A surgical tampon for being disposed into and removed from an anatomical cavity of a mammalian patient by a doctor. the surgical tampon comprises absorbent material for absorbing and retaining bodily fluids from a patient. The tampon has at least one functional additive to assist the doctor during surgery, particularly nasopharyngeal surgery. The functional additive comprises at least one of luminescent material, a pulse oximeter, soluble adhesive and combinations thereof as selected by the doctor for a particular surgical procedure.

An implantable article comprising a dissolvable sponge derived from the mixture of chitosan, a first polysaccharide and a second polysaccharides. The polysaccharides have different number average molecular weight characteristics to enable the control of the mechanical features of the sponge.

A kit for disposing one or more functional additives into an anatomical cavity of a patient, and particularly into the nasopharyngeal region of a patient. The functional additives may be designed to assist the patient, the doctor or both during a surgical procedure. The kit has an apparatus with a hollow deployment tube into which the functional additive may be removably disposed upon manipulation by a doctor. The kit may comprise a plurality of mutually identical or mutually different functional additives and optionally be used with surgical tampons.

A kit for disposing a surgical tampon into an anatomical cavity of a patient, and particularly in the nasopharyngeal region of a patient. The kit has an apparatus with a hollow deployment tube into which a compressible tampon may be removably disposed upon manipulation by a doctor. The tampon may have one or more associated functional additives to assist the doctor or patient with a surgical procedure. The kit may comprise a plurality of mutually identical or mutually different surgical tampons.

A conformable surgical tampon for disposition into and removal from an anatomical cavity of a mammalian patient by a doctor to absorb and collect bodily fluids. The tampon comprises an absorbent chassis material and a plurality of spaced apart positioning strings attached to the chassis. The spaced apart positioning strings are operative to selectively position the conformable nasopharyngeal tampon within an anatomical cavity of a patient responsive to manipulation of a positioning string by a surgeon. The tampon is particularly suited for nasopharyngeal surgery.

An apparatus that includes a conformable and compressible nasopharyngeal tampon and a method for delivering the tampon to an anatomical cavity of a patient. The tampon is configured to collect and remove posterior nasal fluid from a patient. The tampon may be compressably and slidably disposed in a longitudinally extending deployment tube having mutually opposed proximal and distal ends. A longitudinal plunger is slidably disposed within and extends out of the proximal end of the deployment tube. The distal end of the plunger is disposed in choanae and/or nasopharynx of the patient. Upon manual actuation, the plunger is activated to deliver the tampon to the nasopharyngeal region of a mammalian patient. Optionally, positioning strings may be joined to the tampon, to fine tune positioning of the tampon within the choanae and/or nasopharynx.

An apparatus that for delivering a conformable and compressible nasopharyngeal tampon to an anatomical cavity of a patient and method of delivering the tampon to the patient. The tampon is configured to collect and remove posterior nasal fluid from a patient. The tampon may be compressably and slidably disposed in a longitudinally extending deployment tube having mutually opposed proximal and distal ends. A longitudinal plunger is slidably disposed within and extends out of the proximal end of the deployment tube. The distal end of the plunger is disposed in choanae and/or nasopharynx of the patient. Upon manual actuation, the plunger is activated to deliver the tampon to the nasopharyngeal region of a mammalian patient. Optionally, positioning strings may be joined to the tampon, to fine tune positioning of the tampon within the choanae and/or nasopharynx.

An apparatus that includes a mask is provided, the mask including one or more fixation anchoring devices, each configured to anchor to an at least one body part within a user, wherein the at least one body part includes at least a portion of one or more of an oral, nasal, pharyngeal, and a respiratory airway; one or more skin covers, each capable of covering at least a portion of the user's face, wherein one or more of the fixation anchoring devices are connected to one or more skin covers; one or more conduits, each connected to at least a portion of one of the skin covers, wherein one or more of a gas, solid, liquid, and gel are transmitted through each of the conduits; and one or more sealing pads, each connected to at least one of one of the skin coverings and one of the fixation anchoring devices.

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.

An epistaxis clip is a molded plastic clip with bilateral wings lined with high absorption capacity foam. This disposable, single-use clip is inserted into the anterior nasal cavity to provide pressure and absorption to treat anterior epistaxis. The wings of the clip can be locked or biased together to ensure sufficient pressure is achieved.