Abstract: A medical ventilation tube for placement in an opening formed in an anatomical structure, such as the tympanic membrane of the ear, includes a hollow tubular shaft made of a first material having a hardness or durometer to maintain a passage through the shaft when the medical ventilation tube is placed in the opening, and a flange made of a second material having a hardness or durometer less than that of the first material to permit the flange to deform in response to contact with the anatomical structure during removal of the medical ventilation tube from the opening.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a bone graft composite using an infusion chamber. A modular tube having a porous material contained therein and having removable end caps is provided. Bone marrow aspirate or other bone morphogenic protein containing suspensions may be infused into the tube. A filter on one end of the tube prevents the fluid from escaping while permitting air to be expelled from the tube as it is filled with bone marrow aspirate. Once infused into the tube, the bone marrow aspirate is allowed to settle to a putty or paste-like consistency, the putty and material together forming a bone graft composite.

Abstract: A medical ventilation tube for placement in an opening formed in an anatomical structure, such as the tympanic membrane of the ear, includes a hollow tubular shaft made of a first material having a hardness or durometer to maintain a passage through the shaft when the medical ventilation tube is placed in the opening, and a flange made of a second material having a hardness or durometer less than that of the first material to permit the flange to deform in response to contact with the anatomical structure during removal of the medical ventilation tube from the opening.

Abstract: A laryngeal cutting blade has an outer blade assembly including a tubular member having a bend closer to a proximal portion than a distal end, a hollow inner blade assembly rotatably received in the outer blade assembly for mounting to a powered handpiece and having a flexible portion disposed adjacent the bend and a suction passage extending through the inner blade assembly to permit aspiration of cut tissue, the angled configuration of the laryngeal cutting blade and toothed and smooth profile cutting ends therefore are particularly effective for debulking large, firm lesions and for delicate shaving of superficial lesions of the vocal cords after removal of bulk mass.

Abstract: A method of tonsil reduction by thermal ablation using high intensity focused ultrasound energy includes the steps of introducing an ultrasound emitting member in a patient's oral cavity, positioning the ultrasound emitting member adjacent an external surface of one of the patient's tonsils, emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitting member into the tissue of the one tonsil, focusing the ultrasound energy in the one tonsil, ablating the tissue of the one tonsil with the focused ultrasound energy to form an ablated tissue area in the one tonsil containing unablated tissue of the one tonsil and a plurality of lesions at which the tissue of the one tonsil is ablated, and withdrawing the ultrasound emitting member from the oral cavity. The ablated tissue area is surgically removed or is allowed to remain in the patient's body.

Abstract: A dermabrasion instrument includes an outer member and an inner member rotatably disposed in the outer member with an abrading member of the inner member exposed from the outer member. An aspirating passage in the abrading member establishes communication with an aspirating channel of the inner member from externally of the abrading member so that debris from abrasion of the skin by the abrading member is evacuated through the inner member. The outer member may include a shield disposed over the abrading member to contain the debris. The instrument may include an irrigating port for discharging irrigating fluid adjacent the abrading member. A dermabrasion instrument assembly includes an abrading instrument releasably coupled to a powered surgical handpiece. The instrument has an aspirating channel and the handpiece has a suction port connectible with a source of suction to effect evacuation of debris through the abrading instrument and the handpiece.

Abstract: A medical ventilation tube for placement in an opening formed in an anatomical structure, such as the tympanic membrane of the ear, includes a hollow tubular shaft made of a first material having a hardness or durometer to maintain a passage through the shaft when the medical ventilation tube is placed in the opening, and a flange made of a second material having a hardness or durometer less than that of the first material to permit the flange to deform in response to contact with the anatomical structure during removal of the medical ventilation tube from the opening.

Abstract: A method of trephination and irrigation involves treating the frontal sinus through a hole drilled through the frontal bone. A small incision is made large enough to accept a soft tissue sleeve protector which is inserted into the incision and depressed against the bony surface. The sleeve has teeth at its distal edge for gripping the bone securely. The surgeon inserts a drill into the sleeve and drills straight through the front table. Once the drill is in the frontal cavity, the sleeve is used to maintain the position of the trephine hole while the drill is withdrawn, whereupon the sleeve remains in place while a guide pin is inserted into a trephine hole. After the guide pins is inserted, the surgeon removes the sleeve and the guide pin remains in place to axially guide an irrigation cannula into sealing engagement with the trephine hole.

Abstract: A method of protecting soft tissue while drilling into underlying bone includes the steps of making an incision in the soft tissue, inserting a protector sleeve into the incision to engage the bone, inserting a drill through the protector sleeve, and using the drill to drill into the bone with the protector sleeve protecting the soft tissue from the drill.

Abstract: A medical ventilation tube for placement in an opening formed in an anatomical structure, such as the tympanic membrane of the ear, includes a hollow tubular shaft made of a first material having a hardness or durometer to maintain a passage through the shaft when the medical ventilation tube is placed in the opening, and a flange made of a second material having a hardness or durometer less than that of the first material to permit the flange to deform in response to contact with the anatomical structure during removal of the medical ventilation tube from the opening.

Abstract: A medical ventilation tube for placement in an opening formed in an anatomical structure, such as the tympanic membrane of the ear, includes a hollow tubular shaft made of a first material having a hardness or durometer to maintain a passage through the shaft when the medical ventilation tube is placed in the opening, and a flange made of a second material having a hardness or durometer less than that of the first material to permit the flange to deform in response to contact with the anatomical structure during removal of the medical ventilation tube from the opening.

Abstract: A synthetic sponge having a high density is rinsed while changing the hydrostatic pressure of rinsing solution in pore spaces of the sponge to remove chemical residue and particulate matter more completely. The hydrostatic pressure can be changed by varying fluid supply pressure or varying centrifugal force. A rinsing apparatus includes a rotatable container and a fluid supply for supplying rinsing solution to sponge material in the container.

Abstract: A trephination and irrigation set includes a drill guiding soft tissue protector sleeve, a trephination instrument (e.g., a drill) having a length longer than the protector sleeve, a guide rod dimensioned to fit into a trephine hole for preserving the hole through a soft tissue incision, and a tapered cannula sized to lodge in the frontal bone of the skull for introducing irrigation fluid through the cannula and into the frontal sinus cavity. The frontal sinus is treated through a hole drilled through the frontal bone. A small incision is made large enough to accept the soft tissue sleeve protector which is then inserted into the incision and depressed against the bony surface. The sleeve protector has teeth at its periosteal (or distal) edge for gripping the bone securely. The surgeon inserts the drill into the sleeve protector and drills straight through the front table.

Abstract: A trephination and irrigation set includes a drill guiding soft tissue protector sleeve, a trephination instrument (e.g., a drill) having a length longer than the protector sleeve, a guide rod dimensioned to fit into a trephine hole for preserving the hole through a soft tissue incision, and a tapered cannula sized to lodge in the frontal bone of the skull for introducing irrigation fluid through the cannula and into the frontal sinus cavity. The frontal sinus is treated through a hole drilled through the frontal bone. A small incision is made large enough to accept the soft tissue sleeve protector which is then inserted into the incision and depressed against the bony surface. The sleeve protector has teeth at its periosteal (or distal) edge for gripping the bone securely. The surgeon inserts the drill into the sleeve protector and drills straight through the front table.

Abstract: A method of controlling fluid leakage from an incision following tumescent liposuction and other surgical procedures where large amounts of fluid are introduced into the body includes placing a highly absorbent pad composed of a softened polyvinyl acetate sponge over the incision and holding the pad in place using a flexible backing with adhesive on one side. The softened polyvinyl acetate sponge material can be placed over the incision in either an unexpanded dry state or an expanded dry state. In one embodiment, a liquid impermeable layer is formed on one side of the pad and positioned on the adhesive side of the backing to prevent the absorbed fluids from infiltrating the backing.

Abstract: A synthetic sponge having a high density is rinsed while changing the hydrostatic pressure of rinsing solution in pore spaces of the sponge to remove chemical residue and particulate matter more completely. The hydrostatic pressure can be changed by varying fluid supply pressure or varying centrifugal force. A rinsing apparatus includes a rotatable container and a fluid supply for supplying rinsing solution to sponge material in the container.

Abstract: A trephination and irrigation set includes a drill guiding soft tissue protector sleeve, a trephination instrument (e.g., a drill) having a length longer than the protector sleeve, a guide rod dimensioned to fit into a trephine hole for preserving the hole through a soft tissue incision, and a tapered cannula sized to lodge in the frontal bone of the skull for introducing irrigation fluid through the cannula and into the frontal sinus cavity. The frontal sinus is treated through a hole drilled through the frontal bone. A small incision is made large enough to accept the soft tissue sleeve protector which is then inserted into the incision and depressed against the bony surface. The sleeve protector has teeth at its periosteal (or distal) edge for gripping the bone securely. The surgeon inserts the drill into the sleeve protector and drills straight through the front table.

Abstract: A powered handpiece for driving a surgical blade to cut anatomical tissue includes a reusable handpiece body having a distal end for being coupled with a surgical blade, a drive shaft in the handpiece body for rotatably driving the surgical blade, a motor assembly for being installed in the handpiece body to rotatably drive the drive shaft and a suction channel in the handpiece body including a portion extending through the drive shaft parallel to a longitudinal axis of the motor assembly for evacuating anatomical tissue cut by the blade from the handpiece body for external collection. The surgical blade is for use with the powered handpiece and carries a sealing arrangement facilitating irrigation and suction. The handpiece body is capable of being sterilized to medical standards prior to each use.

Abstract: A surgical suction cutting instrument includes a tubular outer member defining a cutting chamber with an opening, an inner member with a distal cutting edge movably received in the outer tubular member and a flushing mechanism for supplying fluid to the cutting chamber via an outlet communicating with the cutting chamber. The cutting edge of the inner member is disposed within the cutting chamber adjacent the opening to engage bodily tissue through the opening, and a lumen is preferably defined through the inner tubular member in communication with the cutting chamber for aspirating cut bodily tissue. In one embodiment, the flushing mechanism includes a tubular member disposed alongside the outer tubular member and having an outlet communicating with the cutting chamber for supplying fluid to the cutting chamber to prevent and clear clogging of the passage without the need of having to remove the cutting instrument from the surgical site.

Abstract: A synthetic sponge having a high density is rinsed while changing the hydrostatic pressure of rinsing solution in pore spaces of the sponge to remove chemical residue and particulate matter more completely. The hydrostatic pressure can be changed by varying fluid supply pressure or varying centrifugal force. A rinsing apparatus includes a rotatable container and a fluid supply for supplying rinsing solution to sponge material in the container.