Abstract: A catheter system includes a body, a guide member assembly, an articulation assembly, and a partial sleeve. The guide member assembly extends distally from the body and includes a proximal rigid portion defining a longitudinal axis, a distal flexible portion, and an open distal end. The guide member assembly defines a lumen in communication with the body and the open distal end. The articulation section can flex the distal flexible portion and the open distal end relative to the longitudinal axis between a straight configuration and an articulated configuration. The partial sleeve is disposed within a portion of the lumen defined by the distal flexible portion. The partial sleeve also defines a longitudinally extending gap.

Abstract: A dilation apparatus includes a shaft, a dilation balloon, and a standoff member. The shaft includes a first lumen and a second lumen. The distal end of the second lumen is proximal to the distal end of the first lumen. The dilation balloon encompasses the second distal end of the second lumen such that the dilation balloon defines an interior in fluid communication with the second lumen. A distal portion of the standoff member is positioned within the interior of the dilation balloon. The distal portion of the standoff member is distal to the second distal end of the second lumen. The standoff member provides a pathway for fluid communication between the interior of the dilation balloon and the second lumen. The standoff member may include a tube, a thread, polymeric beading, or other structures.

Abstract: An array of sensors may be used to perform touchless registration of landmarks of a patient's face before an ENT procedure in order to associate those landmarks with pre-operative images in three-dimensional space, which is required for image guided surgery features such as navigation. Touchless or light-touch registration may improve accuracy by avoiding the need for substantial pressing against a patient's skin, which may deform and thereby introduce erroneous registration data. A sensor may also be implemented in forms other than an array such as handheld probe having a single sensor as opposed to an array.

Abstract: A catheter system and method of dilating first and second anatomies includes a guide catheter extending along a longitudinal axis that has a breakaway distal end portion with a conduit in communication with the lumen. The conduit is configured to guide a dilation catheter at a first predetermined angle relative to the longitudinal axis and a second predetermined angle relative to the longitudinal axis for respectively dilating the first and second anatomies. The breakaway distal end portion includes first and second guide segments at least partially defining the conduit and respectively extending the first and predetermined angles to first and second distal openings. The second guide segment is removably connected to the first guide segment for selectively guiding the dilation catheter along the second predetermined angle when connected and along the first predetermined angle when disconnected.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, a deflection actuation assembly, and a dilation catheter. The shaft assembly includes a rigid proximal portion and a flexible distal portion. The deflection actuation assembly includes a rotary actuator and a first translatable actuation member at least partially disposed within the first rotary actuator. A second translatable actuation member extends through the shaft assembly and couples the first translatable actuation member with the flexible distal portion of the shaft assembly. The first rotary actuator is rotatable about a longitudinal axis to thereby drive the first and second translatable actuation members longitudinally. The flexible distal portion is configured to deflect away from the longitudinal axis in response to translation of the first and second translatable actuation members longitudinally. The dilation catheter is slidable relative to the shaft assembly and includes an expandable dilator.

Abstract: An array of sensors may be used to perform touchless registration of landmarks of a patient's face before an ENT procedure in order to associate those landmarks with pre-operative images in three-dimensional space, which is required for image guided surgery features such as navigation. Touchless or light-touch registration may improve accuracy by avoiding the need for substantial pressing against a patient's skin, which may deform and thereby introduce erroneous registration data. A sensor may also be implemented in forms other than an array such as handheld probe having a single sensor as opposed to an array.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a proximal portion and a distal portion attached to the proximal portion. The proximal portion includes a proximal surface. The proximal portion defines a first pathway and a second pathway that both extend distally from the proximal surface. The first pathway is dimensioned to receive a shaft while the second pathway is dimensioned to receive a navigation guidewire. The distal portion includes a distal tip terminating into a distal end. The second pathway extends from the proximal portion into the distal tip.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a fiber wire having a fiber bundle core and a polymer jacket. The method includes rotating a spool of fiber bundle about a first rotational axis to progressively unwind the fiber bundle from the spool. The fiber bundle includes a plurality of continuous synthetic fiber filaments. While the spool is rotated about the first rotational axis, the spool is simultaneously rotated about a second rotational axis to thereby twist the unwound fiber bundle about its longitudinal axis. The method further includes coating the twisted fiber bundle with a molten polymer, and permitting the molten polymer to cool to define a flexible outer jacket that encapsulates the twisted fiber bundle.

Abstract: A catheter includes an articulation assembly that enables the distal end of the catheter to bend away from the longitudinal axis of a proximal portion of the catheter. The catheter may include a dilation catheter or a guide catheter. The articulation assembly may provide bending in response to changes in electrical current and/or in response to changes in temperature. In addition, or in the alternative, the articulation assembly may provide bending in response to translation of a wire member.

Abstract: A dilation catheter system includes a body and a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly extends passed a distal end of the body. The shaft assembly includes a fixed guide member, a catheter shaft, a dilator, a removable guide member, and a guidewire. The fixed guide member is fixed relative to the body. The dilator is fixed to the catheter shaft. The catheter shaft is operable to expand the dilator. The removable guide member is operable to selectively attach to the body. The catheter shaft is slidably disposed along the removable guide member such that the catheter shaft is configured to translate along the removable guide member. The guidewire is slidably disposed within the removable guide member.

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 base housing, an actuator, and a blade. The base housing defines an upwardly presented support surface. The base housing also defines a distally oriented tip receiving recess. The distally oriented tip receiving recess is sized and configured to receive a bulbous distal tip of a dilation catheter. The actuator is movably coupled with the base housing. The blade us secured to the actuator. The actuator is operable to move the blade downwardly relative to the base housing. The blade is configured to sever a portion of a dilation catheter along a plane longitudinally interposed between the support surface and the tip receiving recess to thereby sever the bulbous distal tip of the dilation catheter in response to movement of the actuator relative to the base housing.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle, a guide member, a dilation catheter, a guidewire, and first and second movement assemblies. The dilation catheter is slidably housed within the handle and is slidable relative to the guide member. The guidewire is translatable relative to the dilation catheter. The first movement assembly is configured to actuate relative to the handle and includes a first body fixed with the dilation catheter and a first coupling member. The second movement assembly is proximal in relation to the first movement assembly and includes a second body and a second coupling member. The second body is configured to selectively fix to the guidewire and actuate relative to the handle. The first coupling member and the second coupling member are configured to connect the first movement assembly and the second movement assembly to translate together relative to handle in response to distal translation of the first movement assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a guide member configured with stress limiting features which function to prevent the stress from bending the guide member causing ovalization of the guide member. An apparatus for bending a guide member includes a ram die and a pressure die which are configured to fully encircle the portion of the guide member during the bending operation. A fixture for supporting a guide member during bending is configured to fully encircle sections of the guide member during bending.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an elongate shaft, a dilation balloon, and a fitting member. The elongate shaft includes an inflation lumen, an irrigation lumen, and at least one irrigation opening. The at least one irrigation opening is in fluid communication with the irrigation lumen. The dilation balloon is at the distal portion of the shaft. The dilation balloon is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen. The fitting member is at the proximal end of the shaft. The fitting member includes an inflation fluid port, an irrigation fluid port, and a blocking structure. The inflation fluid port is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen. The irrigation fluid port is in fluid communication with the irrigation lumen. The blocking structure is adjacent to the irrigation fluid port and defines a gap around the irrigation fluid port.

Abstract: An array of sensors may be used to perform touchless registration of landmarks of a patient's face before an ENT procedure in order to associate those landmarks with pre-operative images in three-dimensional space, which is required for image guided surgery features such as navigation. Touchless or light-touch registration may improve accuracy by avoiding the need for substantial pressing against a patient's skin, which may deform and thereby introduce erroneous registration data. A sensor may also be implemented in forms other than an array such as handheld probe having a single sensor as opposed to an array.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacture includes a helical wire coil body having a proximal body end portion and a distal body end portion that extend along a longitudinal coil axis. The apparatus also includes a non-extensible, core wire assembly configured to inhibit longitudinal elongation of the helical wire coil body along the longitudinal coil axis. The core wire assembly has a first core wire and a second core wire respectively extending from the proximal body end portion toward the distal body end portion. The second core wire proximally terminates relative to the first core wire such that the distal body end portion is more flexible than the proximal body end portion. The first and second core wires transversely overlap to provide a collective column strength to the helical wire coil body along the longitudinal coil axis.

Abstract: A guide system includes a first instrument, a second instrument, a light source, and a light splitter. A distal portion of each instrument is configured to fit within a nasal cavity of a patient. A distal portion of each instrument is further configured to project light. The light source is operable to simultaneously project light to the first and second instruments through at least one light cable such that the at least one light cable is configured to optically couple the light source to the first and second instruments. The light splitter is in optical communication with the light source and the first and second instruments such that the light splitter is interposed between the light source and the first and second instruments.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a dilation catheter and a guide catheter. The dilation catheter includes an expandable dilator that is configured to transition between a non-expanded state and an expanded state. The guide catheter includes a hollow shaft and a malleable portion. The hollow shaft and the malleable portion together define a lumen in which the dilation catheter is slidably disposed. The malleable portion is configured to selectively bend relative to the hollow shaft from a first angular configuration to a second angular configuration. The malleable portion is configured to be coaxial with the longitudinal axis in the first angular configuration. The malleable portion is configured to define an angle that is oblique or perpendicular with the longitudinal axis in the second angular configuration. The malleable portion rigid enough to maintain a selected bend angle relative to the hollow shaft while inserted within a nasal cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacture includes a helical wire coil and a core wire. The core wire has a first wire portion and a second wire portion. The first wire portion of the core wire extends through the helical wire coil. The second wire portion of the core wire is intertwined with the first helical wire coil to fixedly secure the core wire relative to the first helical wire coil. The core wire is formed from a first material that is non-extensible. The core wire is fixedly secured relative to a distal portion of the helical wire coil such that the core wire inhibits longitudinal elongation of the helical wire coil along a longitudinal coil axis.