An airway device includes an airway tube having a first end surrounded by a laryngeal cuff which includes a back dorsal portion, a front face portion and a tip portion. The front face portion is shaped to form an anatomical fit over the laryngeal inlet of a patient, and to form a seal with the laryngeal inlet of the patient. The tip portion includes an annular sealing bulge which is adapted to wedge into an upper esophagus region of the patient. The annular sealing bulge improves sealing of the tip of the laryngeal cuff in the upper esophageal region of the patient. The annular sealing bulge is preferably formed from a soft polymeric or other plastics material with a Shore hardness of between 40 and 000 on the A scale, and allows for better sealing with a more variable range of upper esophageal anatomical features.

A method of treating snoring and/or OSA in a subject in need of such treatment. The method includes crosslinking proteins of the subject's soft palate tissue or pharynx tissue. The crosslinking can occur by contacting the soft palate or pharynx tissue with a crosslinking reagent. In addition, the crosslinking can occur without heating, contracting or denaturing of the tissue, or any combination thereof.

A method of delivering a substance in aerosol or powder form to the upper respiratory tract is provided. The substance is orally administered into the larynx, through the pharynx, and out from the nose while minimizing inhalation into the lungs, whereby deposition of particles in the upper respiratory tract is achieved with limited deposition in the trachea, lower airways and lungs. Also provided is an oral delivery device having a mouthpiece for oral inhalation of a flow of a substance into the upper respiratory tract and a flow restrictor for enabling arrestment of the flow minimizing inhalation into the trachea, lower airways and lungs, which provides for a deposition of particles in the upper respiratory tract with limited deposition in the trachea, lower airways and lungs. Also provided is an oral delivery device having a mouthpiece for admission of a flow of a substance into the upper respiratory tract and a flow generator for pressuring the substance into travel through the upper respiratory tract.

A method of delivering a substance in aerosol or powder form to the upper respiratory tract is provided. The substance is orally administered into the larynx, through the pharynx, and out from the nose while minimizing inhalation into the lungs, whereby deposition of particles in the upper respiratory tract is achieved with limited deposition in the trachea, lower airways and lungs. Also provided is an oral delivery device having a mouthpiece for oral inhalation of a flow of a substance into the upper respiratory tract and a flow restrictor for enabling arrestment of the flow minimizing inhalation into the trachea, lower airways and lungs, which provides for a deposition of particles in the upper respiratory tract with limited deposition in the trachea, lower airways and lungs. Also provided is an oral delivery device having a mouthpiece for admission of a flow of a substance into the upper respiratory tract and a flow generator for pressuring the substance into travel through the upper respiratory tract.

A laryngeal mask is provided with an outer tube and a connector, having a base end in which is formed a first connecting portion capable of being connected to an artificial respirator and a leading end in which is formed a ventilation opening, the outer tube and the connector having a communication passage formed therein that communicates between the first connecting portion and the ventilation opening, a ring-shaped cuff capable of tightly adhering to a tracheal opening of a patient trachea as a result of inflating in a state where the ring-shaped cuff is inserted to a predetermined insertion position, and hyoid bone-contacting portions and protruding laterally from the outer tube so as to contact from above a site in a pharyngeal portion of the patient corresponding to a hyoid bone of the patient in a state where the ring-shaped cuff is inserted to the insertion position.

A system comprising a handpiece and drive system configured to removably couple to a proximal end of a housing. A scalpet assembly is configured to removeably couple to the housing, and includes a scalpet array comprising at least one scalpet configured for rotation. The scalpet array is configured to harvest dermal plugs via fractional resection. A collection chamber is configured to collect the dermal plugs, and to house formation of an injectable filler by mincing the dermal plugs, and mixing the dermal plugs with a carrier. The injectable filler is configured for bulk fill. The collection chamber includes a loading port, and a cannular syringe is configured to mate with the loading port to receive the injectable filler, and to deliver the injectable filler for the bulk fill.

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.

An oral airway includes a first component having a first guiding surface and a second component having a second guiding surface. The first component and the second component are adapted to be removably coupled together such that the first guiding surface and the second guiding surface collectively define and encompass an interior passage through the oral airway that is dimensioned to direct, for example, a fiber-optic scope or an endotracheal tube extending through the interior passage for tracheal intubation. The first and second components are configured to be decoupled and independently removed from a patient's mouth without disrupting an endotracheal tube that has been extended through the conduit for tracheal intubation. The first and second components may be maintained in coupled disposition by an interlocking mechanical structure. The first and second components also may be maintained in coupled disposition by magnetism.

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.

An embodiment of a system for treating sleep apnea includes a collar, a pump, and a motor. The collar has a vacuum surface and has a sealing surface that is configured to form a seal with a region of a neck of a subject having an airway. The pump is secured to the collar, and is configured to maintain the airway open by drawing a vacuum between the vacuum surface of the collar and a region of a throat of the subject. And the motor is secured to the collar and is configured to drive the pump. As compared to existing systems (e.g., a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) system) for treating sleep apnea, the above-described system may be more portable, more comfortable, may be less likely to require adjustment while a subject using the system is asleep, and, therefore, may be less likely to awaken the subject.