A ventilation tube comprising a hollow body oriented along a central axis and having an inner facing wall, an outer facing wall, a medial end and a lateral end. The hollow body including a length that extends from the medial end to the lateral end. A lateral tab includes a base end coupled to the outer facing wall of the hollow body and extends outwardly from the outer facing wall to a free end. The lateral tab is located between and spaced apart from the medial end and the lateral end. The base end includes a first length that extends lengthwise along the hollow body and the free end includes a second length. The first length of the base end of the lateral tab is greater than the second length of the free end of the lateral tab.

A ventilation tube includes a hollow main portion having an inner wall, an outer wall, a distal end and a proximal end. The outer wall defines an outer wall width dimension. At least one distal member is coupled to and extends from the distal end and has an outer end. At least one proximal member is coupled to and extends from the main portion and has an outer end. In an undeployed state, the outer end of the at least one proximal member is more greatly spaced apart from the outer wall width dimension than the outer end of the at least one distal member. In a deployed state the outer end of the at least one distal member changes in position relative to the outer wall width dimension and the outer end of the at least one proximal member remains unchanged relative to the outer wall width dimension.

A myringotomy device includes a housing; an elongated tube extending from the housing; and a retractable cutting tool extendable through the elongated tube, the cutting tool comprising a blade. The cutting tool is configured such that when advanced, the blade of the cutting tool extends beyond a distal end of the elongated tube. The cutting tool is also configured such that when retracted, the blade is retracted into the elongated tube and a fluid conduit is created from the distal end of the elongated tube to the housing.

A bio-absorbable implant is configured to bear radially outwardly against a Eustachian tube of a patient. The implant includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion includes an array of dilating bodies and a tether assembly. The dilating bodies are formed of a bio-absorbable material and are dimensioned to bear radially outwardly against the Eustachian tube of the patient. The tether assembly connects adjacent dilating bodies of the array of dilating bodies. The tether assembly is configured to allow restricted movement of the array of dilating bodies to thereby change the longitudinal profile of the proximal portion. The distal portion includes an anchor assembly that is configured to secure the bio-absorbable implant in the Eustachian tube of the patient.

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, apparatus, and methods are described for transporting and delivering a therapeutic substance to an ear of a subject, including a tubular element (216) configured for deployment in a tympanic membrane (TM) and a fluid transport element (230). The fluid transport element can be configured to transport the therapeutic substance from a proximal side to a distal side of the tubular element. Systems, apparatus, and methods further can include a fluid dispenser including a reservoir configured to contain a therapeutic substance, and a tubular element defining a lumen in fluid communication with an outlet in which the lumen and the outlet are configured to deliver the therapeutic substance from the reservoir to a region proximal to the tympanic membrane. Systems, apparatus, and methods further can include an electrode device.

Delivering an anesthetizing solution into the ear canal. One example embodiment is a method of treatment, the method comprising: adhering a pad to a patient, the adhering on the patients face proximate to a tragus of the patient, and the pad being a member of an earset assembly; inserting an earset into an ear canal of the patient; locking relative orientations of the earset and pad by way of a connection assembly, the locking in place to hold the earset in the ear canal; filling the ear canal with therapeutic fluid; and performing iontophoresis with the therapeutic fluid by way of an electrode of the earset.

Tube delivery. One example is a tube delivery system comprising: a hand piece body; a shaft assembly extending from the hand piece body; and a drive assembly. The shaft assembly may comprise: an elongate outer tube; an introducer (310) defining a distal end, a first leaf on the distal end, a second leaf on the distal end, and an inside diameter; a tympanostomy tube disposed within and abutting the inside diameter of the introducer; and a pusher concentrically disposed within the introducer. The drive assembly may be disposed within the hand piece body, the drive assembly configured to longitudinally translate the introducer and the pusher relative to the elongate outer tube, wherein the drive assembly is configured to dilate the first leaf (508) and second leaf (510) by the pusher distally translating the tympanostomy tube relative to the introducer.

Provided is a medical device with portions configured for fitting and being retained simultaneously into two cavities on opposite sides of the body of a subject, for example the eustachian tubes or the fallopian tubes. The device may include an elongated member with a central segment and first and second peripheral segments extending therefrom. These segments differ in their intended function and eventual in situ positioning: the two peripheral segments intended for insertion and positioning within the two cavities and exerting their function within the cavities. The central segment serves as a link between two peripheral segments and may also be used for some other functions by its position. The elongated member may have elastic properties.

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.