Abstract: A system includes a dilation catheter and a guide member. The dilation catheter includes a proximal end, a distal end, a dilator, a navigation sensor, and a force sensor. The dilator is positioned proximal to the distal end and is configured to transition between a non-dilated configuration and a dilated configuration. The navigation sensor is positioned distal to the dilator and is configured to cooperate with a guidance system and thereby provide signals indicating a position of the dilation catheter in three-dimensional space. The force sensor is positioned distal to the dilator and is configured to provide signals indicating a force encountered by the force sensor. The dilation catheter is configured to slide relative to the guide member. A distal portion of the guide member is sized and configured to fit in a nasal cavity of a patient.

Abstract: A dilation apparatus includes a handle assembly, a dilator, a guidewire, and a steering assembly. The dilator is connected to the handle assembly and is configured to transition between an unexpanded state and an expanded state. The guidewire is longitudinally fixed relative to the dilator. The steering assembly is configured to laterally deflect at least a portion of the guidewire relative to the handle assembly. The steering assembly includes an actuator coupled with the handle assembly and a pull wire extending between the actuator and guidewire. A portion of the pull wire is attached to the guidewire. The actuator is configured to move the pull wire relative to the handle assembly in order to laterally deflect the at least a portion of the guidewire.

Abstract: A system includes a dilation catheter and a guide member. The dilation catheter includes a proximal end, a distal end, a dilator, a navigation sensor, and a force sensor. The dilator is positioned proximal to the distal end and is configured to transition between a non-dilated configuration and a dilated configuration. The navigation sensor is positioned distal to the dilator and is configured to cooperate with a guidance system and thereby provide signals indicating a position of the dilation catheter in three-dimensional space. The force sensor is positioned distal to the dilator and is configured to provide signals indicating a force encountered by the force sensor. The dilation catheter is configured to slide relative to the guide member. A distal portion of the guide member is sized and configured to fit in a nasal cavity of a patient.

Abstract: A dilation apparatus includes a handle assembly, a dilator, a guidewire, and a steering assembly. The dilator is connected to the handle assembly and is configured to transition between an unexpanded state and an expanded state. The guidewire is longitudinally fixed relative to the dilator. The steering assembly is configured to laterally deflect at least a portion of the guidewire relative to the handle assembly. The steering assembly includes an actuator coupled with the handle assembly and a pull wire extending between the actuator and guidewire. A portion of the pull wire is attached to the guidewire. The actuator is configured to move the pull wire relative to the handle assembly in order to laterally deflect the at least a portion of the guidewire.

Abstract: A surgical system and method for determining insertion depth of a cutting member includes a body assembly, a securement mechanism, a base position sensor, and a cutting member sensor. The body assembly defines a longitudinal axis and is configured to receive the cutting member. The securement mechanism is operatively connected to the body assembly and configured to releasably secure the cutting member relative to the body assembly. The base position sensor is configured to be detected as a base position by a navigation system. The cutting member sensor is positioned a predetermined longitudinal sensor distance from the base position sensor and configured to detect an adjustable longitudinal position of the cutting member. The sensors are configured to communicate with the navigation system for determining a position of the distal reference feature within an anatomical passageway of a patient in any selected adjustable longitudinal position of the cutting member.

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 dilation catheter includes a catheter shaft, an expandable element, and a navigation sensor. The catheter shaft has a proximal shaft portion defining a proximal shaft end, a distal shaft portion defining a distal shaft end, and a working lumen extending between the proximal and distal shaft ends. The expandable element is disposed on the distal shaft portion proximally of the distal shaft end, and is configured to expand to dilate an anatomical passageway of a patient. The navigation sensor is arranged at the distal shaft portion, and is configured to generate a signal corresponding to a location of the distal shaft portion within the patient. In various examples, the dilation catheter may further include a bulbous distal tip, and the navigation sensor may be arranged within the bulbous distal tip.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, an upright member, a frame, and a plurality of field generating elements. The body is configured to be positioned between a patient's back and a backrest of a chair. The upright member extends upwardly from the body. The frame has a curved configuration configured to partially surround a patient's head. The field generating elements are configured to generate an electromagnetic field around a patient's head partially surrounded by the frame.

Abstract: An instrument includes a handle assembly, a shaft, a dilation catheter, and a position sensor. The shaft extends distally from the handle assembly. The shaft includes a distal end that is configured to be introduced into an anatomical passageway within a head of a human. The dilation catheter includes an expandable dilator and is configured to advance distally relative to the shaft. The position sensor is configured to generate signals indicating a position of the position sensor within the head. The position sensor is configured to advance distally between at least first and second positions. The position sensor is disposed adjacent the distal end of the shaft in the first position, and is configured to be carried further distally by the dilation catheter to the second position. In the second position, the position sensor is separated a distance from the distal end of the shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle assembly, a guide member extending distally from the handle assembly, and a dilation catheter slidably disposed relative to the guide member. The dilation catheter includes an expandable element configured to dilate a paranasal sinus ostium of a patient. A navigation sensor is movably disposed at the distal end of the guide member and is operable to generate a signal corresponding to a location thereof within the patient. The navigation sensor is configured to translate distally with the dilation catheter relative to the guide member when a distal end of the dilation catheter translates distally beyond the distal end of the guide member. The navigation sensor is further configured to assume a position at the distal end of the guide member when the distal end of the dilation catheter retracts proximally of the distal end of the guide member.

Abstract: An implant delivery system includes a catheter, an implant, and a push body. The catheter extends from a first proximal end to a first distal end. The catheter defines an inner lumen extending through the first distal end. The implant includes a second proximal, a second distal end, and a plurality of resilient barbs. The implant is slidably housed within the inner lumen. The implant is compressed in the inner lumen such that the implant bears against an inner diameter of the inner lumen and the implant is retained within the inner lumen by friction. The push body is slidably housed within the inner lumen of the catheter. The push body is adjacent to the second proximal end of the implant.

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 for cutting a tissue and related methods includes a shaft, a cutting member, and an axial adjustment coupling. The shaft and the cutting member are configured to articulate from a first configuration toward a second configuration and respectively have distal and proximal shaft ends distal and proximal member ends. The cutting member is disposed within the shaft and configured to cyclically move relative to the shaft. The axial adjustment coupling is configured to longitudinally move the proximal member end relative to the proximal shaft end while articulating the shaft and the cutting member from the first configuration toward the second configuration. Thereby, the axial adjustment coupling inhibits movement of the distal member end relative to the distal shaft end for maintaining alignment between a shaft window opening in the shaft and a cutting window opening in the cutting member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and method of removing a portion of a tissue mass includes a shaft, a cutting member, and an aspiration vent. The shaft has a shaft lumen, a shaft window, and a shaft edge. The cutting member is disposed within the shaft lumen and is configured to cyclically move from a first position to a second position relative to the shaft. The cutting member includes a cutting window opening, a cutting edge, and a suction lumen to cut the tissue portion with the cutting member in the first position. The aspiration vent extends through at least one of the shaft or the cutting member for fluid communication with the suction lumen to suction an airflow for urging the tissue portion away from the cutting edge and along the suction lumen.

Abstract: A virtual endoscopic view shows a surgical area and surrounding anatomy and may also show a position of a surgical instrument in use during a surgical procedure, allowing a surgeon to virtually view the surgical area when direct viewing or actual endoscopic views are incomplete, obstructed, or otherwise unavailable or undesirable. In order to render the endoscopic view, an IGS navigation system may be configured with an observer point and an observer orientation within 3-D space based upon user inputs. A user interface for defining these points allows a user to view a virtual endoscopic preview in real-time while providing inputs, thus improving the likelihood that the resulting virtual endoscopic view is as desired by the user; and reducing time spent redefining and reconfiguring the virtual endoscopic view. The virtual endoscopic preview may provide combinations of static and dynamic images to illustrate the spatial relationship of the provided inputs.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an elongate shaft and a position sensor. The elongate shaft defines a longitudinal axis. The elongate shaft includes a distal end, an opening, and a lumen. The position sensor is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis. The first position sensor is fixedly secured relative to the elongate shaft at a known distance from the opening. The first position sensor is configured to generate signals indicating a position of the elongate shaft in three-dimensional space.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly, a distal tip member, a dissection member, and a position sensor. The distal tip member has an opening in fluid communication with a lumen of the shaft assembly. A longitudinal axis extends centrally through the opening and lumen at the distal tip member. The dissection member extends distally from the distal tip member. The first position sensor is operable to generate signals indicating a position of the distal tip member in space.

Abstract: An apparatus may be used with an elongate member that includes an engagement member, a hollow shaft, a compression member, a compression element, and a resilient gripping member. The hollow shaft extends from the engagement member along a longitudinal axis. The compression member is slidably disposed over the hollow shaft. The hollow shaft is disposed over the resilient gripping member and supports the compression element. The compression member has a conical inner surface including a detent feature. The conical inner surface is configured to urge the compression element radially inwards as the collar advances from the unlocked position toward the locked position where the detent feature retains the compression element. The compression element deforms the resilient gripping member radially inwards to grip the elongate member and prevents translation of the elongate member. When unlocked, the resilient gripping member moves radially away from the elongate member allowing translation.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a proximal coil, a distal coil, a navigation sensor, and a wire. The proximal coil is formed by a wire wrapped in a helical configuration. The distal coil is formed by a wire wrapped in a helical configuration. At least one wrap at a proximal portion of the distal coil is interlocked with at least one wrap at a distal portion of the proximal coil, such that interlocking portions of the proximal and distal coils form a double helix configuration. The navigation sensor is located within the distal coil. The navigation sensor is configured to generate signals in response to movement within an electromagnetic field. The wire extends through the proximal coil. The wire is in electrical communication with the navigation sensor such that the wire is configured to communicate signals from the navigation sensor.

Abstract: A plug is configured to maintain position within a Eustachian tube of a patient. The plug includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion includes a first body dimensioned bear radially outwardly against the Eustachian tube of the patient. The distal portion includes an anchoring assembly that is configured to lock the plug in the Eustachian tube of the patient. The plug may be formed of a bioabsorbable material.