Abstract: A surgical instrument for cutting a first tissue and detecting a second tissue includes a shaft, a cutting member, and a tissue monitor system. The shaft extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a shaft lumen and a shaft opening. The cutting member is disposed within the shaft lumen and configured to cyclically move from a first position to a second position relative to the shaft. The cutting member is further configured to cut a tissue portion of the first tissue for removal therefrom. The tissue monitor system is associated with at least one of the shaft or the cutting member configured to detect the second tissue distinct from the first tissue for selectively cutting and removing the first tissue relative to the second tissue.

Abstract: A suction instrument includes a proximal end, a distal end configured to be positioned within or adjacent to an anatomical passageway of a patient, and a suction lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. The suction lumen is configured to provide suction at the distal end. A navigation sensor is disposed along a portion of the suction lumen and is operable to generate an electrical signal corresponding to a location of the portion within the patient. A coupling feature is disposed at the proximal end and is configured to releasably couple the proximal end with a body.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a handle assembly and a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle assembly and having a distal end sized to be inserted into the nasal cavity of a patient. The shaft assembly includes a cutting member configured to cut tissue within the nasal cavity, and a translating member slidably disposed over the cutting member. A navigation sensor is disposed within the distal end of the shaft assembly and is operable to generate a signal corresponding to a position of the distal end within the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a cannula assembly and a sensor assembly. The cannula assembly includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a first lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The cannula is formed of a rigid material. The sensor assembly includes a sensor and a communication wire. The sensor is fixed to the cannula assembly. The communication wire is in electrical communication with the sensor. The communication wire extends along a length of the cannula assembly exterior to the first lumen.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a suction instrument includes a position sensor proximate to a distal tip of a malleable shaft. A sensor wire couples the position sensor to a processor of an image guided surgery system such that signals generated by the position sensor can be interpreted to determine the position of the surgical instrument. The malleable shaft includes a malleable outer shaft and a flexible inner tube. The flexible inner tube includes a primary lumen that can provide suction, fluid, or various deployable surgical tools, and an inner lumen that holds the sensor wire. Protected within the inner lumen, the sensor wire runs the length of the shaft and exits the inner lumen and passes through a slot in the outer shaft to reach the position sensor. A heat shrink cover wraps the distal tip, sealing the components together and providing an opening suitable for suction.

Abstract: A method of treating epistaxis includes inserting a distal end of an endoscope into a nasal cavity of a patient. At least the distal end of the endoscope includes a working channel. The method includes advancing a distal end of an RF ablation catheter through the working channel of the endoscope. The method also includes ablating tissue in a posterior nasal region of the nasal cavity using RF energy transmitted by the RF ablation catheter.

Abstract: Variations of integral navigation controls may be used in conjunction with a medical instrument to provide navigation functions for an image guided surgery (IGS) system that is in communication with the integral navigation controls. In some variations, a medical instrument with integrated navigation wheels allows movement of a cursor of the IGS system along the x and y axis by scrolling the wheel, or allows selection, zooming, or other controls by combined clicking and/or scrolling of wheels, and may be sterilized or discarded along with the device. In some other variations, a control overlay may be temporarily attached to the medical instrument to provide additional controls, such as buttons or a pointing stick, and then removed and sterilized or discarded after a procedure. In each variation, inputs may be communicated via wire or wirelessly to an IGS system to provide navigation of images during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and related method includes an instrument body, a guide shaft distally projecting from the instrument body, and a first surgical tool. The guide shaft has a guide sidewall, a guide lumen, and a clearance opening radially extending through the guide sidewall in communication with the guide lumen. The first surgical tool has an elongate body and a distal head configured to deflect relative to the elongate body from a first position to a second position. The distal head in the first position is positioned within the guide lumen along the central axis. The distal head in the second position is deflected from the central axis and extends at least partially through the clearance opening thereby vacating at least a portion of the guide lumen for introducing a second surgical tool through the guide lumen.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a sensor. The shaft assembly defines a longitudinal axis. The end effector is positioned at a distal end of the shaft assembly. A portion of the end effector is offset from the longitudinal axis. The sensor is configured to generate a signal in response to a magnetic field. The signal is configured to indicate a position of the end effector within three-dimensional space. The sensor is coaxially positioned about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle assembly, a guide tube, and a dilation catheter. The guide tube extends distally from the handle assembly. At least a distal portion of the guide tube is malleable. The dilation catheter is slidably positioned in the guide tube. The dilation catheter includes a distal end, a dilator, and a position sensor. The position sensor is configured to generate a signal indicating a position of the position sensor in three-dimensional space. The dilation catheter is configured to translate relative to the guide tube.

Abstract: A method of treating a patulous Eustachian tube includes forming a first pocket in a wall of a nasopharynx region proximate to a pharyngeal ostium, inserting a resiliently biased implant within the first pocket, and allowing the resiliently biased implant to expand within the first pocket to thereby urge the Eustachian tube towards a closed state. The wire implant may include a resilient stent or other resilient wire structure. In some versions, a deployment device having a balloon is used to deploy a malleable implant. This deployment device has a malleable implant disposed around the balloon, which is disposed around a guide catheter. The balloon is inflated and expands the malleable implant. The malleable implant retains the expanded shape and urges the Eustachian tube toward a closed state.

Abstract: Variations of integral navigation controls may be used in conjunction with a medical instrument to provide navigation functions for an image guided surgery (IGS) system that is in communication with the integral navigation controls. In some variations, a medical instrument with integrated navigation wheels allows movement of a cursor of the IGS system along the x and y axis by scrolling the wheel, or allows selection, zooming, or other controls by combined clicking and/or scrolling of wheels, and may be sterilized or discarded along with the device. In some other variations, a control overlay may be temporarily attached to the medical instrument to provide additional controls, such as buttons or a pointing stick, and then removed and sterilized or discarded after a procedure. In each variation, inputs may be communicated via wire or wirelessly to an IGS system to provide navigation of images during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: A method is used to manufacture a surgical instrument including a first tube, and a second tube. The first tube extends from a proximal first end portion to a distal first end portion. The second tube extends from a proximal second end portion to a distal second end portion. The second tube is positioned coaxially within the first tube with the distal second end portion positioned adjacent to the distal first end portion. The second tube defines a lumen. The sensor is secured proximal to the distal second end portion of the second tube. A die is engaged against a distal first end portion of the first tube while first tube rotates about its own longitudinal axis; and the die is simultaneously moved relative to the distal first end portion of the first tube along a predetermined path to form a predetermined shape.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for cutting a first tissue and detecting a second tissue includes a shaft, a cutting member, and a tissue monitor system. The shaft extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a shaft lumen and a shaft opening. The cutting member is disposed within the shaft lumen and configured to cyclically move from a first position to a second position relative to the shaft. The cutting member is further configured to cut a tissue portion of the first tissue for removal therefrom. The tissue monitor system is associated with at least one of the shaft or the cutting member configured to detect the second tissue distinct from the first tissue for selectively cutting and removing the first tissue relative to the second tissue.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and related method includes an instrument body, a guide shaft distally projecting from the instrument body, and a first surgical tool. The guide shaft has a guide sidewall, a guide lumen, and a clearance opening radially extending through the guide sidewall in communication with the guide lumen. The first surgical tool has an elongate body and a distal head configured to deflect relative to the elongate body from a first position to a second position. The distal head in the first position is positioned within the guide lumen along the central axis. The distal head in the second position is deflected from the central axis and extends at least partially through the clearance opening thereby vacating at least a portion of the guide lumen for introducing a second surgical tool through the guide lumen.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongate shaft having a proximal shaft portion and a malleable distal shaft portion. The elongate shaft is configured to be secured to a supporting surgical instrument. An ablation head is coupled to the malleable distal shaft portion and includes at least one electrode operable to deliver RF energy to tissue for ablating the tissue. The ablation head is sized to fit within the nasal cavity of a patient with a distal end of the supporting surgical instrument. The proximal shaft portion is configured to operatively couple with an RF energy source operable to energize the at least one electrode with RF energy. The malleable distal shaft portion is configured to bend relative to a longitudinal shaft axis defined by the proximal shaft portion for selectively orienting the ablation head relative to the longitudinal shaft axis.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle assembly, a guide tube, and a dilation catheter. The guide tube extends distally from the handle assembly. At least a distal portion of the guide tube is malleable. The dilation catheter is slidably positioned in the guide tube. The dilation catheter includes a distal end, a dilator, and a position sensor. The position sensor is configured to generate a signal indicating a position of the position sensor in three-dimensional space. The dilation catheter is configured to translate relative to the guide tube.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a sensor. The shaft assembly defines a longitudinal axis. The end effector is positioned at a distal end of the shaft assembly. A portion of the end effector is offset from the longitudinal axis. The sensor is configured to generate a signal in response to a magnetic field. The signal is configured to indicate a position of the end effector within three-dimensional space. The sensor is coaxially positioned about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A method of treating a patulous Eustachian tube includes forming a first pocket in a wall of a nasopharynx region proximate to a pharyngeal ostium, inserting a resiliently biased implant within the first pocket, and allowing the resiliently biased implant to expand within the first pocket to thereby urge the Eustachian tube towards a closed state. The wire implant may include a resilient stent or other resilient wire structure. In some versions, a deployment device having a balloon is used to deploy a malleable implant. This deployment device has a malleable implant disposed around the balloon, which is disposed around a guide catheter. The balloon is inflated and expands the malleable implant. The malleable implant retains the expanded shape and urges the Eustachian tube toward a closed state.