TYMPANOSTOMY TUBE AND INSERTION DEVICE
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tympanostomy tube applicator has a hand-held housing and a stem extending from the housing and having a shape arranged for engagement in the ear canal. A tympanostomy tube inserter has a user actuator, a rod having a tip to pierce a patient'"'"'s tympanic membrane and to support a tympanostomy tube through the membrane where it is pierced. The inserter inserts a collapsed tympanostomy tube through the membrane and expands the tube in situ to provide a distal flange in the tympanostomy tube. A myrongotomy tip expands the tube to a final state having a distal flange as it is retracted.
17 Citations
51 Claims
-
1-30. -30. (canceled)
-
31. A tympanostomy tube applicator comprising:
-
a hand-held housing; a stem extending from the housing and having a shape arranged for engagement in the ear canal; and a tympanostomy tube inserter; wherein the housing includes at least one user actuator for operation of the inserter; wherein the inserter comprises a rod having a tip to pierce a patient'"'"'s tympanic membrane and to support a collapsed tympanostomy tube through the membrane where it is pierced; and wherein the inserter is configured to expand from within a distal end of a collapsed tympanostomy tube to provide in situ a distal flange in the tympanostomy tube. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
-
- 48. A tympanostomy tube comprising a proximal flange, and a shank comprising an initial distal flange configured to expand with application of force from within to form in situ a distal flange and a central duct portion.
Specification