Abstract: A sinus debrider apparatus comprising a housing, a motor mounted in the housing and a cutter head mounted to the housing. The cutter head frustum conical shaped and defines an interior chamber, a suction passageway and a fluid passageway. A blade holder is mounted to the head and axially aligned with the interior chamber with a blade member being rotatably mounted in the blade holder. A coupling member is mounted in the interior chamber and connects the motor and the blade member to transmit motion from the motor shaft to the blade member. A manifold member defining separate passageways communicates with the suction passageway and the fluid passageway of the head and forms a connection section to hold a flexible tube providing suction and fluid to the cutter head.

Abstract: The adapter member for a microscope cooperates with a universal microscope drape having a universal positioning member. The adapter member is detachably secured to the lens housing of a microscope in tandem with a lens unit located in the lens housing. The adapter member is free from connection with the lens unit and can be installed without disassembling the lens housing. In one embodiment of the invention, the adapter member is threaded to the lens housing and in another embodiment of the invention the adapter member is secured to the lens housing with set screws. The adapter member has a universal engagement portion that is engagable with the universal positioning member of the universal microscope drape. A different adapter member is provided for each differently manufactured microscope but each different adapter member has the same universal engagement portion. Thus the same microscope drape can be used to cover differently manufactured microscopes of the same general size and shape.

Abstract: The jet ventilation tube includes a flexible conduit with a flexible monitoring line, a centering portion for centering the tube in a trachea and a flexible reinforcement member for the conduit. The conduit is formed of combustion resistant plastic material and the noncombustible reinforcement member is in the form of a straight or coiled wire. The straight wire reinforcement can be located outside the conduit, whereas the coiled wire reinforcement can be located inside or outside the conduit. The integrity of the conduit is maintained by the reinforcement member and helps prevent break-up of the conduit in the event of a laser strike. A centering portion of the jet tube can be reinforced with wire, formed as a segmented structure or as a spirally expanded extension of the reinforcing coil.

Abstract: The sheath for endoscope includes a tubular sleeve portion and a lens cover portion at one end of the tubular sleeve portion. The lens cover portion is of a predetermined thickness that minimizes light reflection onto the field of view of the endoscope. The sheath thus provides optimum visual acuity when used with the endoscope. The lens cover portion can include an anti-fogging ingredient to minimize condensation or congregation of fluids during examination. In several embodiments of the invention the sheath is rigid and in other embodiments of the invention the sheath is flexible. In any of the embodiments the lens cover portion can be joined to the inside, outside or end of the tubular sleeve. The lens cover portion can be formed with a cap section that is oriented at a selected predetermined angle with respect to a central axis. The sheath can have one or more reduced diameter sections to prevent relative slippage between the sleeve and the barrel of the endoscope.

Abstract: The middle ear prosthesis includes an elongated link member having an eyelet portion at one end for connection to one of the auditory ossicles and an opposite posting end connectable to part of another auditory ossicle. A hitching member joined to the link member provides a vehicle for attaching the stapedial tendon to the link member to restore the beneficial effects of the stapedial reflex. Movement of the prosthesis and other remaining portions of the auditory ossicles is thus influenced by the stapedial tendon. The hitching member can be formed of a flexible filament or a relatively inflexible material.

Abstract: The aspiration system with positive pressure includes a fluid flow network having a vacuum source at one end and a suction instrument at another end. Suction is regulated by a control valve that can be actuated by a foot pedal. Suction communication between the vacuum source and the suction instrument can be prevented by placing the control valve in the closed position. A positive pressure input device is included in the fluid flow network and is also actuatable by the foot pedal to provide an impulse of positive pressure at the suction instrument. The positive pressure impulse is provided when the aspiration process is being hindered by blockage of the suction inlet end of the suction instrument. A puff of positive pressure is used to expel material from the suction inlet end of the suction instrument. The use of a positive pressure impulse at the suction end of a suction instrument is also applicable to release material transported by the suction instrument from one location to another.

Abstract: The sheath for endoscope includes a tubular sleeve portion and a lens cover portion at one end of the tubular sleeve portion. The lens cover portion is of a predetermined thickness that minimizes light reflection onto the field of view of the endoscope. The sheath thus provides optimum visual acuity when used with the endoscope. The lens cover portion can include an anti-fogging ingredient to minimize condensation or congregation of fluids during examination. In several embodiments of the invention the sheath is rigid and in other embodiments of the invention the sheath is flexible. In any of the embodiments the lens cover portion can be joined to the inside, outside or end of the tubular sleeve. The lens cover portion can be formed with a cap section that is oriented at a selected predetermined angle with respect to a central axis. The sheath can have one or more reduced diameter sections to prevent relative slippage between the sleeve and the barrel of the endoscope.

Abstract: A vocal cord medialization prosthesis includes a preformed and presized vocal cord engagement member. The engagement member has a base surface and an engagement surface that is inclined a predetermined amount with respect to the base surface. Measurement indicia is provided on the engagement member to indicate elevation of the engagement surface at predetermined points along the prosthesis. A vocal cord medialization tool is used to measure displacement of a vocal cord to an optimum phonation and breathing position before insertion of the prosthesis. The medialization tool provides measurements that correspond to sizing indicia on the prosthesis. The prosthesis can thus be trimmed to eliminate elevations that are unnecessary for obtaining optimum positioning of a vocal cord. One embodiment of the medialization tool also includes provision for measuring the thickness of a thyroid cartilage.

Abstract: The break-apart needle electrode system includes a pair of needle electrodes housed together in a fixed spaced-apart relationship. The needle electrodes are joined to electrical conductive wire for detachable connection to an electrical source. The needle electrodes are used in intraoperative facial nerve monitoring by facial electromyographic recording. Since the needle electrodes are furnished as a bipolar pair with twisted leads in a single break-away housing, they provide standardization, ease of placement and close bipolar recording. In instances where separate placement of needle electrodes is desired, the housing can be broken apart at a break-away joint. The needle electrodes are easily manipulated at the housing section as a tandem unit or as separate entities after the housing is broken apart.

Abstract: An endotracheal device for passing fluids into or out of the body includes a tube member with a laser reflective material in the form of a flexible sheath that is covered by a flexible non-metallic protective covering. The laser reflective material is preferably metallic and can be formed of aluminum, copper, silver or stainless steel. Flexibility of the laser reflective material is obtained by applying the sheath to the tube member in the form of a spiral or in a corrugated form. A protective covering is provided over the laser reflective material and is preferably formed of a polytetrafluoroethylene material. The protective covering, coating or tubular wrapping is applied in a manner which enables such covering to rupture or break when a laser beam strikes the tube. The area of breakage of the protective covering exposes the underlying laser reflective material thereby enabling the laser beam to be reflected away from the tubular member.

Abstract: The nasal packing device includes a splint portion, an airway member secured to the splint portion and a flexible expandable membrane secured to the airway member. An inflation chamber is thus defined between the flexible expandable membrane and the airway member. Under this arrangement, expansion of the membrane is in a direction away from the airway member enabling the membrane to provide a substantially uniform pressure against the splint portion and against any portions of the nose which the membrane comes into contact with. A uniform compressive force provided by the expandable membrane is thus attainable within the nasal passageway to arrest intranasal bleeding, while the splint supports the septum and the airway member allows nasal breathing.

Abstract: An indwelling device for passing fluids into or out of the body includes an inflatable cuff for lodging the device within a body passage. The inflatable cuff is inflated with a fluid such as saline. Prior to the inflation process a dye dispersant material such as methylene blue is incorporated in dry form within the inflation cuff and/or within an inflation lumen which leads to the inflation cuff and/or within a pilot balloon which is accessed by a source of saline fluid. Thus, as the cuff is inflated with saline, the methylene blue dissolves and disperses in the saline enabling the saline to take on the color of the methylene blue dye. A buffer is combined with the methylene blue to enhance the dispersal of the dye in the saline. Potential piercing of the expanded cuff after it is filled with methylene blue provides a blue stain or leak that is easily recognized as a sign of damage to the cuff. Correction steps can thus be taken to repair or replace the endotracheal tube as soon as the leak is recognized.