A guidewire, consisting of a flexible biocompatible tube, having a tube distal end, the tube containing an internal lumen and being configured to be inserted into an orifice of a body of a living subject. A planar resilient strip is inserted into the internal lumen, the strip having a strip proximal end and a strip distal end fixed to the tube distal end. A coil spring is fixed to the strip proximal end so that an axis of symmetry of the coil is coplanar with the strip, the coil spring containing a coil lumen. A wire is threaded through the coil lumen and has a termination fixed to the strip distal end, so that pulling on the wire causes the strip and the tube to bend.

A medical device for the treatment and irrigation of a sinus opening is described. The device allows for single-handed operation to access, dilate and irrigate a sinus opening. The device includes a sinus guide catheter, a guiding element, a balloon dilation catheter, a balloon catheter movement mechanism and a guiding element movement mechanism. A method for treating a sinus opening and irrigating a sinus is also described.

Novel pharmaceutical compositions including cocaine hydrochloride and methods of treating patients using those pharmaceutical compositions are described.

Medical devices, systems and methods that are useable to facilitate transnasal insertion and positioning of guidewires and various other devices and instruments at desired locations within the ear, nose, throat, paranasal sinuses or cranium.

Novel pharmaceutical compositions including cocaine hydrochloride and methods of treating patients using those pharmaceutical compositions are described.

Apparatus and methods for tissue reduction are described where one embodiment of the tissue resection device may generally comprise an external clamping mechanism having at least two distally extending members shaped with an atraumatic distal end and defining a confined region between the distally extending members sized to receive a tissue region therebetween. Additionally, an elongate coring needle defining a lumen and having a proximal end attached to a handle and a distal end which defines a cutting mechanism may also be included, wherein the coring needle is translatable adjacent and/or relative to the external or internal clamping mechanism defined by the confined region.

A medical probe includes a shaft and a distal-end assembly. The shaft is configured for insertion into a cavity of an organ of a patient. The distal-end assembly is fitted at a distal end of the shaft and includes (a) a camera, which is fitted at a distal edge of the distal-end assembly and is configured to acquire images of a target tissue site in the cavity, (b) an expandable balloon, and (c) a recessed opening at the distal edge of the distal-end assembly for deploying and retracting the balloon. At least part of the recessed opening is slanted at an oblique angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the distal-end assembly, thereby causing the balloon to exit and expand while not obstructing the images acquired by the camera.

A surgical instrument for the removal of frontal nasal recess cells includes an elongate handle, a first arm extending from a first end of the handle and a second arm extending from a second end of the handle. The first and second arms can extend in opposing directions. Each of the arms include a spherical terminal hub on their respective ends. A plurality of cylindrical fingers extend from each terminal hub at an angle, thereby providing an umbrella-like configuration. A spherical cap is attached to a free end of each cylindrical finger.

A dilation catheter device and system for dilating an opening in a paranasal sinus and/or other passageways within the ear, nose or throat is disclosed. A dilation catheter device and system is constructed in a manner that facilitates ease of use by the operator and, in at least some cases, allows the dilation procedure to be performed by a single operator. Additionally, the dilation catheter device and system may be useable in conjunction with an endoscope and/or a fluoroscope to provide for easy manipulation and positioning of the devices and real time visualization of the entire procedure or selected portions thereof. In some embodiments, shaft markers are disposed on a shaft of the dilation catheter and have a light color to contrast with a dark color of the dilation catheter shaft. The high contrast between the markers and catheter shaft allows for easy viewing of the markers in low light and operation conditions.

Provided is a medical device comprising an inner tubular member, an outer tubular member having a distal end and an open window disposed at the distal end, a first electrode and/or a second electrode disposed at the distal end of the outer tubular member, and a cannulated plunger or armature or shaft configured to drive the inner tubular member to cut tissue in cooperation with the open window of the outer tubular member wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to provide RF energy needed for surgical operation and wherein the first and the second electrodes may be configured to be symmetrical or substantially symmetrical along a longitudinal axis of the outer tubular member or wherein the first electrode is configured to cover the open window of the outer tubular member and extended to one side of the outer tubular member and the second electrode is configured to be disposed on the other side of the outer tubular member. Also provided are methods of making a medical device as described herein.