Example radiographic dental jigs include a generally vertical post traversed by a generally horizontal beam to create a cross that can be used for marking a dental patient's midline (vertical line centered between the eyes), incisal edge plane, and forward lip position. The jig is radiographically scanned along with multiple fiducial markers on the patient's jaw to generate a first scan result. In some examples, physical models of the patient's jaws are also scanned to generate upper and lower jaw images. The upper and lower jaw images are shifted to coincide with the first scan result. Portions of the first scan result, including an image of the dental jig, are superimposed onto the properly shifted upper and lower jaw images to create a composite image. The composite image shows the dental jig in proper relation to the patient's upper and lower jaws, thereby rendering a conventional stick bite virtually obsolete.

A system for performing a dental procedure includes a hand piece having a robot arm that extends along a first axis, and a medical tool coupled with a distal end of the robot arm. The system includes a first gimbal coupled with the robot arm for rotating the robot arm and the medical tool about the first axis, a second gimbal coupled with the robot arm for tilting the medical tool up and down relative to the first axis, and a third gimbal coupled with the robot arm for moving the medical tool up and down along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The hand piece includes a turret that supports the robot arm and rotates within a plane that is perpendicular to the second axis. The system has a first motor coupled with the first shaft for extending and retracting the first shaft along the first axis, a second motor coupled with the first shaft for rotating the first shaft around the first axis, a third motor coupled with the panning linkage for moving he first shaft to the left and the right within the plane that is perpendicular to the second axis, a fourth motor coupled with the second shaft for extending and retracting the second shaft along the first axis, and a fifth motor coupled with the third shaft for extending and retracting the third shaft along the first axis.

In an example, a method for delivery of a therapeutic agent to at least one of a palatine canal or a pterygopalatine fossa of a patient is described. The method includes inserting a delivery device into a nasal cavity of a patient. The delivery device includes an elongated shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, a handpiece coupled to the proximal end of the elongated shaft, and a boring element disposed on the distal end of the elongated shaft. The method also includes advancing the distal end of the elongated shaft to a position proximate to a palatine bone within the nasal cavity, actuating the boring element to form a passage in the palatine bone between the nasal cavity and a palatine canal of the patient, and delivering a therapeutic agent into the palatine canal.

Devices, systems and methods for performing image guided interventional and surgical procedures, including various procedures to treat sinusitis and other disorders of the paranasal sinuses, ears, nose or throat.

Devices, systems and methods for performing image guided interventional and surgical procedures, including various procedures to treat sinusitis and other disorders of the paranasal sinuses, ears, nose or throat.

An optical fiber coupling system may include a first coupler half fixed to a first fiber optic element. The first coupler half may include a first magnetically energetic material. The first magnetically energetic material may include a first aperture extending through the first magnetically energetic material. The first fiber optic element may extend within the first aperture. The optical fiber coupling system may include a second coupler half fixed to a second fiber optic element. The second coupler half may include a second magnetically energetic material. The second magnetically energetic material may include a second aperture extending through the second magnetically energetic material. The second fiber optic element may extend within the second aperture. When the first magnetically energetic material is proximate the second magnetically energetic material, the first fiber optic element may be longitudinally aligned with the second fiber optic element. An optical fiber coupler may include a coupler half fixed to a fiber optic element. The coupler half may include a magnetically energetic material. The magnetically energetic material includes an aperture extending through the magnetically energetic material. The fiber optic element may extend within the aperture. The optical fiber coupler may include a circumferentially extending material, at least partially around a perimeter of the magnetically energetic material. The circumferentially extending material may define a receptacle.

There is proposed an adjustable bite block for a patient's mouth for use during a medical or surgical procedure. The adjustable bite block includes an upper portion for engaging the teeth of a maxilla of the patient, and a lower portion for engaging the teeth of a mandible of the patient. The upper portion and/or lower portion has at least one passageway therebetween or therethrough, and the lower portion is adjustably connected to or adjacent the upper portion, to facilitate the movement of the mandible to thereby adjust the patient's airway. An adjustment member is connected or coupled to the lower portion of the bite block, and accessible from an exterior of the patient's mouth during use. The adjustment member is configured to move the lower portion relative to the upper portion to thereby move the mandible of the patient between a rest position and a forward thrust position.

Dental instrument assemblies (e.g., mouth pieces, bite blocks, vacuum dental mirrors, illuminated dental mirrors, illuminated dental wedges, trans-illumination dental instrument, illuminated dental bite blocks, etc.) are provided. The dental instrument assemblies may be adapted to be periodically sterilized. The dental instrument assemblies may include a magnetically energetic fiber optic coupler. The magnetically energetic fiber optic coupler may be configured to allow dental instrument adapter to rotate with respect to an associated fiber optic cable that is removably connected to the magnetically energetic fiber optic coupler. The dental instrument assemblies may include a fiber optic material that is encapsulated.

The invention relates to a device for immobilizing the head of a patient in an installation for carrying out radiotherapy, wherein the device comprises a thermoplastic mask, shaped according to the contour of the patient's head, and a mouthpiece, wherein the mouthpiece has a central part from which a spout protrudes in the direction of the mouth and from which a holding structure protrudes in the direction away from the mouth, wherein an air channel is provided which extends through the mouthpiece from the mouth-side end of the spout to the side of the central part in the direction away from the mouth, and wherein a region of the mask is shaped according to the contour of the holding structure. The invention further relates to a method for producing such a device, to the use of such a device for immobilizing the head of a patient in an installation for carrying out radiotherapy, and to an installation for carrying out radiotherapy which, in order to immobilize the head of a patient, comprises such a device.

The inventive alignment frame simplifies the task of attaching a fixation frame to a patient's skull prior to radiotherapy treatments. The frame is adjustably attachable to the fixation frame and is equipped with a bite plate that allows a patient to bite down on the bite plate to immobile the alignment-calibration frame and the attached fixation frame. The positional relationships are adjusted to bring the fixation screws into optimal locations on the patient's skull. Needle calibration assemblies placed into the fixation screw holders include clear needle guides through which a hypodermic needle is inserted to inject anesthetic into the future fixation screw location. The needle calibration assemblies are removed and the optimal length fixation screw is tightened into the anesthetized location. After all the fixation screws are in place, the patient releases the bite plate and the entire alignment-calibration frame is removed from the fixation frame.