Abstract: An apparatus for use with an endoscope or other ENT instrument includes a hub, a shaft assembly, and one or more navigation sensors. The hub being configured to receive a portion of the endoscope and including a fluid port. The shaft assembly extends from the hub and defines a hollow interior. The hollow interior is configured to receive a tubular portion of the endoscope and communicate fluid within the shaft assembly to an open distal end of the shaft assembly. At least one of the one or more navigation sensors is disposed proximate the distal end of the shaft assembly. The one or more navigation sensors are configured to communicate with an IGS navigation system to locate at least a portion of the shaft assembly in three dimensional space.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a tray, a deformable material, and a position sensor. The tray is configured to correspond to at least a portion of an alveolar ridge of a patient. The deformable material is configured to receive dentition of the alveolar ridge of the patient and thereby secure the tray relative to the alveolar ridge of the patient. The position sensor is fixed relative to the tray and is configured to generate a signal indicating a real-time position of the position sensor within three-dimensional space. Another apparatus includes a body, a position sensor, and a suction conduit. The body defines a cavity and is configured to fit in a mouth of a patient. The suction conduit is in fluid communication with the cavity and is configured to apply suction to the cavity to thereby secure the body to a cheek wall in the mouth of the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with an ENT instrument includes a shaft, a heat shrink material, and a heating element. The shaft defines a hollow interior. The hollow interior is configured to receive a tubular portion of the ENT instrument. The heat shrink material is integrated into a portion of the shaft. The heating element is fixedly secured to the shaft or the heat shrink material. The heating element is configured to heat a portion of the heat shrink material to reduce a diameter of a portion of the shaft at a predetermined position along the length of the shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body and a shaft assembly extending distally from the body. The shaft assembly includes a malleable distal portion and an enlarged tip positioned at a distal end of the malleable distal portion. The shaft assembly further includes a position sensor positioned within the enlarged tip. The position sensor is configured to generate a signal indicating a position of the enlarged tip in three-dimensional space. The shaft assembly further includes an illuminating element positioned within the enlarged tip. The illuminating element is configured to emit light. The shaft assembly further includes an inflatable balloon positioned proximal to the enlarged tip. The inflatable balloon is configured to dilate a passageway in an ear, nose, or throat of a patient.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly includes a working channel, a distal end, an image sensor, a navigation sensor, and a reference marker. The working channel is sized to receive a working element. The distal end includes an opening that is positioned to allow a working element in the working channel to pass through the distal end. The image sensor has a field of view distal to the distal end such that the image sensor is configured to capture at least one image providing a field of view distal to the distal end. The navigation sensor is configured to generate signals indicative of a position of the distal end in three-dimensional space. The reference marker is positioned within the field of view of the image sensor, the reference marker being fixed against movement relative to the image sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter having a flexible outer sheath and a flexible irrigation tube. The flexible outer sheath defines a first lumen. The flexible irrigation tube is positioned inside the first lumen and includes an inner layer and an outer coating layer. The inner layer is formed of a synthetic polymer compound and has a uniform cross-section with a hollow interior defining a second lumen. The outer coating layer is disposed around the inner layer. The outer coating layer is formed of a polymeric compound and includes first and second isomers. The first isomer is configured to carry a positive electric charge and the second isomer is configured to carry a negative electric charge.

Abstract: An insufflation and smoke evacuation system for use during laparoscopic surgical procedures is disclosed that includes a pump for circulating pressurized gas within the system, a tri-lumen cannula communicating with an insufflation source by way of an insufflation supply line and with the supply side of the pump by way of a pressurized gas supply line, and a single lumen cannula communicating with a suction side of the pump by way of a vacuum line, wherein a communication line extends between the tri-lumen cannula and the vacuum line.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly and a distal endoscope cap. A flexible distal portion of the shaft assembly is laterally deflectable relative to a rigid proximal portion of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly defines a working channel sized and configured to enable advancement of a working element. The distal endoscope cap is configured to attach to the distal end of the shaft assembly. The distal endoscope cap has an outer diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the flexible distal portion. The distal endoscope cap includes a body having at least one coupling member for attaching the distal endoscope cap to the distal end of the shaft assembly, at least one image sensor secured to the body for visualizing an anatomical structure, and at least one illuminating element secured to the body for illuminating a field of view of the at least one image sensor.

Abstract: An insufflation and smoke evacuation system for use during laparoscopic surgical procedures in an abdominal cavity of a patient is disclosed that includes a pump for circulating pressurized gas within the system, and a dual lumen cannula configured to provide access to the abdominal cavity of a patient, which includes a first lumen communicating with a source of insufflation fluid and a second lumen communicating with the pump.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for treatment including a compound valve system that can be integral to, or attached to a sheath introducer. The compound valve system includes a secondary valve that can be positioned in a proximal direction from a primary valve of the sheath introducer. The secondary valve can move longitudinally in response to a pressure differential. The compound valve system can include an aspiration port between the primary valve and secondary valve. The secondary valve can be integral to a secondary valve accessory device that can be assembled onto a catheter shaft of an intralumenal treatment device, and the secondary valve accessory device can further function as an introducer tool for the intralumenal treatment device.

Abstract: A sheath valve housing including: an input port disposed on a proximal side of the sheath valve housing; an output port disposed on a distal side of the sheath valve housing, the input port and output port defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough; a chamber disposed within the sheath valve housing between the input port and the output port and centered on the longitudinal axis, a catheter pathway being defined within the sheath valve housing through the chamber between the input port and the output port; and a plurality of ribs disposed about the chamber so that a member is aligned with the longitudinal axis upon insertion into the chamber.

Abstract: A guiding sheath has a braided layer for improved deflection characteristics and ring electrodes for electrical sensing, mapping and visualization, wherein lead wires for the ring electrodes are passed through lumened tubing position under the braided layer in a proximal portion of the guiding sheath shaft and above the braided layer in a distal portion of the guiding sheath shaft. Moreover, the hemostatic valve includes an improved friction ring with air vents to reduce the risk of air being introduced into the valve.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for treatment including a sheath introducer and a catheter or other device. The system can have a floating hemostasis valve comprising a seal through which the shaft of the catheter can extend. The floating hemostasis valve can have elastic bellows which can allow the seal to move orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the sheath introducer in response to an orthogonal movement of the shaft of the catheter. The elastic bellows can be configured to deform to allow the orthogonal movement of the floating hemostasis valve.

Abstract: A catheter including: an elongated body sized to traverse vasculature; a lumen formed in the elongated body; and a pull-wire. The elongated body has a transition zone disposed between proximal and distal ends of the elongated body, a first shaft extending from the proximal end of the elongated body to the transition zone and defining a longitudinal axis, and a second shaft extending proximally from the distal end to the transition zone. The lumen defines a curved path curved about the longitudinal axis and extending from the distal end to the transition zone, and a straight path extending from the transition zone to the proximal end. The pull wire extends within the curved and straight paths, and is anchored to the second shaft such that translation of the pull-wire near the proximal end deflects the second shaft substantially along the curved path.

Abstract: A guiding sheath has a braided layer for improved deflection characteristics and ring electrodes for electrical sensing, mapping and visualization, wherein lead wires for the ring electrodes are passed through lumened tubing position under the braided layer in a proximal portion of the guiding sheath shaft and above the braided layer in a distal portion of the guiding sheath shaft. Moreover, the hemostatic valve includes an improved friction ring with air vents to reduce the risk of air being introduced into the valve.

Abstract: A guiding sheath assembly has an elongated shaft, and a control handle with a control knob and a shuttle configured for translation in response to manipulation of the control knob. The assembly includes a puller wire extending along the shaft and responsive to translation of the shuttle to deflect the shaft. The puller wire has a stop at its proximal end wherein a deflection sensor is affixed to stop subject to compression between to generate a signal in response to distortion between the first shuttle and the first stop. A catheter having a control handle and a control knob for manipulation of a deflection puller wire whose proximal end is affixed to a stop anchored in the control handle housing includes a strain gauge affixed to the stop configured to detect deformation resulting from actuation of the puller wire in deflecting the catheter shaft. A drip chamber.

Abstract: An inline flow control device for passive irrigation tubing to be used with electrophysiology devices, includes an elastically deformable diaphragm that can assume a neutral configuration, a first flexed configuration and a second flexed configuration in response to pressure change upstream or downstream of the diaphragm in self-adjusting the fluid flow to normalize the pressure change. In one embodiment, the diaphragm is unaffixed at least at its peripheral edge to allow the diaphragm to flex at its peripheral edge to vary the fluid flow through the device. In another embodiment, the diaphragm is fixed at its peripheral edge to allow the diaphragm to flex in its inner region to allow different movement of a piston through which the fluid flows in response to pressure changes upstream and downstream of the diaphragm.

Abstract: Ablation and diagnostic tools having a wrapped flexible circuit are provided. The wrapped flexible circuit can include one or more electrodes on a surface layer, one or more conductive traces on one or more lower layers, and an electrically insulating substrate. The surface layer can be patterned to have multiple electrodes. The lower layer(s) can include electrode contact trace(s) and/or traces for forming thermocouple junctions. The wrapped flexible circuit can be affixed to an outer surface of a metallic tube. The electrodes can be electrically isolated from the metallic tube. The metallic tube can have a sharp end to puncture tissue during ablation or intravascular diagnostic procedure. Additionally, or alternatively, the wrapped flexible circuit can have a pointed end and sufficient structural integrity to puncture tissue during ablation or intravascular diagnostic procedure without the support of a metallic tube.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a cylindrical shaft and an outwardly flared feature. The cylindrical shaft is sized for insertion into an insertion port of a cardiovascular catheter guiding sheath. The cylindrical shaft includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The lumen is sized to receive an end effector and catheter of a cardiovascular catheter instrument. The outwardly flared feature is at the proximal end of the cylindrical shaft. The outwardly flared feature defines an angled surface leading into the lumen.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter having a flexible outer sheath and a flexible irrigation tube. The flexible outer sheath defines a first lumen. The flexible irrigation tube is positioned inside the first lumen and includes an inner layer and an outer coating layer. The inner layer is formed of a synthetic polymer compound and has a uniform cross-section with a hollow interior defining a second lumen. The outer coating layer is disposed around the inner layer. The outer coating layer is formed of a polymeric compound and includes first and second isomers. The first isomer is configured to carry a positive electric charge and the second isomer is configured to carry a negative electric charge.