The invention generally relates to systems and methods for therapeutically modulating nerves in or associated with a nasal region of a patient for the treatment of a rhinosinusitis condition.

An electrosurgical wand for reducing tissue is disclosed. The wand includes a handle and an elongate shaft, the shaft having a major longitudinal axis, a conduit extending therethrough and a non-insulated distal end portion defining a first electrode. The first electrode has a distal most edge configured to mechanically pierce tissue, and an arcuate surface extending proximally from the distal most edge along the major longitudinal axis, the arcuate surface having a convex surface that faces in a distal direction. First and second arcuate edges define lateral edges of the arcuate surface. A second electrode is disposed at an opening of the conduit and electrically isolated from the first electrode. The second electrode comprises an aperture, configured to aspirate fluid and tissue debris therethrough.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for therapeutically modulating nerves in or associated with a nasal region of a patient for the treatment of a rhinosinusitis condition.

Computer-implemented digital image analysis methods, apparatuses, and systems for robotic installation of surgical implants are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus plans a route within an anatomy of a patient from an incision site to a surgical implant site for robotic installation of a surgical implant. The apparatus uses digital imaging data to identify less-invasive installation paths and determine the dimensions of the surgical implant components being used. The apparatus segments the surgical implant into surgical implant subcomponents and modifies the surgical implant subcomponents, such that they can be inserted using the identified less-invasive installation paths.

Methods and devices for treating nasal airways are provided. Such devices and methods may improve airflow through an internal and/or external nasal valve, and comprise the use of mechanical re-shaping, energy application and other treatments to modify the shape, structure, and/or air flow characteristics of an internal nasal valve, an external nasal valve or other nasal airways.

A medical device that includes a carrier member, one or more operative components disposed in the carrier member, an optical fiber at least partly disposed in the carrier member, and at least one fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor array associated with the optical fiber and disposed in the carrier member. The carrier member includes an insertion end and side walls that contact the subject's body during positioning of the carrier member in the subject's body. The at least one FBG sensor array measures contact forces at one or both of the insertion end and along the side walls of the carrier member during positioning of the carrier member in the subject's body. A multi-core optical fiber configured for use in a medical device for positioning in a subject's body is also provided. A system and method for guiding positioning of a medical device in a subject's body is also provided.

Devices and methods can be used for performing transoral surgery. For example, this document provides oral retractor devices and articulating surgical tools that are well-suited for transoral surgery uses. The devices and methods provided herein may be used to treat conditions such as, but not limited to, mouth cancer, throat cancer, tongue cancer, larynx cancer, tonsil cancer, obstructive sleep disorders, and pharyngeal diverticulum, to provide some examples.

The present invention relates to a tube member having excellent local bending properties that is capable of being freely bent only on a given region thereof at a working temperature, thereby enabling the bending angle thereof to be freely adjusted by a user, and a method for manufacturing the tube member. According to the present invention, the tube member having excellent local bending properties, which is made of an alloy, may include a first region and a second region having different alloy structures from each other. According to the present invention, the first region may be in a cold-worked state or have an austenite phase at a given working temperature, and the second region may have a martensite phase at the given working temperature and a yield stress value lower than a yield stress value of the first region.

A heat exchanger is disclosed for causing cryolysis of adipose tissue of a human tongue. The heat exchanger includes a body having cooling channels for circulating fluids therein. The body forms a contact surface that contacts a portion of the dorsal surface of the tongue and a portion of the base of the tongue. The heat exchanger includes a pair of side walls extending from the body and forming a pair of side contact surfaces that are dimensioned so that they contact the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the tongue in a manner so as to constrict the tongue when the contact surface is in contact with the tongue. A method of treatment for apnea using the heat exchanger and/or administering a chemical adipolysis formulation/vasoconstriction agent is also disclosed.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for therapeutically modulating nerves in or associated with a nasal region of a patient for the treatment of a rhinosinusitis condition.