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. Specific devices (e.g., tubular guides, guidewires, balloon catheters, tubular sheaths) are provided as are methods for manufacturing and using such devices to treat disorders of the ear, nose or throat.

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, Specific devices (e.g., tubular guides, guidewires, balloon catheters, tubular sheaths) are provided as are methods for manufacturing and using such devices to treat disorders of the ear, nose or throat.

Generally, abnormal pressures in the sinus cavity can have physiological effects due to stimulation or injury of various nerves that are in proximity to the sinus, including increased or decreased pressure on the nerves as well as extrusion of the nerves into the sinus cavities due to bony dehiscence. Methods and devices for alleviating disorders associated with the sinus cavities are described. Embodiments herein include diagnosing these disorders by occluding or restricting the sinus ostium and assessing the physiological effects caused by the occlusion/restriction and treating these disorders by navigating/directing a dilating device to the sinus ostium and dilating the sinus ostium. Other embodiments are directed to devices for maintaining the ostial opening.

A drill for an implant surgery is provided which allows a mucous membrane in the maxillary sinus to be quickly and safely lifted without being damaged during a surgery for the maxillary sinus. The drill for use in an implant surgery includes a connection portion formed at an upper end of a body of the drill to be connected with a driving device; and a cutting portion formed at a lower end of the body and having a cutting blade for drilling, wherein an outer circumferential edge of a distal end of the cutting portion protrudes rather than a center of the distal end of the cutting portion.

Disclosed is a reamer for implant surgery including: cutting front end portions each of which has a sharp front end; cut edges of a horizontal line form, the cutting front end portions and the cut edges being arranged radially and alternately, wherein one side of the cutting front end portion having the sharp front end has a triangular depressed face inclined downwardly toward a rotation central axis of the cutting part, and one side of the cut edge having the horizontal line form has a triangular inclined face inclined downwardly toward the outer circumferential surface of the cutting part, wherein an inclination angle of a side inclined edge inclined downwardly at the sides of the outer circumferences of the cutting front end portion and the cut edge becomes gradually smaller in the rotation direction of the cutting part.

Disclosed is a system to engage a plurality of tools. In the system a drive shaft and collet may be assembled to engage and disengage, selectively, a plurality of tools. User selection may allow use of a plurality of tools during a procedure or during a plurality of procedures.

A special tube is disclosed for the insertion of materials inside the maxillary sinus in order to displace the Schneiderian membrane. The tube is connected to a source of a flowable material. The tube is inserted through the alveolar ridge beneath the maxillary sinus and when the flowable material is advanced through the tube the Schneiderian membrane is lifted. The tube can be part of a dental implant which is screwed inside the alveolar ridge.

Embodiments of the invention provide a surgical instrument for removing a hook nasal hump. The surgical instrument includes a handle including a blade having a prominent edge at a front end thereof, and guide members coupled to both sides of the handle and configured to slide the handle; forward and backward. The surgical instrument further includes a mounting concave portion configured to mount the nasal hump, which is a surgical subject, formed at a front portion of the guide members, and an upper and a lower plate, each having a shape of a flat sheet and a predetermined length. The blade of the handle is integrated between the upper plate and the lower plate, a width of the blade is smaller than a width of the upper and lower plates, sliding grooves are formed between both sides of the blade and the upper and lower plates, and the guide members comprise rod-shaped rails inserted into the sliding grooves, so as to slide the handle. The surgical instrument further includes mounting rods of which one side of each mounting rod is coupled to a front portion of each rail and of which the other side is coupled to the mounting concave portion for hooking onto the nasal hump.

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for performing dacryocystorhinostomy and an apparatus for performing dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), the apparatus comprising a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) tool, which includes a perforating shaft having a distal perforating-shaft perforating tip configured to form a bypass between a lacrimal sac and a nasal cavity through a lateral side of the lacrimal sac, a lacrimal bone, and nasal mucosa and a DCR guide, which includes a nasal guide component, which is configured to be inserted into the nasal cavity and has a nasal-guide channel having a proximal opening and an at least partially laterally facing distal opening, and a lacrimal guide component, which is shaped so as to define a lacrimal-guide channel that is configured to orient the distal perforating-shaft perforating tip with respect to the DCR guide during advancing of the distal perforating-shaft perforating tip through a lacrimal passageway and into the lacrimal sac, until the distal perforating-shaft perforating tip at least crosses the laterally facing distal opening of the nasal guide component, and wherein the DCR guide is configured to constrain the laterally facing distal opening of the nasal guide component to fall in a path of advancement of the distal perforating-shaft perforating tip.

An accurate and precise surgical guide for dental procedures, especially a procedure involving a subject with few or no teeth as well as methods for making and use of such guides.