Turbinate compressors and methods of use

Abstract

Surgical forceps suited for use in the compression of turbinates in the human nasal system. The forceps are designs to prevent excessive tissue trauma as the turbinates are compressed. The compressed turbinates can provide additional maneuvering room within the nasal anatomy to perform subsequent surgical procedures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical forceps for use in the nasal anatomy of a human, the surgical forceps comprising:
 a proximal portion that includes a first handle portion and a second handle portion, the first handle portion and the second handle portion configured to be grasped by a hand of a practitioner;   a distal portion configured to pass through a human nostril and into a nasal passageway, wherein the distal portion includes a jaw portion having a first paddle and a second paddle;   
       wherein the first paddle and the second paddle are configured to actuate between a fully closed position and an open position when the practitioner moves the first handle portion relative to the second handle portion, and wherein the first paddle defines a first flat inner clamping face and the second paddle defines a second flat inner clamping face, and wherein a proximal portion of the first flat inner clamping face does not contact the second paddle when the first paddle and the second paddle are in the fully closed position. 
     
     
         2 . The surgical forceps of  claim 1 , wherein a distal portion of the first flat inner clamping face contacts the second paddle when the first paddle and the second paddle are in the fully closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical forceps of  claim 1 , wherein the first paddle has a length of between 10 and 27 millimeters and a width of between 2 and 10 millimeters. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical forceps of  claim 1 , wherein the first paddle includes a raised lip, wherein the raised lip extends from the first flat inner clamping face and extends about a periphery of the first flat inner clamping face. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical forceps of  claim 4 , wherein the raised lip has a height of between 0.005 and 0.025 inches and a width of between 0.01 and 0.03 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical forceps of  claim 4 , wherein the raised lip is orientated at a right angle relative to the first flat inner clamping face. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical forceps of  claim 4 , wherein the raised lip is orientated at an acute angle relative to the first flat inner clamping face. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical forceps of  claim 4 , wherein the raised lip is orientated at an obtuse angle relative to the first flat inner clamping face. 
     
     
         9 . A method of compressing a nasal turbinate, the method including:
 grasping a surgical forceps, wherein the surgical forceps include a first handle portion and a second handle portion that are both grasped by a hand of a practitioner;   directing a distal portion of the surgical forceps through a human nostril and into a nasal passageway, wherein the distal portion includes a jaw portion having a first paddle and a second paddle, and wherein the first paddle and the second paddle are configured to actuate between a fully closed position and an open position when the practitioner moves the first handle portion relative to the second handle portion, and wherein the first paddle defines a first flat inner clamping face and the second paddle defines a second flat inner clamping face;   positioning the jaw portion proximate the nasal turbinate, wherein the first flat inner clamping face is positioned one a first side of the nasal turbinate and the second flat inner clamping face is positioned on a second side of the nasal turbinate opposite the first side; and   compressing the nasal turbinate with the surgical forceps by pressing the first flat inner clamping face against the first side of the nasal turbinate while simultaneously pressing the second flat inner clamping face against the second side of the nasal turbinate.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the surgical forceps are configured so that a proximal portion of the first flat inner clamping face does not contact the second paddle when the first paddle and the second paddle are in the fully closed position 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the surgical forceps are configured so that a distal portion of the first flat inner clamping face contacts the second paddle when the first paddle and the second paddle are in the fully closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first paddle has a length of between 10 and 27 millimeters and a width of between 2 and 10 millimeters. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first paddle includes a raised lip, wherein the raised lip extends from the first flat inner clamping face and extends about a periphery of the first flat inner clamping face. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the raised lip has a height of between 0.005 and 0.025 inches and a width of between 0.01 and 0.03 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the raised lip is orientated at a right angle relative to the first flat inner clamping face. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the raised lip is orientated at an acute angle relative to the first flat inner clamping face. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the raised lip is orientated at an obtuse angle relative to the first flat inner clamping face. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein compressing the nasal turbinate does not include using the surgical forceps to remove tissue from the nasal turbinate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , further including performing a surgical procedure in the nasal anatomy after compressing the nasal turbinate. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the surgical procedure is a sinus dilation procedure.