A device for visualizing and providing suction for a surgical procedure in an ear may include a handle, a main shaft extending from the handle, an imaging sensor at a distal end of the main shaft, a light source at the distal end of the main shaft, and a suction shaft extending from the handle. The device may also include a spring coupled with the suction shaft and/or the handle, such that when the suction shaft is advanced in a distal direction and then released, the suction shaft retracts automatically. The suction shaft may have a distal curved portion, and the device may have a thumb depress portion that allows a user to spin the suction shaft to suction in different directions. Some embodiments may include a suction shaft with a sharp distal tip that is configured for placing an ear tube in the tympanic membrane.

A method and system of treating connective tissue to increase flexibility of the connective tissue or decrease tension in the connective tissue includes forming perforations in the connective tissue to at least 90% of the depth or thickness of the connective tissue and maintaining the perforations in the connective tissue. The method alters the tissue to enhance the fundamental mechanisms involved the immunology, biochemistry, and molecular genetics of the metabolism of the connective tissue.

A tube deploying system includes a nose assembly having a distal cutting edge and a tube. The distal cutting edge is configured to be manually advanced to pierce a membrane of a patient. A handle of the system includes a pull mechanism having a slider and a pull block and an actuation member having a distal end that couples to the distal cutting edge and a proximal end that couples to the pull block. The slider is manually operated to move the pull mechanism from a non-pulled configuration to a pulled configuration. In the pulled configuration, the pull block pulls the actuation member such that the distal cutting edge is retracted to deploy the tube.

An apparatus for controlled perforation and aspiration of the inner ear having a distal portion including a plurality of apices and a plurality of valleys therebetween defining a plurality of serrated blades. An apparatus for controlled penetration of a membrane of the inner ear includes a member having a distal portion, and an outer surface defining a circumference around the member, the member defines a plurality of apices extending from a distal end of said member, a plurality of valleys, wherein each valley is disposed between neighboring apices, a plurality of cutting edges defined by the plurality of apices and the plurality of valleys disposed on the outer circumference of the member; a tip at a most distal end of each of the apices, and a trailing edge extending from the tip to the center of the member.

A nitric oxide gas-releasing conduit configured for surgical implantation through a patient's tympanic membrane. The nitric oxide gas-releasing conduit comprises a gas-permeable cured resin material configured for releasably sequestering therein gas. The gas-permeable cured resin material is charged with nitric oxide gas. The nitric oxide gas-releasing conduit may be optionally coated with an antimicrobial gas-releasing composition. The gas-releasing coating composition may be configured to release nitric oxide.

An ear splint for an ear is provided having a central portion having an exterior surface defining a first topology that is configured to dwell within an anterior scaphoid section of an ear, and a wing portion extending from the central portion and integrally formed therewith and at least partially surrounding an outer periphery of the central portion. The wing portion includes an exterior surface defining a second topology and is configured to be positioned along a postauricular area of the ear. The first magnetic device is disposed in the central portion and the second magnetic device is disposed in the wing portion. The magnetic retention feature exert a magnetic attractive force between the central portion and the wing portion such that at least a portion of the exterior surface of the central portion and at least a portion of the exterior surface of the wing portion contact the ear.

Systems and methods can be employed for trans-tympanic membrane access to the middle ear for delivery of a therapeutic agent, for example, to the round window niche adjacent to the cochlea under direct visualization. The systems and methods can also be used to improve accessibility and visualization for various otological surgical procedures, such as, but not limited to, cholesteatoma removal, tympanic membrane repair and ossicular chain repair.

Systems and methods can be employed for trans-tympanic membrane access to the middle ear for delivery of a therapeutic agent, for example, to the round window niche adjacent to the cochlea under direct visualization. The systems and methods can also be used to improve accessibility and visualization for various otological surgical procedures, such as, but not limited to, cholesteatoma removal, tympanic membrane repair and ossicular chain repair.

A plug is configured to maintain position within a Eustachian tube of a patient. The plug includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion includes a first body dimensioned bear radially outwardly against the Eustachian tube of the patient. The distal portion includes an anchoring assembly that is configured to lock the plug in the Eustachian tube of the patient. The plug may be formed of a bioabsorbable material.

A device for visualizing and providing suction for a surgical procedure in an ear may include a handle, a main shaft extending from the handle, an imaging sensor at a distal end of the main shaft, a light source at the distal end of the main shaft, and a suction shaft extending from the handle. The device may also include a spring coupled with the suction shaft and/or the handle, such that when the suction shaft is advanced in a distal direction and then released, the suction shaft retracts automatically. The suction shaft may have a distal curved portion, and the device may have a thumb depress portion that allows a user to spin the suction shaft to suction in different directions. Some embodiments may include a suction shaft with a sharp distal tip that is configured for placing an ear tube in the tympanic membrane.