USPTO Patent Grant: Eustachian Tube Dilation Catheter

ChangeBridge: Patent Grants - Medical Devices (A61M)

Published March 24th, 2026

Detected March 25th, 2026

Summary

The USPTO has granted patent US12582808B2 to Acclarent, Inc. for a Eustachian tube dilation catheter with depth indicia. The patent covers a surgical system and method for positioning a guidewire within the Eustachian tube to facilitate dilation.

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What changed

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted patent US12582808B2, titled 'Eustachian tube dilation catheter with depth indicia,' to Acclarent, Inc. The patent, filed on June 15, 2023, and granted on March 24, 2026, describes a surgical system and method for dilating the Eustachian tube. Key features include a guidewire with depth indicia, a dilator configured to pass through and expand within the Eustachian tube's isthmus, and a marker to indicate the depth of a reference feature.

This patent grant is primarily an intellectual property matter and does not impose new regulatory obligations on medical device manufacturers. However, it signifies a new innovation in the field of otolaryngology devices, potentially impacting market exclusivity for Acclarent, Inc. and influencing future product development by competitors in the Eustachian tube dilation device space. Compliance officers in the medical device sector should note this patent as it relates to product innovation and potential intellectual property considerations.

Source document (simplified)

← USPTO Patent Grants

Eustachian tube dilation catheter with depth indicia

Grant US12582808B2 Kind: B2 Mar 24, 2026

Assignee

Acclarent, Inc.

Inventors

Fatemeh Akbarian, Jetmir Palushi

Abstract

A surgical system and method are used to position a guidewire within an anatomical passageway includes the guidewire, a dilator, a reference feature, and a marker. The guidewire has a guidewire body extending to a distal body end portion. The dilator is secured on the distal body end portion and configured to expand from a contracted state to an expanded state. The dilator in the contracted state is configured to pass through an isthmus of a Eustachian tube. The dilator in the expanded state is configured to dilate the Eustachian tube. The reference feature secured relative to the guidewire, and the marker is positioned on the guidewire a predetermined distance from the reference feature. Thereby, the marker is configured to indicate the predetermined distance to an operator for determining a depth of the reference feature in the anatomical passageway.

CPC Classifications

A61M 2025/0008 A61M 2025/0166 A61M 2025/09008 A61M 2025/09175 A61M 2025/09183 A61M 2025/1061 A61M 2029/025 A61M 2205/502 A61M 2210/0675 A61M 25/0105 A61M 25/0108 A61M 25/09 A61M 29/02