The multi-lumen catheter used in conjunction with the second preferred embodiment has an expandable device, such as a balloon, built into its surface near the tip. One of the lumens inside the multi-lumen catheter terminates at the surface of the catheter shaft inside the balloon and is used to inflate the balloon. Another lumen contains an opening to the surface of the catheter shaft near the balloon. The malleable sleeve has a flange built into its surface biased towards the central axis of the malleable sleeve. In its initial position, the flange is maintained approximately radially coterminous with the malleable sleeve shaft. In its secondary position, the bias of the flange causes it to bend down into the opening in the multi-lumen catheter shaft. The flange then acts as a ramp, allowing the surgeon to easily move an imaging instrument through the lumen, up the ramp, and out the opening, giving the surgeon a clear view of the balloon built into the surface of the multi-lumen catheter.
The endoscopic surgical method utilizing the second embodiment of the present invention uses both the malleable sleeve element and the flange element to accomplish quick and effective relief of chronic sinusitis. As with the method utilizing the first embodiment, the surgeon views the pathway through which the Sartorius Parts will travel, and bends the malleable sleeve over the multi-lumen catheter corresponding to the shape of the sinus pathways. Before the surgery begins, the malleable sleeve is in its initial position relative to the multi-lumen catheter shaft. The surgeon then inserts the malleable sleeve and multi-lumen catheter into the sinus pathway. Once the tip of the multi-lumen catheter reaches the obstructed pathway, the surgeon can perform a traditional balloon sinuplasty through one of the lumens in the multi-lumen catheter shaft. Next, the surgeon moves the balloon tip of the multi-lumen catheter into the obstructed pathway. The surgeon then partially retracts the imaging device to a point behind the opening in the multi-lumen catheter shaft near the balloon. The surgeon moves the malleable sleeve into its secondary position causing the flange to bend down into the multi-lumen catheter shaft opening. The surgeon then slides the imaging device up the ramp created by the flange and out the catheter shaft, giving the surgeon a clear view of the balloon built into the tip of the multi-lumen catheter shaft. The surgeon then inflates the balloon for a predetermined amount of time, deflates the balloon, retracts the imaging device, and retracts the multi-lumen catheter and malleable sleeve.
