A copper bactericide/virucide assembly for killing invasive bacteria and viruses in a nostril includes a wire that is comprised of copper. In this way the wire can kill bacteria and viruses on contact. The wire is insertable into a nostril thereby facilitating the wire to contact mucous membranes within the nostril. Thus, the wire can kill invasive microbes, bacteria and viruses on the mucous membranes thereby reducing the likelihood of developing an upper respiratory infection.

A surgical instrument and method of removing a portion of a tissue mass includes a shaft, a cutting member, and an aspiration vent. The shaft has a shaft lumen, a shaft window, and a shaft edge. The cutting member is disposed within the shaft lumen and is configured to cyclically move from a first position to a second position relative to the shaft. The cutting member includes a cutting window opening, a cutting edge, and a suction lumen to cut the tissue portion with the cutting member in the first position. The aspiration vent extends through at least one of the shaft or the cutting member for fluid communication with the suction lumen to suction an airflow for urging the tissue portion away from the cutting edge and along the suction lumen.

Sinusitis and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches with flexible or rigid instruments. Various methods and devices are used for remodeling or changing the shape, size or configuration of a sinus ostium or duct or other anatomical structure in the ear, nose or throat; implanting a device, cells or tissues; removing matter from the ear, nose or throat; delivering diagnostic or therapeutic substances or performing other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Introducing devices (e.g., guide catheters, tubes, guidewires, elongate probes, other elongate members) may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g. catheters e.g. balloon catheters, guidewires, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, devices for implanting elements like stents, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for delivering diagnostic or therapeutic agents, substance delivery implants, scopes etc.) into the paranasal sinuses or other structures in the ear, nose or throat, Specific devices (e.g., tubular guides, guidewires, balloon catheters, tubular sheaths) are provided as are methods for manufacturing and using such devices to treat disorders of the ear, nose or throat.

Disclosed herein is a medical device. The medical device includes two coaxially aligned solenoids and a cannulated armature configured to be received within the two coaxially aligned solenoids.

Nasal implants are provided that have a planar type profile with open spaces through portions of the planar type profile. The nasal implant can be compressible along one or more dimensions of the nasal implant, such as the width and length of the planar type profile. Delivery tools for deploying the nasal implants within the nasal tissue are also provided. Methods for deploying the nasal implants within the nasal tissue of the patient are also provided.

A guide catheter for use in treating sinuses, the catheter including a catheter shaft configured to provide suction about a balloon catheter and a distal portion shaped for navigating body anatomy. In one embodiment, the guide catheter includes a valve for sealing the balloon catheter and a vent for controlling suction.

A system for accessing a body cavity, such as a paranasal sinus, may include a sinus access member and a handle. The sinus access member may include a rigid support tube, a curved shape memory member slidably disposed at least partially within the rigid support tube, a flexible tube slidably disposed over at least part of the curved shape memory member, and proximal coupling end. The handle may include an engagement mechanism at a distal end for releasably attaching to the proximal coupling end of the sinus access member, a housing for gripping with a hand, a curving slider for extending and retracting the curved shape memory member, and an extension slider for extending and retracting the flexible tube relative to the curved shape memory member and the rigid support tube. The handle may be reusable, and the sinus access member may be disposable.

A fingertip cleaning apparatus having a three-dimensional structure. The three-dimensional structure includes a fingertip receiving portion having a conical wall, a rounded apex wall at a distal end of the conical wall, a cavity having a top end that is closed by the rounded apex wall, an opening into the cavity defined, at least in part, by a lower edge of the conical wall, and a gripping portion including a flap wall that extends from a proximal end of the conical wall of the fingertip receiving portion.

A dilation apparatus comprises an elongate member and a dilation assembly that is slidable along the elongate member. The dilation assembly comprises a platform and an inflatable dilator. The platform and the elongate member cooperate to absorb inflation forces from the dilator directed toward the longitudinal axis of the elongate member, such that the dilation forces are exerted against tissue asymmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member. The dilation apparatus may be used to dilate the ethmoid infundibulum in a human patient. Various devices may be used to maintain the dilated state of an ethmoid infundibulum, including a wedge, a mesh, and a tether. An illuminator may be configured to reach around an uncinate process, retract the uncinate process, and then illuminate the ethmoid infundibulum to provide improved visualization of the ethmoid infundibulum.

Methods and devices for providing liquids to nasal and/or paranasal cavities are disclosed. Probe portions of a first and of a second probe are introduced to a user's first and second nostril, respectively. Each probe has a primary channel and a secondary channel. Fluid is provided to the secondary channels to expand the expandable portions of the secondary channels, seal the nostril openings and expand alar sidewalls of the nostrils. This may reveal ducts that lead to the paranasal cavities. The liquid is provided through the primary channels to the nasal cavity, the liquid being disposed to reach and stimulate the soft palate, and may trigger a swallow reflex to raise the soft palate and exert pressure to the liquid, the liquid may find an escape route through the ducts and into the paranasal cavities.