Systems and methods for performing transcanal ear surgery. A volume of fluid is maintained within the ear canal to provide a flooded environment. A cutting member of a cutting instrument is submerged and operated within the flooded environment to resect tissue within the ear. A reservoir system may be coupled to the patient to facilitate providing the flooded environment. The reservoir system at least partially surrounds the auricle of the ear in fluid-tight sealing engagement with the head of the patient. An irrigation pump and a suction source on one or both of the reservoir system and the cutting instrument are operated to provide the flooded environment. The reservoir system includes an access opening sized to receive one or more surgical instruments, for example, the cutting instrument and an endoscope. The flooded environment improves cooling of the surgical site and visualization of the surgical site from the endoscope.

A method of producing a bendable tip for an instrument, is provided, which includes: mounting a tube for an instrument in a CNC controlled rotational and axially movable holder of a laser cutting machine, with a distal end of the tube extending form the holder; activating a laser cutter; cutting wedge shaped partial circumferential openings in the tube to define a plurality of radially extending ribs at the distal end of the tube, with the ribs being connected together by an axially extending spine, and the ribs having first and second axial sides; during cutting, forming in each of the ribs in at least one of the first or second axial sides, at least one of an axial projection or a recess, and forming in a facing one of the at least one of the first or second axial sides of an adjacent one of the ribs at least one of a corresponding complementary mating recess or a corresponding axial projection.

In one embodiment, a jig apparatus for bending a malleable tool includes a block having an upper surface and containing, a conical recess extending into the block through the upper surface of the block, defined by an elliptical directrix on the upper surface, an apex within the block, and generatrixes disposed about a central axis of the conical recess extending from the apex to the directrix, and an elongated cylindrical hole, which is sized to fit the malleable tool therein and has a longitudinal axis extending from the conical recess into the block at an oblique angle relative to the central axis of the conical recess, and angular markings disposed on the upper surface and around a circumference of the elliptical directrix.

An apparatus comprises a shaft, an expandable dilator, and at least one ventilation pathway. The shaft defines a longitudinal axis and comprises a distal and proximal ends with at least one shaft lumen. The expandable dilator comprises body with its own proximal and distal ends. The body is configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded state. The body is configured to dilate a Eustachian tube of a patient in the expanded state. The at least one ventilation pathway is configured to provide ventilation from the distal end of the body to the proximal end of the body when the body is in the expanded state. In some examples, the ventilation pathway comprises a set of transversely oriented vent openings formed through the shaft. In some other examples, the ventilation pathway comprises a space defined between one or more radially outwardly protruding features of the expandable dilator.

A method of protecting an ear canal of a patient during a surgical procedure using a protective sheath includes forming the protective sheath using additive manufacturing based on a digital model of anatomy of the patient, where the protective sheath includes a passageway extending therethrough. The method may further include inserting the protective sheath into the patient so that the passageway extends at least partially within the ear canal of the patient. The method may further include inserting at least one instrument during the surgical procedure through the passageway of the protective sheath and into the middle ear of the patient.

A system effectively narrows a patulous Eustachian tube (ET) of a patient with a guide catheter, instrument, and insert. The guide catheter includes a shaft, a lumen and a distal end configured to provide access the ET when the guide catheter is inserted into a head of the patient. The instrument comprises a shaft. The insert comprises a body configured to radially expand and retract between a non-expanded state and an expanded state. The insert is sized and shaped to be received within the first lumen when in the non-expanded state and is operable to expand to the expanded state to substantially reduce an effective diameter of the ET.

A loading device is configured to load a ventilation tube into an inserter device. The loading device includes a main body and at least one protruding member extending from the main body and terminating at a loading tip. An elongated hollow body has a first end, a second end, an inner wall and an outer wall. The elongated hollow body surrounds the at least one protruding member such that at least a portion of an outer facing surface of the protruding member engages with an inner wall of the elongated hollow body. A ventilation tube engages with the loading tip of the protruding member and is at least partially located within the elongated hollow body.

A tympanostomy tube delivery device comprises a drive assembly and a force limiting shaft assembly. The shaft assembly comprises a cannula and a piercer operable to translate relative to the cannula so as to pierce the tympanic membrane of a patient. The piercer is mechanically coupled with the drive assembly such that actuation of the drive assembly causes translation of the piercer relative to the cannula. The piercer is mechanically coupled with the drive assembly by a clutch. The clutch is resiliently biased to couple the piercer with the drive assembly. The clutch is configured to uncouple the piercer from the drive assembly in response to a threshold force being imposed upon the piercer so as to inhibit translation of piercer relative to the cannula.

A system effectively narrows a patulous Eustachian tube (ET) of a patient with a guide catheter, instrument, and insert. The guide catheter includes a shaft, a lumen and a distal end configured to provide access the ET when the guide catheter is inserted into a head of the patient. The instrument comprises a shaft. The insert comprises a body configured to radially expand and retract between a non-expanded state and an expanded state. The insert is sized and shaped to be received within the first lumen when in the non-expanded state and is operable to expand to the expanded state to substantially reduce an effective diameter of the ET.

A dilation catheter includes a catheter shaft, an expandable element, and a navigation sensor. The catheter shaft has a proximal shaft portion defining a proximal shaft end, a distal shaft portion defining a distal shaft end, and a working lumen extending between the proximal and distal shaft ends. The expandable element is disposed on the distal shaft portion proximally of the distal shaft end, and is configured to expand to dilate an anatomical passageway of a patient. The navigation sensor is arranged at the distal shaft portion, and is configured to generate a signal corresponding to a location of the distal shaft portion within the patient. In various examples, the dilation catheter may further include a bulbous distal tip, and the navigation sensor may be arranged within the bulbous distal tip.