Abstract: Physicians performing invasive procedures require accuracy and precision when working with surgical tools. Surgical procedures are increasingly becoming minimally invasive, with physicians operating using cameras to view the surgery site and directing their tools through oculars or video displays. Ideally, the physician should be able to perform the invasive procedure while simultaneously observing both the real-time image of the patient and additional data critical for his medical decisions about the manipulation of the surgical tool and the next surgical step. The augmented reality navigation system of the present disclosure provides tool location visibility for invasive procedures through the use of location sensors included on a camera and/or on the tools used during a procedure. A location tracking system determines and monitors the locations of the tools and camera based on the characteristics of signals detected by the sensors and displays informational overlays on images obtained with a camera.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and method of tracking the surgical instrument includes a shaft, a cutting member, and navigation system. 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 navigation system includes a navigation sensor positioned on at least one of the shaft or the cutting member that is configured to be tracked within a patient for identifying a positional movement of the shaft or the cutting member within the patient.

Abstract: A method is used to manufacture a surgical guidewire that includes an outer coil assembly, a position sensor, a communication wire, an adhesive, a core wire, a hollow tube, and an atraumatic tip. The outer coil assembly has an outer coil that extends distally from a proximal coil retainer to a distal coil retainer. The position sensor is located distally within the outer coil assembly and is configured to be in communication with a processor via the communication wire. The core wire is between an outer coil proximal portion and the hollow tube. A distal end of the hollow tube is bonded to the atraumatic tip. The method includes affixing the atraumatic tip to the distal end of the hollow tube with the adhesive. The adhesive is constructed of instant glue.

Abstract: A guidewire includes a guidewire shaft and an inflatable element arranged at a distal end of the guidewire shaft. At least a portion of the guidewire shaft is formed of metal, and the guidewire shaft includes a lumen that fluidly communicates with an interior of the inflatable element. The inflatable element is operable to transition between a deflated state in which the inflatable element is configured to pass through an isthmus of a Eustachian tube (ET), and an inflated state in which the inflatable element is configured to dilate the ET.

Abstract: A method of ablating tissue of a target anatomical structure in an ear, a nose, or a throat of a patient includes inserting a balloon catheter into the ear, the nose, or the throat. The distal end of the balloon catheter is advanced distally until the balloon is disposed in the target anatomical structure. The balloon is inflated to an expanded configuration in the target anatomical structure. The tissue is ablated using at least one of photodynamic therapy or heated inflation fluid within the balloon. For photodynamic therapy, a photosensitizer is exposed to a light to produce a form of oxygen to ablate the target anatomical structure when the balloon is in the expanded configuration. For heated inflation fluid, heat is applied by a heating element to heat the inflation fluid in the balloon and thereby ablate the target anatomical structure when the balloon is in the expanded configuration.

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: A method of dilating a target anatomical structure of an ear, a nose, or a throat of a patient includes inserting a distal end of a balloon catheter into the ear, the nose, or the throat. The balloon catheter includes a balloon assembly coaxially disposed along a proximally extending shaft. The balloon assembly includes at least first and second dilation balloons that at least partially overlap one another. The method also includes distally advancing the distal end until the balloon assembly is disposed in the target anatomical structure. The method also includes selectively dilating the target anatomical structure based on a diameter of the target anatomical structure by inflating the first dilation balloon to a first diameter or inflating the second dilation balloon to a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. The second inflation lumen is not in fluid communication with the first inflation lumen.

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 visualization system may be implemented with an image guided surgery navigation system for use during ENT procedures. Correlated datasets such as surgical paths and pre-operative image slices may be correlated with the coordinate system of the navigation system for reference during a procedure. A surgeon may wear a head mounted display (“HMD”) having a transparent screen through which the patient anatomy may be viewed. The orientation and distance of the head mounted display relative to the patient anatomy may be determined using magnetic position tracking, image analysis of images captured by a camera of the HMD, or both. Correlated datasets may then be transformed based on the relative distance and orientation and may be displayed via the transparent screen to overlay directly viewed patient anatomy. Some implementations may include optical fiducials integrated with a patient tracking assembly to aid in tracking the patient and determining perspective of the HMD.

Abstract: A guidewire includes a proximal guidewire portion and a distal guidewire portion. The proximal guidewire portion includes a proximal illumination fiber and a first connection portion. The distal guidewire portion includes at least one distal illumination fiber and a second connection portion. The first connection portion is configured to couple to the second connection portion to define a rotatable slip coupling. The distal guidewire portion is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis relative to the proximal guidewire portion at the slip coupling. The slip coupling provides optical continuity between the proximal illumination fiber and the at least one distal illumination fiber. The slip coupling may include a rotation limiting feature configured to limit the rotation of the distal guidewire portion about the longitudinal axis relative to the proximal guidewire portion.

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 surgical instrument includes an elongate body configured to be inserted through the nasal cavity of a patient, and a plurality of electrodes spaced circumferentially about an exterior of the elongate body. The electrodes may be arranged at a distal end of the elongate body, and are configured to deliver bipolar RF energy to tissue for sealing the tissue. The elongate body may be in the form of a shaft having a lumen configured to draw fluid proximally through the surgical instrument with suction.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body and a dilation catheter operatively coupled with the body and configured to translate between proximal and distal positions. The dilation catheter includes a dilation member configured to dilate an anatomical passageway when the dilation catheter is in the distal position. A guide catheter is coupled to the body and defines a longitudinal axis. The guide catheter is selectively positionable in a plurality of rotational orientations about the longitudinal axis relative to the body, and is configured to guide the dilation catheter therethrough between the proximal and distal positions. The apparatus further includes at least one illuminating indicator feature configured to emit light to facilitate positioning of the guide catheter in one or more of the rotational orientations.

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, 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: A surgical instrument and method of tracking the surgical instrument includes a shaft, a cutting member, and navigation system. 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 navigation system includes a navigation sensor positioned on at least one of the shaft or the cutting member that is configured to be tracked within a patient for identifying a positional movement of the shaft or the cutting member within the 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: An implant that may maintain position with a Eustachian tube of a patient, the implant includes an engagement body, an anchoring assembly, and a pressure balance assembly. The engagement body includes an exterior surface dimensioned to bear radially outward against the Eustachian tube. The anchoring assembly may lock the implant in the Eustachian tube. The pressure balance assembly includes a vented pathway that may transition between an occluded state and a vented state. The vented pathway may provide fluid communication between the proximal end and the distal end of the implant in the ventilated state while inhibiting fluid communication between the proximal end and the distal end of the implant in the occluded state.

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: An endoscopic camera has two or more cameras positioned at a distal end, positioned to provide partially overlapping fields of view. The cameras communicate captured digital images the length of the flexible endoscope, where they may be saved and processed to provide additional imaging features. With partially overlapping images from two or more cameras, image processing can provide panoramic images, super resolution images, and three-dimensional images. One or more of these image modes may also be enhanced to provide a virtualization window that displays a portion of a larger or higher resolution image. The virtualization window displays the selected area of the image, and may be moved or zoomed around the image to provide a virtual endoscope repositioning experience, where the endoscope remains statically positioned but the virtualization window presents a sense of movement and navigation around the surgical area.