Sinusitis, enlarged nasal turbinates, tumors, infections, hearing disorders, allergic conditions, facial fractures and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches and, in many cases, flexible catheters as opposed to instruments having rigid shafts. Various diagnostic procedures and devices are used to perform imaging studies, mucus flow studies, air/gas flow studies, anatomic dimension studies, endoscopic studies and transillumination studies. Access and occluder devices may be used to establish fluid tight seals in the anterior or posterior nasal cavities/nasopharynx and to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g., scopes, guidewires, catheters, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for injecting diagnostic or therapeutic agents, devices for implanting devices such as stents, substance eluting devices, substance delivery implants, etc.

Systems and methods are provided for altering the shape of a target tissue structure of a subject, e.g., a nasal septum or other nasal tissue that include securing a first end of a shaping element to tissue adjacent the structure; manipulating the tissue to alter a shape of the structure; and applying a force to the shaping element to maintain the altered shape of the structure.

A surgical instrument for use in a sinus lift procedure and methods for performing sinus lift procedures. A surgical instrument includes a shank having a body portion, a first end, an opposite second end, and a neck portion disposed between the body portion and the first end. The shank body portion defines a first longitudinal axis and the neck portion defines a second longitudinal axis. The shank further defines a head coupled with the first end. The head includes a flat proximal surface that extends radially outward of the neck portion and a domed distal surface opposite the first proximal surface. The second longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the proximal surface.

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.

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.

Provided is a medical device comprising an adaptor having a slot and screw arrangement, the adaptor configured to be connectable to a handpiece; and an extension tube configured to be partially received within the adaptor, the extension tube configured to receive a drive shaft of a working member, wherein the slot and screw arrangement of the adaptor is configured to adjustably lock the extension tube along the drive shaft of the working member. The medical device further comprises a locking ring having one or more slots, the locking ring configured to receive a portion of a handpiece, wherein the one or more slots of the locking ring is configured to work together with a locking pin to lock and secure the drive shaft of the working member.

Sinusitis, enlarged nasal turbinates, tumors, infections, hearing disorders, allergic conditions, facial fractures and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches and, in many cases, flexible catheters as opposed to instruments having rigid shafts. Various diagnostic procedures and devices are used to perform imaging studies, mucus flow studies, air/gas flow studies, anatomic dimension studies, endoscopic studies and transillumination studies. Access and occluder devices may be used to establish fluid tight seals in the anterior or posterior nasal cavities/nasopharynx and to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g., scopes, guidewires, catheters, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for injecting diagnostic or therapeutic agents, devices for implanting devices such as stents, substance eluting devices, substance delivery implants, etc.

A surgical instrument for cutting a first tissue and detecting a second tissue includes a shaft, a cutting member, and a tissue monitor system. The shaft extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a shaft lumen and a shaft opening. The cutting member is disposed within the shaft lumen and configured to cyclically move from a first position to a second position relative to the shaft. The cutting member is further configured to cut a tissue portion of the first tissue for removal therefrom. The tissue monitor system is associated with at least one of the shaft or the cutting member configured to detect the second tissue distinct from the first tissue for selectively cutting and removing the first tissue relative to the second tissue.

A surgical cutting instrument including an outer tubular member having a proximal section, an intermediate section and a central lumen. An inner tubular member is rotatably received within the central lumen and includes a distal end having a bur extending distally beyond, and exposed relative to, the distal section of the outer tubular member. The bur defines an aspiration pathway that is at least partially oriented at an angle with respect to a central axis of the bur. The aspiration pathway terminates at an opening that can be provided through a head of the bur or proximal to the head. Various embodiments of the disclosure have been shown to reduce clogging of the aspiration pathway during use, particularly during end on drilling. Various embodiments further include a sleeve for reducing lumen clogging as well as irrigation pathways that increase cooling of embodiments utilizing a distal bearing assembly.

Generally, abnormal pressures in the sinus cavity can have physiological effects due to stimulation or injury of various nerves that are in proximity to the sinus, including increased or decreased pressure on the nerves as well as extrusion of the nerves into the sinus cavities due to bony dehiscence. Methods and devices for alleviating disorders associated with the sinus cavities are described. Embodiments herein include diagnosing these disorders by occluding or restricting the sinus ostium and assessing the physiological effects caused by the occlusion/restriction and treating these disorders by navigating/directing a dilating device to the sinus ostium and dilating the sinus ostium. Other embodiments are directed to devices for maintaining the ostial opening.