There is provided herein, a device for treating and/or diagnosing a sinus or an ear condition, the device comprising a housing comprising or functionally connected to: a hollow cannula defining a lumen extending at least partially along the length thereof, the cannula is configured to be at least partially inserted through an ostium into a sinus cavity/ear of a subject; and a flexible grinding wire movable within the cannula's lumen and configured to be inserted into and retrieved out of the sinus cavity through the cannula's lumen, and to rotate along a longitudinal axis thereof and thereby grind, chop and/or stir material present in the sinus cavity and/or inside the hollow cannula, wherein the cannula is in fluid flow communication with an irrigation/aspiration source; and a wire handle functionally connected to the wire, allowing a user to advance and retrieve the wire within the cannula and into and out of the cannula lumen, wherein the device is handheld by a gripping handle.

Devices, systems, and methods can be employed to facilitate indirect viewing into cavities such as, but not limited to, the middle ear space. Some embodiments have uses such as, but not limited to, facilitating visualization and procedures in the outer, middle, and/or inner ear in order to diagnose and/or treat disorders including, but not limited to, hearing loss and other ear disorders. In particular implementations, a surgical microscope is used in conjunction with an inverter lens and a distal lens. In some cases, the distal lens transverses a membrane or septum such as, but not limited to, the tympanic membrane. The distal lens can be an assembly combining two or more lenses, in some embodiments. For example, in some cases wide angle lenses, zoom lenses, lenses of other various shapes and/or prisms can be used in the distal lens.

Systems and methods can be employed for trans-tympanic membrane access to the middle ear for delivery of a formulation or implant device to a target location under direct visualization. The systems and methods can also be used to improve accessibility and visualization for various otological surgical procedures, such as, but not limited to, cholesteatoma removal, tympanic membrane repair and ossicular chain repair.

Systems and methods can be employed for trans-tympanic membrane access to the middle ear for delivery of a therapeutic agent, for example, to the round window niche adjacent to the cochlea under direct visualization. The systems and methods can also be used to improve accessibility and visualization for various otological surgical procedures, such as, but not limited to, cholesteatoma removal, tympanic membrane repair and ossicular chain repair.

Systems and methods can be employed for facilitating access and procedures in the outer, middle, and inner ear in order to diagnose or treat ear disorders including, but not limited to hearing loss and excessive ear wax. In some examples, the systems and methods include instruments and techniques that facilitate trans-tympanic membrane or trans-fibrous ring access to the middle ear. The systems and methods can also be used to improve accessibility for various otological surgical procedures, such as, but not limited to, cholesteatoma removal, tympanic membrane repair and ossicular chain repair.

Devices, systems, and methods can be employed to facilitate performing procedures in the outer, middle, and/or inner ear in order to diagnose and/or treat disorders including, but not limited to, hearing loss and other ear disorders. For example, this document describes devices, systems and methods that include instruments and techniques to minimize the invasiveness and/or to enhance the efficacy of procedures that are performed in the outer, middle, and/or inner ear spaces such as mastoidectomy, tympanoplasty, cholesteatoma treatments, otosclerosis treatments, and Eustachian tube treatments.

Intra-tympanic injections of therapeutics into the inner ear can be used to treat conditions such as hearing loss. One or more stabilizing devices that define working channels can be temporarily implanted in the tympanic membrane. Purpose-built instruments such as endoscopes, forceps, and injections instruments can be passed through the working channels of the stabilizer devices to access the inner ear where the therapy can be administered. Afterwards, the stabilizing devices can be removed from the tympanic membrane and the tympanic membrane can heal, typically without the need for sutures.

Variations of integral navigation controls may be used in conjunction with a medical instrument to provide navigation functions for an image guided surgery (IGS) system that is in communication with the integral navigation controls. In some variations, a medical instrument with integrated navigation wheels allows movement of a cursor of the IGS system along the x and y axis by scrolling the wheel, or allows selection, zooming, or other controls by combined clicking and/or scrolling of wheels, and may be sterilized or discarded along with the device. In some other variations, a control overlay may be temporarily attached to the medical instrument to provide additional controls, such as buttons or a pointing stick, and then removed and sterilized or discarded after a procedure. In each variation, inputs may be communicated via wire or wirelessly to an IGS system to provide navigation of images during a surgical procedure.

This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for robotically assisted implantation of an implant in a patient. A system includes an external positioning unit configured to engage an elongate member of the implant, and a control console communicatively coupled to the external positioning unit. The control console may have a user interface that enables a user to input motion control instructions. The control console may generate a motion control signal, according to a specific motion control instruction, to control the external positioning unit to propel the implant into a target implant site. The system may be used to robotically control the delivery and positioning of a cochlear implant during a hearing-preservation cochlear implant surgery.

A device and method for dilating a Eustachian tube of a patient is disclosed. The device includes a guide catheter and a balloon dilation catheter. The balloon dilation catheter has an actuator that prevents injury to the middle ear. The balloon dilation catheter is slidably coupled with the guide catheter through the guide catheter lumen and is fully inserted into the guide catheter lumen when the distal side of the actuator is adjacent to the proximal end of the guide catheter. The method involves advancing the guide catheter and balloon dilation catheter through a nasal passage of the patient to dilate a portion of the Eustachian tube.