Described here are systems and methods for delivering an active agent to target tissues of the ear, nose, or throat using an expandable member having drug crystals layered thereon, and methods for manufacturing such systems. The expandable member can be delivered to the target tissues in a low-profile configuration and expanded to contact and/or dilate surrounding tissue. Expansion of the expandable member transfers the drug crystals to the target tissues, which then act as an in situ depot that enables maintenance of a therapeutic level of an active agent for a desired time period after removal of the expandable member. Multiple expansions of a single expandable member can be employed during treatment. For example, the systems and methods can be useful when it is desired to treat multiple paranasal sinuses with a single expandable member.

Implants comprising electrically-responsive hydrogel are described. Systems to provide electricity to induce response in hydrogel-containing implants are described. Methods for utilizing said system and methods for utilizing said hydrogel-containing implants are described.

An esophageal liquid-supply catheter is capable of reducing the temperature transmission to the esophagus due to heating, cooling or the like by ablation, by efficiently delivering a liquid to the esophagus is disclosed. The esophageal liquid-supply catheter contains a tubular member, a plurality of arms with the proximal ends fixed to the distal end of the tubular member, and a distal end tip fixed to the distal end of the arms, wherein the plurality of arms can be deformed and expanded outward in the radial direction of the tubular member. A shaft may be inserted through the tubular member and fixed on the distal end to the distal end tip, and the arms can be expanded outward in the radial direction when the shaft is slid toward the proximal end side relative to the tubular member.

An appliance (1) for enteral nutrition by means of a probe of the type comprising a tubular element of elongated shape and substantially flexible which defines a feeding channel open at the extremities for the introduction of nutritional substances in the stomach of a patient and which comprises at least a first inflatable balloon for detecting the pressure inside the oesophagus of a patient, the tubular element comprising at least a first inlet/outlet mouth for the air in/from the first balloon, the appliance (1) further comprising: at least a pneumatic circuit (3) having pumping means (4) associable at least with the first inlet/outlet mouth for inflating/deflating the first balloon; processing means (8) comprising: detection means which can be connected to the first balloon to detect the patient's oesophageal pressure (p.sub.es); reading means of the pressure of the respiratory tract (p.sub.aw) which can be connected to an external detection device; calculation means operatively connected to the detection means and to the reading means and able to calculate at least the transpulmonary pressure (p.sub.tp); graphic display means (10) operatively connected to the processing means (8) and able to display at least one of the oesophageal pressure (p.sub.es), the pressure of the respiratory tract (p.sub.aw) and the transpulmonary pressure (p.sub.tp).

A system for automated adjustment of a pressure set by a ventilation device, in particular a positive and-expiratory pressure and/or a maximum airway pressure, the system comprising a pressure detection arrangement for detecting a transpulmonary pressure at the end of an expiration phase and/or for detecting a transpulmonary pressure at the end of an inspiration phase, and a device for automated adjustment of the pressure set by the ventilation device on the basis of the transpulmonary pressure detected at the end of the expiration phase and/or the transpulmonary pressure detected at the end of the inspiration phase.

A naso/orogastric device that comprises a naso/orogastric tube sized and shaped for being disposed within the esophagus so that at least a distal segment thereof being placed in the stomach lumen of a patient and at least one self expending element disposed around a peripheral surface of the naso/orogastric tube and having a first thickness in a compressed state and a second thickness in an expanded state, the at least one self expending element switching from the compressed state to the expanded state when absorbing moisture. The first thickness is thinner than the second thickness.

A catheter device is to be applied to a catheter and includes a tube member and a handle. The tube member is configured to be inserted through a lumen provided in a catheter shaft of the catheter. The handle is provided on a base end of the tube member, and includes a deformation operating member configured to receive an operation that causes a region in the vicinity of a tip end of the tube member to be subjected to bending deformation. Upon the bending deformation of the region in the vicinity of the tip end of the tube member in response to the operation of the deformation operating member, the tube member to be subjected to the bending deformation is configured to be pressed against a wall surface of the lumen of the catheter shaft to displace a region in the vicinity of a tip end of the catheter shaft.

The present disclosure is directed to a method of determining a position of a medical instrument. The method may include inserting a first material into a body and adjacent to the medical instrument, analyzing at least one characteristic of the inserted first material, and determining the position of the medical instrument based on the analysis of the at least one characteristic.

Implants comprising electrically-responsive hydrogel are described. Systems to provide electricity to induce response in hydrogel-containing implants are described. Methods for utilizing said system and methods for utilizing said hydrogel-containing implants are described.

A fluid delivery and airway management device including a tubular member dimensioned for introducing a fluid into a trachea of a mammal, the tubular member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a middle portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The tubular member is dimensioned for positioning of the proximal portion in an oral cavity of a mammal, the middle portion in an oropharynx of the mammal and the distal portion in an esophagus of the mammal. An inflatable oral cavity balloon is positioned at the proximal portion and dimensioned to occlude the oral cavity. An inflatable esophageal balloon is positioned at the distal portion and dimensioned to occlude the esophagus. Apertures may be formed within the middle portion such that a fluid introduced into the tubular member is output through the apertures to a trachea.