Devices and method for maxillary sinus lavage

Abstract

A lavage catheter for the treatment of a maxillary sinus is described. The catheter comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion comprises an irrigation tip. The irrigation tip has a tip opening through which fluid may be delivered by one handed operation of the catheter. A method for lavaging the maxillary sinus includes inserting the lavage catheter into a patient's anatomy and advancing the irrigation tip into the maxillary sinus using one hand.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A catheter comprising:
 (a) a shaft assembly comprising:
 (i) an elongate shaft including a distal end, the distal end of the elongate shaft having a bend angle configured to promote access to a passageway associated with drainage of a paranasal sinus, and 
 (ii) a flexible irrigation tube coaxially disposed within the elongate shaft, the flexible irrigation tube having an atraumatic distal tip configured to deliver at least one fluid to the paranasal sinus, the flexible irrigation tube being configured to translate relative to the elongate shaft from a retracted position to an extended position while the distal end of the elongate shaft is adjacent to the passageway; and 
   (b) a handle assembly extending proximally from the shaft assembly, the handle assembly comprising:
 (i) a proximal end, 
 (ii) a distal end, and 
 (iii) an actuator disposed between the proximal and distal ends of the handle assembly, the actuator being configured to translate from a proximal position to a distal position to actuate translation of the flexible irrigation tube of the shaft assembly from the retracted position toward the extended position while the distal end of the elongate shaft is adjacent to the passageway associated with drainage of the paranasal sinus for advancing the atraumatic distal tip of the flexible irrigation tube through the passageway and into the paranasal sinus. 
   
     
     
         24 . The catheter of  claim 23 , the bend angle being between about 90 degrees and about 140 degrees. 
     
     
         25 . The catheter of  claim 24 , the bend angle being between about 100 degrees and about 130 degrees. 
     
     
         26 . The catheter of  claim 25 , the bend angle being about 110 degrees. 
     
     
         27 . The catheter of  claim 23 , the distal end being bendable such that the bend angle is variable. 
     
     
         28 . The catheter of  claim 23 , the atraumatic distal tip being configured to suction the at least one fluid out of the paranasal sinus. 
     
     
         29 . The catheter of  claim 23 , the atraumatic distal tip comprising one or more radially facing openings. 
     
     
         30 . The catheter of  claim 29 , the one or more radially facing openings being configured to spray the irrigation fluid in a plurality of directions to clean the paranasal sinus. 
     
     
         31 . The catheter of  claim 23 , the atraumatic distal tip comprising a distal tip opening. 
     
     
         32 . The catheter of  claim 23 , the actuator being disposed entirely between the proximal and distal ends of the handle assembly. 
     
     
         33 . The catheter of  claim 23 , the actuator being configured to be moved with a finger or thumb of a hand while the handle assembly remains grasped by the hand. 
     
     
         34 . The catheter of  claim 23 , the actuator being configured to remain positioned between the proximal end of the handle assembly and the distal end of the handle assembly when the actuator is in the proximal position, the actuator being further configured to remain positioned between the proximal end of the handle assembly and the distal end of the handle assembly when the actuator is in the distal position. 
     
     
         35 . The catheter of  claim 23 , the handle assembly including an exterior surface, the actuator being configured to slide along the exterior surface of the handle assembly from the proximal position to the distal position to actuate translation of the flexible irrigation tube of the shaft assembly from the retracted position toward the extended position. 
     
     
         36 . A catheter comprising:
 (a) a shaft assembly comprising:
 (i) an elongate shaft configured to access a passageway associated with drainage of a paranasal sinus, 
 (ii) a flexible irrigation tube coaxially disposed within the elongate shaft, the flexible irrigation tube being configured to translate relative to the elongate shaft from a retracted position to an extended position while a distal end of the elongate shaft is adjacent to the passageway, and 
 (iii) an atraumatic distal tip configured to deliver at least one fluid to the paranasal sinus; and 
   (b) a handle assembly extending proximally from the elongate shaft assembly, the handle assembly comprising:
 a body comprising:
 (A) a proximal end, and 
 (B) a distal end, and 
 
 (ii) an actuator disposed between the proximal and distal ends of the body, the actuator being configured to translate from a proximal position to a distal position to actuate translation of the flexible irrigation tube of the shaft assembly from the retracted position toward the extended position while the distal end of the elongate shaft is adjacent to the passageway associated with drainage of the paranasal sinus for advancing the atraumatic distal tip of the shaft assembly through the passageway and into the paranasal sinus. 
   
     
     
         37 . The catheter of  claim 36 , the elongate shaft being bendable. 
     
     
         38 . The catheter of  claim 36 , the atraumatic distal tip comprising one or more radially facing openings. 
     
     
         39 . The catheter of  claim 36 , the atraumatic distal tip comprising a distal tip opening. 
     
     
         40 . A method for lavaging a paranasal sinus of a patient with a catheter having (i) a shaft assembly and (ii) a handle assembly extending proximally from the shaft assembly, the method comprising:
 (a) positioning a distal end of an elongate shaft of the shaft assembly adjacent to a passageway associated with drainage of the paranasal sinus; and   (b) translating an actuator disposed between proximal and distal ends of the handle assembly from a proximal position to a distal position to actuate translation of a flexible irrigation tube of the shaft assembly relative to the elongate shaft from a retracted position toward an extended position while the distal end of the elongate shaft is adjacent to the passageway, thereby advancing an atraumatic distal tip of the flexible irrigation tube through the passageway and into the paranasal sinus.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising at least one of:
 (a) delivering at least one fluid to the paranasal sinus via the atraumatic distal tip of the flexible irrigation tube; or   (b) suctioning at least one fluid out of the paranasal sinus via the atraumatic distal tip of the flexible irrigation tube.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising bending the elongate shaft from a first configuration to a second configuration prior to positioning the distal end adjacent to the passageway, the second configuration defining a bend angle selected to promote access to the passageway.