NASAL OBSTRUCTION IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON ENT COMPLAINTS WORLDWIDE
It occurs when airflow through the nose is blocked or restricted, leading to symptoms such as:
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Chronic congestion
Chronic congestion
Chronic congestion occurs when the nasal passages remain persistently swollen or blocked, making it difficult to breathe comfortably.
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Difficulty breathing at night
Difficulty breathing at night
When nasal passages are blocked, airflow decreases during sleep. This forces the body to work harder to breathe, leading to frequent awakenings and disrupted rest.
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Daytime fatigue
Daytime fatigue
Poor nighttime breathing limits oxygen intake and reduces sleep quality — leaving you tired, foggy, and less focused throughout the day.
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Mouth breathing
Mouth breathing
When nasal airflow is limited, the body compensates by breathing through the mouth, which can cause dryness, sore throat, and increase the risk of oral infections.
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Snoring & poor sleep quality
Snoring & poor sleep quality
Nasal obstruction increases airway resistance, often leading to snoring and fragmented sleep. Over time, this can contribute to chronic fatigue and even sleep-disordered breathing conditions.
According to recent estimates, over 20 million Americans suffer from nasal airway obstruction, with a large subset caused by deviated nasal septum and turbinate hypertrophy, two conditions that physically narrow the nasal passages.
Source: American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
ANATOMY BEHIND THE PROBLEM
Restricted airflow in the nasal passages is often caused by anatomical irregularities.
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Deviated Septum
The septum is the cartilage and bone that separates the two nostrils.
When it’s shifted to one side, it creates a bottleneck in one or both airways.
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Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy
The turbinates are soft tissue structures that warm and humidify air. They often become enlarged (especially on the side opposite a deviated septum), leading to further obstruction.
WHY MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OFTEN FAILS
Most patients are first treated with nasal sprays, antihistamines, or decongestants, which offer temporary symptom relief but do not correct the underlying anatomical obstruction.
For many, these medications lose effectiveness over time or cause undesirable side effects (like dependency with long-term decongestant use).
Source: Cleveland Clinic – Nasal Obstruction Treatment Options
SURGERY: EFFECTIVE BUT UNDESIRABLE
The standard surgical option is septoplasty (realignment of the septum) often combined with turbinate reduction performed under general anesthesia in an operating room. While effective, it has major drawbacks:
Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine – Septoplasty
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Financial Burden
High costs ($8,000+ per procedure)
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Safety Concerns
OR time and anesthesia risks
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Lifestyle Impact
Downtime from work and daily life
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Limited Applicability
Underutilized in mild-to-moderate cases
INTRODUCING BALLOON
SEPTO-TURBINOPLASTY
Millions of patients qualify for treatment but never undergo surgery — due to cost, fear, inconvenience, or lack of awareness. This creates a massive unmet clinical need for:
- Safe
- In-office
- Affordable
- Repeatable
…procedures that address both the septum and turbinates — something no single device has done, until now.
BENEFITS OF BALLOON-BASED TREATMENT
It occurs when airflow through the nose is blocked or restricted, leading to symptoms such as:
| Traditional Septoplasty | Airolign Balloon Treatment |
|---|---|
| Requires general anesthesia | No cutting or removal |
| Tissue resection | No cutting or removal |
| Long recovery | Rapid recovery, same-day return to life |
| $8-10K per case | Significantly lower cost |
| Underused for mild cases | Ideal for mild-to-moderate obstruction |
HOW AIROLIGN WORKS?
The procedure is performed in four simple steps:
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Balloon Placement
Insert the balloon along the septum and/or turbinate using endoscopic guidance.
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Inflation
Inflate with sterile saline solution to the appropriate pressure needed.
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Realignment
Realign structures gently by controlled balloon expansion.
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Completion
Deflate & Remove procedure complete in minutes.
LOOKING AHEAD: AI INTEGRATION
Airolign will soon integrate with artificial intelligence to personalize inflation parameters based on patient-specific CT data. This will enable:
- Greater precision
- Reduced risk of over- or under-treatment
- Repeatable outcomes across different clinics