Devices, systems and methods useable for treating frontal sinusitis

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods wherein a dilator, such as a balloon or other expandable member, is positionable within the frontal sinus ostium and adjacent frontal recess and useable to dilate the frontal sinus ostium and substantially all of the frontal sinus recess without requiring repositioning and repeated re-expansion of the dilator. One balloon catheter device of the invention comprises a catheter body that is less than about 50 cm in length (and in some embodiments less than 25 cm in length and a semi-compliant or non-compliant balloon on the catheter body. The balloon may have a working length of about 12 mm to about 30 mm and a width at its widest point when fully inflated of about 2 mm to about 7 mm. Such balloon may be constructed to withstand inflation pressures of about 12 atmospheres. In some embodiments, the dilator is advanced through or over a guide (e.g., guidewire or guide catheter) that has a preformed shape.

Claims

1. A method for dilating a frontal sinus ostium in a human or animal subject with a dilation catheter, the dilation catheter comprising a catheter shaft, a dilator positioned along a distal portion of the catheter shaft and having a sufficient length to extend through the frontal sinus ostium, the method comprising: (a) inserting a guide into a head of the subject; (b) advancing the guide to the frontal sinus ostium, then stopping advancement of the guide when a distal portion of the guide is positioned within or adjacent to the frontal sinus ostium; (c) advancing the dilation catheter relative to the guide to position the dilator within the frontal sinus ostium; and (d) expanding the dilator, wherein expansion of the dilator results in dilation of the frontal sinus ostium and at least some breakage of bone adjacent to the frontal sinus ostium.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dilation catheter further comprises a guidewire lumen extending from an open proximal end of the catheter shaft to an open distal end of the catheter shaft, and the method further comprises: (a) inserting a guidewire into the head of the subject; and (b) advancing the dilator over the guidewire via the guidewire lumen of the dilation catheter.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dilation of the frontal sinus ostium results in at least some breakage or movement of bone adjacent to the frontal sinus ostium.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of expanding the dilator is performed without removal, cutting, or ablation of tissue.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of removing, cutting, or ablating tissue within the head of the subject.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein inserting the guide into the head of the patient further comprises inserting the guide into a nostril of the patient.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of retracting the guide relative to the dilation catheter prior to expansion of the dilator.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of inserting an endoscope into the head of the patient.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of placing a therapeutic or diagnostic substance delivering implant within the frontal sinus ostium or frontal sinus.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising bending at least the distal portion of the guide to a curved shape prior to insertion in the patient's head, wherein the curved shape is substantially retained during use.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of bending occurs at the time of manufacture, wherein the guide is sufficiently rigid to maintain the curved shape until and during use.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the guide comprises a curve, wherein at least a portion of the dilation catheter is flexible to allow the dilation catheter to traverse the curve while advancing the dilation catheter relative to the guide.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is performed in combination with a functional endoscopic sinus surgery procedure.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein expanding the dilator further comprises expanding the dilator to an expanded configuration, wherein a cross-sectional dimension of the expanded configuration is between approximately 3 mm and approximately 7 mm.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dilator includes a length of approximately 12 mm to approximately 24 mm.

16. A method for dilating a frontal sinus ostium in a human or animal subject with a dilation catheter, the dilation catheter comprising a catheter shaft and a dilator positioned along a distal portion of the catheter shaft, the method comprising: (a) inserting a guide into a head of the subject; (b) advancing the guide into the frontal sinus ostium; (c) advancing the dilation catheter relative to the guide to position the dilator within the frontal sinus ostium while the dilator is in a collapsed configuration; (d) expanding the dilator to an expanded configuration while the dilator is positioned within the frontal sinus ostium; and (e) dilating the frontal sinus ostium, wherein the act of dilating the frontal sinus ostium comprises breaking bone adjacent to the frontal sinus ostium.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising bending at least a distal portion of the guide to a curved shape having a bend angle prior to insertion in the head of the subject.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step of bending occurs at the time of manufacture, wherein the guide is sufficiently rigid to maintain the curved shape until and during use.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising removing, cutting, or ablating tissue within the head of the subject.

20. A method for dilating a frontal sinus ostium in a human or animal subject with a dilation catheter, the dilation catheter comprising a catheter shaft, a dilator positioned along a distal portion of the catheter shaft, the method comprising: (a) inserting the guide into a head of the subject; (b) advancing the guide into the frontal sinus ostium; (c) advancing the dilation catheter relative to the guide to position the dilator within the frontal sinus ostium; and (d) expanding the dilator to break bone adjacent to the frontal sinus ostium, thereby dilating the frontal sinus ostium.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagram of the paranasal anatomy of a human head wherein a dilation catheter system of the present invention has been inserted and is being used to simultaneously dilate the frontal sinus ostium and adjacent frontal recess.

(2) FIG. 2 is a sagital sectional view through the right nasal cavity wherein a dilation catheter system of the present invention has been inserted and is being used to simultaneously dilate the frontal sinus ostium and adjacent frontal recess.

(3) FIGS. 3A-3C are side views of devices that comprise one embodiment of a dilation catheter system of the present invention. FIG. 3A shows a guidewire, FIG. 3B shows a dilation catheter and FIG. 3C shows a tubular guide.

(4) FIG. 4 is a broken, side elevational view of a rapid exchange embodiment of a dilation catheter device of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of a dilation catheter device of the present invention having a tapered dilation balloon.

(6) FIG. 6A is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of a dilation catheter device of the present invention having a dilation balloon that incorporates a force concentrating member.

(7) FIG. 6B is a cross sectional view through line 6B-6B of FIG. 6A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) The following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the above-set-forth Brief Description of the Drawings are intended to describe some, but not necessarily all, examples or embodiments of the invention. The contents of this detailed description do not limit the scope of the invention in any way.

(9) A number of the drawings in this patent application show anatomical structures of the ear, nose and throat. In general, these anatomical structures are labeled with the following reference letters:

(10) TABLE-US-00001 Nasal Cavity NC Nasopharynx NP Frontal Sinus FS Frontal Sinus Ostium FSO Frontal Recess FR Ethmoid Air Cells EAC Intersinus Septum ISS Sphenoid Sinus SS Sphenoid Sinus Ostium SSO Maxillary Sinus MS

(11) The term diagnostic or therapeutic substance as used herein is to be broadly construed to include any feasible drugs, prodrugs, proteins, gene therapy preparations, cells, diagnostic agents, contrast or imaging agents, biologicals, etc. Such substances may be in bound or free form, liquid or solid, colloid or other suspension, solution or may be in the form of a gas or other fluid or nan-fluid. For example, in some applications where it is desired to treat or prevent a microbial infection, the substance delivered may comprise pharmaceutically acceptable salt or dosage form of an antimicrobial agent (e.g., antibiotic, antiviral, antiparasitic, antifungal, etc.), a corticosteroid or other anti-inflammatory (e.g., an NSAID), a decongestant (e.g., vasoconstrictor), a mucous thinning agent (e.g., an expectorant or mucolytic), an agent that prevents of modifies an allergic response (e.g., an antihistamine, cytokine inhibitor, leucotriene inhibitor, IgE inhibitor, immunomodulator), etc. Other non-limiting examples of diagnostic or therapeutic substances that may be useable in this invention are described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/912,578 entitled Implantable Devices and Methods for Delivering Drugs and Other Substances to Treat Sinusitis and Other Disorders filed on Aug. 4, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,361,168, issued on Apr. 22, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

(12) The term frontal recess means the natural or surgically altered opening or passageway extending from an ostium or opening in a frontal sinus into the nasal cavity.

(13) The term frontal outflow tract or the acronym FOT means an ostium or opening in a frontal sinus along with any frontal recess that extends from that ostium or opening to the nasal cavity.

(14) Each of the terms ostium, opening of a paranasal sinus or opening in a paranasal sinus as used herein shall mean any accessible opening in a paranasal sinus or crania-facial air cell, including but not limited to; natural ostia, surgically or medically altered ostia, surgically created or man-made openings, gastrostomy openings, ostiotomy openings, trephination openings, burr holes, drilled holes, ethmoidectomy openings, anatomical passageways, natural or man made passages, etc., unless otherwise specified.

(15) The term working length as used herein with respect to balloons or other dilators shall mean the length of that portion of the balloon or other dilator that actually contacts and dilates tissue. For example, in the case of a balloon that, when inflated, has a cylindrical midregion that contacts and dilates adjacent tissue and tapered end regions that do not contact and dilate adjacent tissue, the working length of such balloon is the length of the cylindrical midregion that contacts and dilates adjacent tissue.

(16) Optionally, any of the working devices and guide catheters described herein may be configured or equipped to receive or be advanced over a guidewire or other guide member (e.g., an elongate probe, strand of suture material, other elongate member) unless to do so would render the device inoperable for its intended purpose. Some of the specific examples described herein include guidewires, but it is to be appreciated that the use of guidewires and the incorporation of guidewire lumens is not limited to only the specific examples in which guidewires or guidewire lumens are shown. The guidewires used in this invention may be constructed and coated as is common in the art of cardiology, but may be substantially shorter than those used in cardiology applications. This may include the use of coils, tapered or non-tapered core wires, radiopaque tips and/or entire lengths, shaping ribbons, variations of stiffness, PTFE, silicone, hydrophilic coatings, polymer coatings, etc. For the scope of this invention, these wires may possess dimensions of length between 5 and 120 cm and outer diameter between 0.005 and 0.050. In embodiments of the invention where an elongate guide member (e.g., a guidewire) of a substantially fixed shape is specified, such may be accomplished by utilizing a guide member (e.g., guidewire) that is fully or partially formed of rigid or malleable material and is pre-shaped to a desired substantially fixed configuration (e.g., a desired curve near its distal end) prior to insertion into the subject's body.

(17) It is to be appreciated that various modalities can be used with the devices and methods disclosed herein for navigation and imaging of the devices within the anatomy. For example, the devices disclosed herein may comprise an endoscope for visualization of the target anatomy. The devices may also comprise ultrasound imaging modalities to image the anatomical passageways and other anatomical structures. The devices disclosed herein may comprise one or more magnetic elements especially on the distal end of the devices. Such magnetic elements may be used to navigate through the anatomy by using external magnetic fields. Such navigation may be controlled digitally using a computer interface. The devices disclosed herein may also comprise one or more markers (e.g. infra-red markers). The markers can be used to track the precise position and orientation of the devices using image guidance techniques. Several other imaging or navigating modalities including but not limited to fluoroscopic, radiofrequency localization, electromagnetic, magnetic and other radiative energy based modalities may also be used with the methods and devices disclosed herein. These imaging and navigation technologies may also be referenced by computer directly or indirectly to pre-existing or simultaneously created 3-D or 2-D data sets which help the doctor place the devices within the appropriate region of the anatomy. Examples of specific navigation apparatus and methods that may be used in conjunction with the devices and methods of this invention include but are not limited to those described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/037,548 entitled Devices, Systems and Methods For Treating Disorders of the Ear, Nose and Throat, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,462,175, issued on Dec. 9, 2008, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

(18) Also, as described more fully hereblow, the devices of the present invention may include visible markers that may be viewed directly or endoscopically to facilitate the desired positioning of the devices within the body.

(19) FIGS. 1-2 show the use of an embodiment of a dilation catheter system 10 to simultaneously dilate a frontal sinus ostium FSO and adjacent frontal recess FR in a human subject. Frontal recess anatomy has heretofore been generally taught as having an hour glass shape so it was believed that a relatively short dilator (such as a balloon) was all that was needed to dilate most frontal sinus anatomy. Unexpectedly, however, Applicants have discovered that in a fairly large population of patients there are actually multiple constrictions along the frontal recess. As a result, Applicants developed the present invention. In general, the embodiment of the dilation catheter system 10 shown in the drawings comprises a dilation catheter 12, a tubular guide 14 and a guidewire 16. These components of the system 10 are shown in greater detail in FIG. 4.

(20) Generally, at least one of the tubular guide 14 and/or the guidewire 16 will have a predetermined (e.g., substantially fixed) shape (e.g., having a fixed curve near its distal end) prior to its insertion into the body. This fixed shape facilitates easy insertion of the guidewire 16 and/or tubular guide 14 into the frontal recess or other desired location within the nasal cavity or paranasal sinus anatomy. In some instances, one or both of the guidewire 16 and/or tubular guide 14 will be of generally rigid construction and manufactured in the desired predetermined or substantially fixed shape. In other instances, all or a portion of the guidewire 16 and/or tubular guide 14 may be of malleable construction such that the surgeon may bend or pre-form that guidewire 16 or tubular guide 14 to the desired shape prior to its insertion into the subject's body.

(21) In the particular example shown in the drawings and discussed herebelow, the tubular guide 14 is generally rigid and has a substantially fixed shape. The guidewire 16 is substantially flexible and use of the guidewire is optional. It is to be appreciated, however, that in other embodiments the guidewire 16 may be more rigid and of substantially fixed shape and use of the tubular guide 16 may be optional.

(22) In this example, the guidewire 16, seen in FIG. 3A, is a flexible sinus guidewire with a soft tip, a length of 100 cm and a diameter of 0.035 inch. This guidewire is commercially available under the name Relieve Sinus Guidewire from Acclarent, Inc., Menlo Park, Calif. It will be appreciated, however, that other guidewires and other sizes of guidewires may alternatively be used.

(23) Also, in this example, the tubular guide 14 as seen in FIG. 3B, comprises a semi-flexible tube with a malleable proximal shaft 30 and a plastic distal portion 32 having a curve 34 formed near its distal end DE. A radiopaque marker 38 is mounted near the distal end DE of this tubular guide 14. This tubular guide is available commercially under the name Relieva Sinus Guide Catheter from Acclarent, Inc. of Menlo Park, Calif. This tubular guide 14 is available with a range of curves 32 (i.e., 0, 30, 70, 90 and 110. Typically, for frontal sinus procedures such as that described herein a curve of 70 is most suitable. It will be appreciated, however, that other guidewires and other sizes of guidewires may alternatively be used.

(24) The dilation catheter 12 of this example, as seen in detail in FIG. 3C, comprises an elongate catheter body 18 having a proximal end PE and a distal end DE. An elongate balloon 20 is mounted on the catheter body 18 at a location near its distal end DE. This balloon 20 has a working length L that is specifically sized to extend from the frontal sinus ostium FSO through substantially all of the frontal recess FR, thus rendering this balloon 20 capable of dilating substantially the entire frontal outflow tract (i.e., the frontal sinus ostium and all or nearly all of the adjacent frontal recess), without the need for repeated inflations of the balloon 20 with longitudinal repositioning of the catheter between inflations. In this regard, although it may be deemed appropriate to repeat inflation of the balloon 20 more than one time to dilate the frontal sinus ostium FSO and adjacent frontal recess FR, no longitudinal repositioning of the catheter body 18 will be required between such inflations. This dilation catheter 12 is available commercially under the name Relieva Sinus Balloon Catheter from Acclarent, Inc., Menlo Park, Calif. A fixed guidewire 28 may optionally extend from the distal end of the dilation catheter 12, as seen in FIG. 3C. Such fixed guidewire 28 may allow the dilation catheter 12 to be used without a separate guidewire 16.

(25) The actual working length L and diameter of the balloon 20 may vary depending on the anatomy, age and/or size of the subject. The working length of the balloon can be between about 12 mm and 30 mm. For example, the following table sets forth a nonlimiting example different balloon sizes that may be provided for treatment of frontal sinusitis in subjects of normal body size and weight ranging in age from childhood to adulthood.

(26) TABLE-US-00002 Typical Dilator (e.g., Dilator (e.g., Patient Age Balloon) Width Balloon) Working Range (Fully Expanded) Length >17 about 5 mm to about 7 mm about 24 mm 14-17 About 4 mm to about 7 mm About 21 mm 10-14 About 3 mm to about 6 mm About 18 mm 6-10 About 2 mm to about 5 mm About 15 mm <6 About 2 mm to about 4 mm About 12 mm

(27) Applicant's current data suggests that a balloon 20 having a working length of about 24 mm and a fully expanded width of about 5 mm to about 7 mm may be used to expand the frontal sinus ostium FSO as well as substantially all of the adjacent frontal recess FR in most adult or fully grown humans without the need for repeated inflations of the balloon 20 or without longitudinal repositioning of the catheter between inflations.

(28) The procedure by which the devices are inserted and used may vary somewhat from surgeon to surgeon and/or from case to case. One particular, non-limiting example of such a procedure is described herebelow with reference to the showings of FIGS. 1 and 2.

(29) During performance of this procedure, an endoscope, such as a Karl Storz Hopkins II 4 mm scope with a 70 degree viewing angle may optionally be inserted into the nose and used, alone or in combination with other imaging techniques, to view the advancement and positioning of devices during the procedure in accordance with known practice or as described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/829,917, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,654,997, issued on Feb. 2, 2010; 10/944,270, published as U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0004323 on Jan. 5, 2006; 11/037,548, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,462,175, issued on Dec. 9, 2008,; 11/193,020, now U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0063973, published on Mar. 23, 2006; 11/150,847, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,803,150, issued on Sep. 28, 2010; 11/116,118, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,720,521, issued on May 18, 2010, each of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively or additionally, radiographic imaging (e.g., C-arm fluoroscopy) may be used to view the positioning and guide the placement of devices during the procedure in accordance with known practice or as described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/829,917, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,654,997, issued on Feb. 2, 2010; 10/944,270, published as U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0004323 on Jan. 5, 2006; 11/037,548, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,462,175, issued on Dec. 9, 2008,; 11/193,020, now U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0063973, published on Mar. 23, 2006; 11/150,847, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,803,150, issued on Sep. 28, 2010; 11/116,118, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,720,521, issued on May 18, 2010, each of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Also, alternatively or additionally, the devices used in this procedure may be equipped with sensors and image guidance technology may be used to view the positioning and guide the placement of devices during the procedure in accordance with known practice or as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/116,118, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,720,521, issued on May 18, 2010, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

(30) In this example, the guidewire 16 may be initially introduced, distal end first, into the lumen of the tubular guide 14. Thereafter, the tubular guide 14 (with the guidewire 16 inserted therein) is inserted through the subject's nostril with the curve 32 of the tubular guide 14 pointing upwardly. The distal end DE of the tubular guide 14 is maneuvered through the middle meatus to a position where its distal end DE is adjacent to and in alignment with the frontal recess FR. The guidewire 16 is then advanced out of the open distal end DE of the tubular guide 14, through the frontal recess FR, through the frontal sinus ostium FSO and into the frontal sinus FS. In some cases, it may be desirable to push a length of the guidewire into the frontal sinus FS such that it becomes coiled within the sinus cavity as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. This tends to deter inadvertent slippage of the guidewire 16 out of position and the coiled guidewire 16 within the frontal sinus FS may be viewed by radiographic means to verify that the FOT has been successfully wired.

(31) It is to be appreciated that, although the dilation catheter 12 shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 3C is an over-the-wire type device that has a guidewire lumen that extends from one end of the catheter to the other, various other guidewire lumen configurations and/or fixed guidewire tips may be employed instead. For example, a guidewire may be affixed to and extend distally from the distal end of the catheter body 18. Or, as shown in the alternative example of FIG. 4, a rapid exchange embodiment of the dilation catheter 12a may be utilized. This rapid exchange embodiment of the dilation catheter 12a comprises a catheter body 18a having a proximal hub 22a on its proximal end and a guidewire lumen that extends from a side port 42 located between the proximal and distal ends of the catheter body 18a though an opening in the distal end of the catheter body 18a. In this manner, the guidewire 28 will extend through only a distal portion of the catheter body 18a and the proximal portion of the guidewire will be outside of the catheter body 18a as shown.

(32) It is to be further appreciated that, in at least some embodiments, substances (e.g., therapeutic or diagnostic substances, radiographic contrast medium, medicaments, lavage fluid, etc.) may be injected through a lumen of the catheter body 18. In some embodiments, the guidewire 28 may be smaller in diameter than the guidewire lumen such that substances may be injected through the guidewire lumen even while the guidewire is positioned therein.

(33) Thereafter, the proximal end PE of the guidewire 16 is inserted into the distal opening of a guidewire lumen that extends through the dilation catheter 12 and the dilation catheter 12 is advanced over the guidewire 16 and through the lumen of the tubular guide 14 to a position where the balloon 20 occupies the frontal sinus ostium FSO and substantially all or all of the adjacent frontal recess FR. An inflator device (e.g., the Relieva Sinus Balloon Inflation Device, Aclarent, Inc., Menlo Park, Calif.) is then connected to the inflation sidearm 26 of the dilation catheter's proximal hub 22 and is used to inflate the balloon 20 to its expanded configuration. Typically, in applications where the balloon 20 is used to dilate the frontal sinus ostium FSO and adjacent frontal recess FR, this balloon will be inflated to a pressure of approximately 4-12 ATM. The balloon 20 may reach its nominal (target) diameter at an inflation pressure of approximately 4-8 ATM. This inflation may be repeated one or more times at the discretion of the surgeon, but no repositioning of the balloon 20 is required between successive inflations. In this manner, the frontal sinus ostium FSO and frontal recess FR are dilated, thereby improving patency of the FOT and facilitating drainage from and healing of the diseased frontal sinus FS.

(34) If the working length L of the balloon 20 is longer than the length of the frontal sinus ostium FSO and adjacent frontal recess FR, a proximal portion of the balloon may be permitted to remain within the distal end of the tubular guide 14 or another suitable sheath or constraining structure such that only a portion of the balloon 20 becomes inflated. This essentially provides a balloon 20 of adjustable length. Alternatively or additionally, the diameter of the balloon 20 may also vary over its length. For example, a 24 mm long balloon 20 may have a first region (e.g., 16 mm) which inflates to a first diameter (e.g., 7 mm) and a second region that inflates to a second diameter (e.g., 5 mm). In another example, shown in FIG. 5, a dilation catheter 12b may comprise a catheter body 18b having a balloon 20b mounted thereon, such balloon 20b being may be continuously tapered such that one end of the balloon 20b inflates to a first diameter and the other end of the balloon 20b inflates to a smaller second diameter, with a continuous diametric taper therebetween.

(35) Also, alternatively or additionally, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, an embodiment the dilation catheter 12c may comprise a catheter body 18c having a balloon 20c mounted thereon, wherein such balloon 20c incorporates one or more force concentrating members 44 (such as longitudinal wires embedded in the wall of the balloon 20c) or other surface protrusion(s) that concentrate the dilatory force of the balloon in specific area(s) rather than allowing the balloon 20c to exert the same outwardly directed dilatory force about its entire diameter.

(36) Various other balloon shapes and balloon constructions may be incorporated in the dilation catheters 12, 12a, 12b or 12c including those described in the parent patent applications of which this application is a continuation-in-part. Some particular nonlimiting examples of such shapes and/or constructions include the following: The balloon or other dilator may additionally be constructed to deliver diagnostic or therapeutic substances to adjacent tissues, such as through pores, coatings, micro-penetrating members, etc. The balloon material may be of varying thickness along the length of the balloon to enhance folding or to permit it to expand in an intentionally non-uniform fashion. To prevent winging the balloon may be preshaped with set hinge areas that naturally fold when the balloon is deflatedthese hinge areas may run longitudinally along the balloon or may be helically located. The catheter shaft extending through the balloon may be longitudinally moved by the operator to lengthen or shorten the balloon length to adjust to different anatomies. The distal tip of the balloon may be curved to facilitate placement and also to orient the tip away from the skull base.

(37) As seen in FIG. 2, The medial wall of the orbit (specifically the lamina papyracea) is reinforced by ethmoid air cells that form a honeycomb structure between the medial wall of the orbit and the frontal recess FR. In at least some applications of the present invention, dilation of the frontal recess FR causes bone to become cracked, fractured, rearranged or repositioned and, in at least some cases, results in compression or remodeling of one or more ethmoid air cells EAC.

(38) It is to be appreciated that the invention has been described hereabove with reference to certain examples or embodiments of the invention but that various additions, deletions, alterations and modifications may be made to those examples and embodiments without departing from the intended spirit and scope of the invention. For example, any element or attribute of one embodiment or example may be incorporated into or used with another embodiment or example, unless to do so would render the embodiment or example unsuitable for its intended use. Also, where the steps of a method or process are described, listed or claimed in a particular order, such steps may be performed in any other order unless to do so would render the embodiment or example not novel, obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art or unsuitable for its intended use. All reasonable additions, deletions, modifications and alterations are to be considered equivalents of the described examples and embodiments and are to be included within the scope of the following claims.