured to expand from the insertion state to the deployment state, and the tubular element configured to cool into a solid state having integrity at a body temperature of less than the above-body temperature when located in the sinus ostium, and the center region configured to confront the sinus ostium with an outward radial force. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein, in the deployment state, the center region has a radius that is less than a radius of at least one of the proximal end and the distal end. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein, in the deployment state, the tubular element has a substantially hourglass shape. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the center region is comprised of a first material and a remainder of the tubular element is comprised of a second material different than the first material. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of poly-ε-caprolactone, polyhydroxybutyrate, poly-4-hydroxybutyrate, polyglycolic acid, polyhdroxypropionate, polyhydroxyvalerate, polybutyrolactone, polyglycolic acid, hyaluronic acid in resin form, poly-4-hydroxybutyrate, crosslinked hyaluronic acid, porcine collagen in resin form, methylmethacrylate, cyanoacrylate, polybutylmethacrylate, poly(L-lactide) and poly(D-lactide), polybutylmethacrylate, and polyethylene covinyl acetate. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular element comprises a material that is at least partially meltable to expand the tubular element from the insertion state to the deployment state. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the tubular element comprises a material having a melting point of less than 100° C. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular element is configured to elute a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular element comprises a material that dissolves within about one year. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a wall thickness of the tubular element is smaller in the deployment state than in the insertion state. 
     
     
         11 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular element has an initial wall thickness of at least 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         28 . A device for maintaining a patent paranasal sinus ostium comprising a tubular element having a deployment state in a sinus ostium and a sinus cavity, the tubular element having an outer wall of a center region with an expanded structure adapted to conform to the sinus ostium and the sinus cavity, the expanded structure configured to have a length greater than a depth of the sinus ostium, the expanded structure adapted to have a width greater than the cross-sectional opening of the sinus ostium, the expanded structure configured to confront the sinus ostium with an outward radial force with the center region of the outer wall, and the expanded structure configured to conform to a shape of the sinus ostium and the sinus cavity.