Patents Assigned to Acclarent, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10441758
    Abstract: Substance delivering spacer devices may comprise expandable reservoirs that are implantable in paranasal sinuses and other cavities, openings and passageways of the body to maintain patency and to provide sustained local delivery of a therapeutic or diagnostic substance. Delivery apparatus including elongate tubular members as well as shapeable distal portions and atraumatic tips are provided. Also provided are sinus penetrator devices and systems for performing ethmoidotomy procedures or for creating other openings in the walls of paranasal sinuses or other anatomical structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Ketan P. Muni, Hung V. Ha, Randy S. Chan, Nga K. Van
  • Patent number: 10383992
    Abstract: A medical device and method for the treatment of a sinus opening includes a handle, a guide catheter, a guide wire, a balloon catheter, a guide wire movement mechanism and a balloon catheter movement mechanism. The handle has proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis along the length of the handle. The guide catheter is attached to the distal end of the handle and has a catheter lumen. The guide wire and balloon catheter are both disposed at least partially in the handle and catheter lumen. The guide wire movement mechanism and the balloon catheter movement mechanism are both operatively disposed on the handle. In addition, the guide wire movement mechanism is configured for advancement and retraction of the guide wire through the handle and catheter lumen by user operation of the guide wire movement mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric A. Goldfarb, Richard R. Newhauser, Jr., Thomas R. Jenkins, John W. White, Mina W. B. Chow, Serena Swei Loh, Mei Y. Pader, Scott O. Chamness, Luke W. Clauson, Matthew B. Newell, Arthur M. Lin
  • Patent number: 10376416
    Abstract: Methods and devices for providing a gas pathway between the nasopharynx and the Eustachian tube are provided. One device may include a lumen with a valve. A portion of the valve may be tethered to adjacent muscle. Another portion of the valve may be tethered to adjacent cartilage. When the muscle contracts the valve may open through movement of the tethers, and provide a gas pathway between the nasopharynx and the Eustachian tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Anton G. Clifford, Joshua Makower, John Y. Chang, John H. Morriss, Earl A. Bright, II, Eric Goldfarb, Julia D. Vrany, Ketan P. Muni, William E. Bolger, Joseph Roberson
  • Patent number: 10362965
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle assembly, a guide tube, and a wire. The handle assembly includes a body and an actuator. The guide tube extends distally from the handle assembly and includes a distal end. The wire is slidably disposed in the guide tube. The wire has a distal end including a sensor. The sensor is configured to cooperate with a navigation system to generate a map of anatomical structures within a patient. The wire is coupled with the actuator. The actuator is movable relative to the body to move the wire relative to the guide tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy J. Kesten, Arthur M. Lin, Thomas R. Jenkins, Rohit Girotra, Sandra W. Ruggles, Meera L. Sankaran, Kathryn Olson
  • Patent number: 10350396
    Abstract: A device and method for dilating a Eustachian tube of a patient is disclosed. The device includes a guide catheter and a balloon dilation catheter. The balloon dilation catheter has an actuator that prevents injury to the middle ear. The balloon dilation catheter is slidably coupled with the guide catheter through the guide catheter lumen and is fully inserted into the guide catheter lumen when the distal side of the actuator is adjacent to the proximal end of the guide catheter. The method involves advancing the guide catheter and balloon dilation catheter through a nasal passage of the patient to dilate a portion of the Eustachian tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy S. Chan, Ketan P. Muni, Robert W. Flagler, Ali Eslambolchi
  • Patent number: 10335319
    Abstract: A method for cleaning an isthmus of a Eustachian tube (ET) of a patient includes using an instrument. The instrument includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a shaft extending therebetween, and a treatment feature disposed at the distal portion. The method includes directing the instrument into an oro-nasal cavity of the patient and advancing at least the distal portion of the instrument into an opening of the ET. The method further includes further advancing the instrument within the ET so that the treatment feature is disposed past, or is coincident with, the isthmus. The method further includes moving the treatment feature relative to the isthmus to clean the isthmus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wasicek, Sivette Lam, Ketan P. Muni
  • Publication number: 20190192232
    Abstract: Physicians performing invasive procedures require accuracy and precision when working with surgical tools. Surgical procedures are increasingly becoming minimally invasive, with physicians operating using cameras to view the surgery site and directing their tools through oculars or video displays. Ideally, the physician should be able to perform the invasive procedure while simultaneously observing both the real-time image of the patient and additional data critical for his medical decisions about the manipulation of the surgical tool and the next surgical step. The augmented reality navigation system of the present disclosure provides tool location visibility for invasive procedures through the use of location sensors included on a camera and/or on the tools used during a procedure. A location tracking system determines and monitors the locations of the tools and camera based on the characteristics of signals detected by the sensors and displays informational overlays on images obtained with a camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicants: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd., Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Andres Claudio Altmann, Assaf Govari, Vadim Gliner, Itzhak Fang, Noam Rachli, Yoav Pinsky, Itamar Bustan, Jetmir Palushi, Zvi Dekel
  • Publication number: 20190192045
    Abstract: Physicians performing invasive procedures utilize instruments inserted into a human body to perform the procedures. Such procedures typically involve actions to be performed on specific targeted anatomical structures. During the procedure, nearby anatomical structures unrelated to the procedure should generally be avoided. A system and techniques are provided herein for monitoring the position of such unrelated nearby anatomical structures relative to one or more surgical instruments. The system emits a warning to a human operator such as a surgeon if one of the instruments is too close to a monitored anatomical structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicants: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd., ACCLARENT, Inc.
    Inventors: Itzhak FANG, Noam RACHLI, Yoav PINSKY, Itamar BUSTAN, Jetmir PALUSHI, Zvi DEKEL
  • Patent number: 10300257
    Abstract: A dilation assembly includes a shaft and a dilator coupled with the distal end of the shaft. The dilator includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a center portion positioned between the proximal end and the distal end. The center portion dilates from a first configuration to a second configuration. The center portion has a larger diameter than the proximal end and the distal end when the center portion is in the second configuration. At least one gripping feature is positioned on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the center portion. The gripping feature provides friction between the center portion and a bodily lumen when the center portion is in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Show-Mean Wu, Tapan Mistry, Dexter D. Hernando, Siddhi K. Desai, Robert J. Tannhauser, Shrirang V. Ranade, Ketan P. Muni, Martin J. Madden, Andrew Chen
  • Patent number: 10271871
    Abstract: An apparatus for addressing tissue and bone in a nasal cavity includes a rotary or oscillatory cutting member disposed in the lumen of a shaft. The shaft may have a first window region oriented in first direction and a second window region oriented in a second direction. The cutting member may have a first cutting edge configured to be cyclically moved across at least a portion of the first window region and a second cutting edge configured to be cyclically moved across at least a portion of the second window region. A shield is selectively positionable to occlude the first and to occlude the second window region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Jetmir Palushi, Lauren Radtke
  • Patent number: 10271719
    Abstract: Devices and methods for locating sinus ostia and positioning a guide wire within the sinus ostia. The subject devices comprise a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, a curved region located between the distal and proximal ends, and an interior channel, an extensible and retractable guide wire movably mounted within the interior channel and a probe tip joined to the guide wire. Certain devices further include expandable portions for engaging and treating body anatomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Morriss, Joshua Makower, Carlos F. Fernandez, Eric Goldfarb, Thomas R. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 10244935
    Abstract: A dilation system includes a handle, guide member, balloon dilation member, balloon, dilation member movement actuator, and endoscope. The handle is configured to provide single-handed use to a user. The handle includes a first and second body member pivotably coupled together such that the first body member and the second body member are configured to pivot toward and away from one another. The handle includes a rotation mechanism configured to impart rotation upon the guide member. The handle further includes a locking feature configured to lock endoscope in position relative to the handle. The handle may further include a rotation limiting feature configured to limit rotation of the guide member and or the body members. The dilation member movement actuator is configured to translate to thereby cause translation of the balloon dilation member. One or more components of the dilation system may include a plurality of measure markings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Hung V. Ha, Ketan P. Muni, Darius D. Eghbal, James G. Lee, Gregory W. Johnson, Lawrence D. Wasicek
  • Patent number: 10238845
    Abstract: A dilation catheter comprises a handle, a guidewire, a dilation catheter, a guidewire movement mechanism, and dilation catheter movement actuator. The guidewire movement mechanism is configured to translate to thereby cause translation of the guidewire relative to the handle. The dilation catheter movement mechanism is configured to translate to thereby cause translation of the dilation catheter relative to the handle. The guidewire movement mechanism also includes a rotation mechanism configured to impart rotation upon the guidewire. The rotation mechanism may include features configured to limit the amount that the guidewire may rotate. The rotation mechanism may also include features configured to convert linear movement of an actuator into rotational movement of the guidewire. The dilation catheter may include features configured to provide for side entry of the guidewire into the dilation catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Hung V. Ha, Arthur M. Lin, Thomas R. Jenkins, Randy J. Kesten, Scott O. Chamness, Ketan P. Muni
  • Patent number: 10206821
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a shaft, an expandable dilator, and at least one ventilation pathway. The shaft defines a longitudinal axis and comprises a distal and proximal ends with at least one shaft lumen. The expandable dilator comprises body with its own proximal and distal ends. The body is configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded state. The body is configured to dilate a Eustachian tube of a patient in the expanded state. The at least one ventilation pathway is configured to provide ventilation from the distal end of the body to the proximal end of the body when the body is in the expanded state. In some examples, the ventilation pathway comprises a set of transversely oriented vent openings formed through the shaft. In some other examples, the ventilation pathway comprises a space defined between one or more radially outwardly protruding features of the expandable dilator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter F. Campbell, Daniel T. Harfe, Hung V. Ha, Ketan P. Muni, Andy Nguyen, Sivette Lam, John Y. Chang, Eric Goldfarb
  • Patent number: 10188413
    Abstract: Deflectable guide catheters and methods, including methods for using defectable guide catheters to perform transnasal procedures within the ear, nose, throat, paranasal sinuses or cranium. Some deflectable guide catheters of the present invention comprise a substantially rigid tube, a helical spring attached to and extending from the distal end of the substantially rigid tube, a tubular plastic inner jacket, an outer plastic jacket substantially covering at least the helical spring member. The spring member is deflectable to cause the distal portion of the guide catheter to deflect to a curved configuration. In embodiments for transnasal use the deflectable guide catheter may have a length of less than 25 cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Morriss, Joshua Makower, Mei Pader, Julia D. Vrany, Eric Goldfarb, Randy S. Chan
  • Patent number: 10183153
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an absorbent body, a non-permeable feature, and a port feature. The absorbent body comprises a wicking feature. The non-permeable feature is coupled with the absorbent body. The non-permeable feature and at least a portion of the absorbent body are configured to fit in an opening in a paranasal sinus wall. The port feature extends through the absorbent body. The port feature defines a lumen. The wicking feature extends outwardly relative to the port lumen. During installation of the apparatus, the non-permeable feature is positioned in an opening in the paranasal sinus wall. The absorbent body is oriented such that the wicking feature is in contact with mucosal tissue in a sinus cavity defined by the paranasal sinus wall. A proximal portion of the absorbent body is positioned outside the paranasal sinus wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy J. Kesten, Thomas R. Jenkins, Jessica M. Liberatore
  • Patent number: 10179002
    Abstract: Apparatus for use in surgeries to treat disorders of the ear, nose, and throat including a hand-held device and rotating blade assembly. The apparatus may be connected to a vacuum source. A method of use is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Wasicek, Mathew D. Clopp, Ketan P. Muni, Howard L. Levine
  • Patent number: 10179227
    Abstract: A dilation device comprises an elongate shaft, an inflatable balloon, and a resilient tube. The inflatable balloon is disposed along the shaft. The resilient tube is also disposed along the shaft and is positioned to encompass at least part of the inflatable balloon. The resilient tube is configured to impose an inwardly directed resilient bias on at least a portion of the exterior of the inflatable balloon. At least part of the resilient tube is secured to one or both of the elongate shaft or the inflatable balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Sivette Lam, Ketan P. Muni
  • Patent number: 10166369
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Jenkins, Jessica Liberatore, Sandra W. Ruggles, Jessica K. Chan
  • Patent number: 10143591
    Abstract: A system and method for dilating a Eustachian tube of a patient is disclosed. The device includes a protective sheath, a flexible endoscope and a balloon dilation catheter. The protective sheath includes an endoscope lumen and a balloon dilation catheter lumen. The balloon of the balloon dilation catheter is a low profile balloon particularly useful for dilating the Eustachian tube, and in particular, the Eustachian tube of a pediatric patient. The method involves advancing the balloon dilation catheter through a nasal passage of the patient to dilate a portion of the Eustachian tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Hung V. Ha, Ketan P. Muni, Andrew Nguyen, Siddhi K. Desai, Ronak Muni