Abstract: A tympanostomy tube insertion system includes a guide tube including a hollow passageway, the guide tube extending between a proximal end and a distal end. A first cutting member is located at the distal end of the guide tube. A plunger member has a forward end which extends into the hollow passageway at a proximal end of the guide tube. A tympanostomy tube is disposed within the hollow passageway toward the distal end of the guide tube.

Abstract: A high pressure balloon is insertable into a mammalian eustachian tube. The balloon has a body that includes a medial end, a lateral end, and a longitudinal axis extending from the medial end to the distal end, an exterior surface, an interior surface defining an air receiving interior, a lateral cross-sectional profile, and a longitudinal cross-sectional profile. The balloon is inflatable between a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration. The body is capable of retaining its desired size and shape when in the inflated configuration. The body has an ovaloid lateral cross-section that increases along the longitudinal axis from the relatively smaller cross-sectional area at the lateral end, to the relatively larger cross-sectional area at the medial end. The balloon is configured to uniformly expand the eustachian tube when in the inflated configuration.

Abstract: A balloon is provided for insertion into a mammalian eustachian tube. The balloon is a high pressure balloon having a body including a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an air receivable interior. The body having a plurality of segments of different cross sectional areas, and a non-circular cross sectional profile. The balloon is inflatable between a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration. The body is sufficiently inelastic so as to be substantially incapable of expanding beyond a pre-determined size and shape when in the inflated configuration. The segments include a first segment having a first cross sectional area and a second segment disposed distally of the first segment The second segment has a second cross sectional area larger than the first cross sectional area.

Abstract: A tympanostomy tube includes a nitinol body having a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the nitinol body has a first cylindrical shape defining a first end, a central region, a second end, a longitudinal axis, and a lumen extending longitudinally through the nitinol body. In the second configuration, the nitinol body is expanded and has a second cylindrical shape different than the first cylindrical shape and defines the first end, the central region, the second end, the longitudinal axis, and the lumen. A diameter of the lumen at one of the first end, the central region, and the second end is larger in the second configuration than the diameter of the lumen at the corresponding first end, central region, or second end in the first configuration.

Abstract: A hearing aid is provided for use with a user having a first and second ears disposed on first and second body sides. The hearing aid apparatus is configured for enabling the user to hear sounds that originate from a plurality of directions and includes a first hearing aid member placeable on a user's first body side. The first hearing aid member includes a first transducer for receiving sounds that would be received by the user's first ear and converting those received sounds into first transmittable electrical signals. A second hearing aid member is placeable on the user's second body side and is preferably a cochlear implant device including an electrode array positionable within a cochlea of a user.

Abstract: A hearing aid is provided for use with a user having a first and second ears disposed on first and second body sides. The hearing aid apparatus is configured for enabling the user to hear sounds that originate from a plurality of directions and includes a first hearing aid member placeable on a user's first body side. The first hearing aid member includes a first transducer for receiving sounds that would be received by the user's first ear and converting those received sounds into first transmittable electrical signals. A second hearing aid member is placeable on the user's second body side and is preferably a cochlear implant device including an electrode array positionable within a cochlea of a user.