After appealing the case to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, Forge IP has issued U.S. Patent No. 10,898,693, directed to the delivery of pharmaceuticals and other fluid agents to the nasal cavities of patients.
Entitled “Nasal Delivery of Agents with Nested Balloon Catheter,” the invention of the ‘693 patent employs a catheter, which is inserted into the nose, that has a special balloon assembly for delivering the therapeutic or diagnostic agent. A first balloon is “nested” inside a second balloon, and a fluid agent is delivered into the space between them. The inner balloon is then inflated via the catheter, such that it urges the therapeutic/diagnostic agent out through openings in the outer balloon and onto the relevant target area of the nasal cavity. This innovative design facilitates an alternative approach to more traumatic, surgical solutions for treating common conditions like sinusitis.
The Examiner originally rejected the claims, alleging that they were obvious over various prior art references. After an appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, the Board issued a decision reversing the rejections, and the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office subsequently issued the ‘693 patent.
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