A choanal atresia apparatus for use in prevention of stenosis following choanal atresia repair in patients. Two tubular choanal tubes each have an interior surface and an exterior surface, an anterior end and a posterior end, and a central axis. A plurality of axially spaced apertures in each of the two choanal tubes are for discharging nasal secretion. A strip has opposed ends coupled to the posterior ends of the two choanal tubes respectively. The strip couples the two choanal tubes in a laterally spaced relationship. The choanal tubes and the strip are fabricated of a medical grade plastic.

A therapeutic device (1) has a stem (3) having a distal end (60) configured for insertion in a patient's ear canal with latching by suction to the tympanic membrane so that there is no relative movement despite patient head movement. A needle (63) punctures the membrane after suction is applied by negative pressure via a lumen (66). The needle tip is located within a suction cup which grips the membrane. A hand-held control device (2) is coupled to the stem and has a user-actuated controller (8) for controlling application of negative pressure (7) to the suction lumen.

A therapeutic device (1) has a stem (3) having a distal end (60) configured for insertion in a patient's ear canal with latching by suction to the tympanic membrane so that there is no relative movement despite patient head movement. A needle (63) punctures the membrane after suction is applied by negative pressure via a lumen (66). The needle tip is located within a suction cup which grips the membrane. A hand-held control device (2) is coupled to the stem and has a user-actuated controller (8) for controlling application of negative pressure (7) to the suction lumen.

A fluidic bridging tube (1), for bridging membranes in the human or animal body allowing the passage of fluid, has a proximal flange (2), an inter lumen connector (3) with a lumen (5) and a distal flange (4). The tube comprises a metal skeleton or scaffold structure (51) and a surrounding polymer which is softer than the scaffold structure. The scaffold structure (51) has a tubular mesh providing structural strength to the inter lumen connector. The tubular mesh has members (61) defining substantial rectangular mesh apertures, and distal crowns (64). At its proximal end the scaffold structure comprises spines (68) extending from a proximal tubular mesh rim (63). The spines provide structural strength to the proximal flange (2). In the preferred embodiment the tube is a tympanostomy tube. A method of manufacturing the tube comprises providing the scaffold structure and over-moulding the outer material to form the shape of the proximal flange, the inter lumen connector with a lumen, and the distal flange.

A narrow-orifice foreign body extraction device configured as a unitary article comprises a volumetric enclosure bounded by a frustoconical cone, which has inner and outer surfaces and an intermediate section positioned between an apertured cap section and an apertured base section. The inner surface defines a boundary of an interior chamber of the volumetric enclosure, and the inner and outer surfaces define between them a cone wall. An adhesive material is secured to at least part of the inner or outer surfaces at the cap section and comprises an apertured portion and a tail portion. The apertured portion has one or more adhesive apertures and adhesive-covered opposing inner and outer side surfaces, and the tail portion has an adhesive-covered inner tail surface extending along and bonding to at least part of the outer surface at the cap section to secure the adhesive material to the cap section.

A narrow-orifice foreign body extraction device configured as a unitary article comprises a volumetric enclosure bounded by a frustoconical cone, which has inner and outer surfaces and an intermediate section positioned between an apertured cap section and an apertured base section. The inner surface defines a boundary of an interior chamber of the volumetric enclosure, and the inner and outer surfaces define between them a cone wall. An adhesive material is secured to at least part of the inner or outer surfaces at the cap section and comprises an apertured portion and a tail portion. The apertured portion has one or more adhesive apertures and adhesive-covered opposing inner and outer side surfaces, and the tail portion has an adhesive-covered inner tail surface extending along and bonding to at least part of the outer surface at the cap section to secure the adhesive material to the cap section.

Disclosed is a device for incision and insertion of a ventilation tube during myringotomy, comprising a cutter member configured to make an incision; a holder member configured to dispose the ventilation tube in an orientation in which a longitudinal axis of the ventilation tube is substantially perpendicular to the cutter member; and a pusher member configured to apply a pushing force to a first end of the ventilation tube in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the first end of the ventilation tube being disposed closer to the cutter member than a second end of the ventilation tube; wherein the holder member comprises a pivot element configured to releasably engage the second end of the ventilation tube such that the ventilation tube is pivotable under the pushing force applied to the first end of the ventilation tube by the pusher member, for insertion of the first end of the ventilation tube into the incision.

A myringotomy device includes a housing; an elongated tube extending from the housing; and a retractable cutting tool extendable through the elongated tube, the cutting tool comprising a blade. The cutting tool is configured such that when advanced, the blade of the cutting tool extends beyond a distal end of the elongated tube. The cutting tool is also configured such that when retracted, the blade is retracted into the elongated tube and a fluid conduit is created from the distal end of the elongated tube to the housing.

A myringotomy device includes a housing; an elongated tube extending from the housing; and a retractable cutting tool extendable through the elongated tube, the cutting tool comprising a blade. The cutting tool is configured such that when advanced, the blade of the cutting tool extends beyond a distal end of the elongated tube. The cutting tool is also configured such that when retracted, the blade is retracted into the elongated tube and a fluid conduit is created from the distal end of the elongated tube to the housing.

Certain embodiments described herein provide a method of performing an otological surgical procedure including surgically accessing a middle ear, injecting a perfluorocarbon liquid into the middle ear, and suctioning the isolated blood from the middle ear without removing the perfluorocarbon liquid. The perfluorocarbon liquid is immiscible with blood for isolating blood in the middle ear from the perfluorocarbon liquid. In certain embodiments, the perfluorocarbon liquid has a specific gravity greater than blood to apply positive pressure to surrounding tissues. In certain embodiments, the method includes suctioning the perfluorocarbon liquid from the middle ear after the isolated blood is removed.