A head-holder support for attaching a medical head-holder to a patient table is provided that has a rigid base body, an adjustable and lockable head-holder interface at the base body, which is adapted to adjustably couple the head-holder to the base body by providing at least three degrees of freedom for the spatial relative position between the head-holder and the base body, wherein the at least three degrees of freedom are lockable so as to establish a rigid coupling between the head-holder and the base body, and at least one robotic arm interface at the base body, which is adapted to provide a rigid coupling between a robotic arm and the base body.

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 system for delivering a fluid to a Eustachian tube (ET) of a patient includes a guide member and a tubular member. The guide member includes a shaft having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a bend at the distal portion. The bend is configured to provide access to an opening in the ET. The system further includes a tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. The tubular member is sized to fit within the ET. One or both of the tubular member and the guide member comprises a first stop member configured to engage the other of the tubular member or the guide member. The first stop member is configured to restrict a distal advancement of the tubular member relative to the guide member.

In one embodiment, a jig apparatus for bending a malleable tool includes a block having an upper surface and containing, a conical recess extending into the block through the upper surface of the block, defined by an elliptical directrix on the upper surface, an apex within the block, and generatrixes disposed about a central axis of the conical recess extending from the apex to the directrix, and an elongated cylindrical hole, which is sized to fit the malleable tool therein and has a longitudinal axis extending from the conical recess into the block at an oblique angle relative to the central axis of the conical recess, and angular markings disposed on the upper surface and around a circumference of the elliptical directrix.

A device for assisting surgery includes means for offsetting a rotation of a first type and a second type, a mechanism for transmitting a rotation of a third type, and a mechanism for transforming the rotation of a third type into a translation. An elastic element is connected at one end to the mechanism for transmitting the rotation of a third type. The mechanism for transmitting the rotation of a third type is connected to a rotary motor, the rotation of the motor in a first direction causing the lowering of a tool and an elongation of the elastic element, the rotation of the motor in a second direction causing the raising of the tool and a contraction of the elastic element, and, when the tool is lowered and the rotary motor is not exerting any torque, the elastic element returns to an initial shape causing the raising of the tool.

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 tympanostomy tube delivery device comprises a drive assembly and a force limiting shaft assembly. The shaft assembly comprises a cannula and a piercer operable to translate relative to the cannula so as to pierce the tympanic membrane of a patient. The piercer is mechanically coupled with the drive assembly such that actuation of the drive assembly causes translation of the piercer relative to the cannula. The piercer is mechanically coupled with the drive assembly by a clutch. The clutch is resiliently biased to couple the piercer with the drive assembly. The clutch is configured to uncouple the piercer from the drive assembly in response to a threshold force being imposed upon the piercer so as to inhibit translation of piercer relative to the cannula.

A tympanostomy tube delivery device comprises a shaft assembly, a pressure equalization tube, and a handpiece. All or a portion of the shaft assembly is selectively coupleable and removable from the handpiece. The shaft assembly comprises a cannula, a piercer/dilator tube, a shield tube, and a pusher tube operable to translate relative to the cannula. The pressure equalization tube is positioned within the shield tube of the shaft assembly. The piercer/dilator tube and the shield tube are operable to pierce the tympanic membrane and dilate an opening formed therein. The pusher tube is operable to drive the pressure equalization tube out of the shield tube of the shaft assembly and into the opening formed in the tympanic membrane. Upon completion of the procedure, all or a portion of the shaft assembly may then be removed and replaced.

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 bilateral hearing implant surgical template arrangement is described. An adjustable headpiece with left and right sides fits over the head of a surgical patient. There are left and right implant stimulator templates, each configured to conform against an underlying side of the patient's head and each connected to a corresponding left and right side of the adjustable headpiece by an adjustable connection. Each adjustable connection is configured to allow adjustment of the position of the implant stimulator template with respect to the adjustable headpiece so as to define stimulator implantation sites at symmetric locations on each side of the patient's head.