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: A method of using an apparatus including 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 endoscope assembly includes a shaft assembly, an endoscopic camera assembly, and an anatomy elevation assembly. The shaft assembly includes a flexible outer shaft defining a lumen, a first electrical communication line, and a first fluid communication line. The endoscopic camera assembly is in communication with the first electrical communication line. The anatomy elevation assembly includes an inflatable member coupled to the flexible outer shaft. The inflatable member includes an interior surface. The first fluid communication line is in fluid communication with the inflatable member. The inflatable member is configured to transition between a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration. The interior surface is configured to define a viewing path distal to the endoscopic camera assembly while the inflatable member is in the inflated configuration.

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: 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 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 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 body, a first shaft, an actuation assembly, and a dilation catheter. The first shaft includes a malleable distal portion. The actuation assembly includes a second shaft and an actuator. The second shaft is coaxially positioned about the first shaft. The actuator is operable to selectively bend the malleable distal portion of the first shaft. The dilation catheter is coaxially interposed between the first shaft and the second shaft. The dilation catheter includes an expandable dilator. The dilation catheter is operable to translate along the malleable distal portion of the first shaft.

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 a body, a first shaft, an actuation assembly, and a dilation catheter. The first shaft includes a malleable distal portion. The actuation assembly includes a second shaft and an actuator. The second shaft is coaxially positioned about the first shaft. The actuator is operable to selectively bend the malleable distal portion of the first shaft. The dilation catheter is coaxially interposed between the first shaft and the second shaft. The dilation catheter includes an expandable dilator. The dilation catheter is operable to translate along the malleable distal portion of the first shaft.

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: A virtual camera may be positioned relative to a 3-D model of a patient anatomy in order to provide a virtual camera view of the surrounding anatomy and tracked surgical instruments being deployed to the anatomy. Visual context provided by the virtual camera may be limited in some cases, such as where a surgical instrument is being used within a very narrow anatomical passageway or cavity. To provide more placement flexibility, an IGS system providing a virtual camera receives inputs defining variable visual characteristics for different segments or regions of the 3-D model, which may include hiding certain segments or making certain segments semi-transparent. With such a system, the view of the 3-D model provided by the virtual camera view may be modified to remove or deemphasize less relevant segments, to display or emphasize more relevant segments (e.g., critical patient anatomy), or both.

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: An apparatus includes a body, a first shaft, an actuation assembly, and a dilation catheter. The first shaft includes a malleable distal portion. The actuation assembly includes a second shaft and an actuator. The second shaft is coaxially positioned about the first shaft. The actuator is operable to selectively bend the malleable distal portion of the first shaft. The dilation catheter is coaxially interposed between the first shaft and the second shaft. The dilation catheter includes an expandable dilator. The dilation catheter is operable to translate along the malleable distal portion of the first shaft.

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: 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 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 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.