Mechanically registered videoscopic myringotomy/tympanostomy tube placement system
First Claim
1. A system for treating an ear of a patient having a tympanic membrane and an external auditory canal, the system comprising:
- a guide structure comprising;
a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a probe lumen passing therethrough;
a conformable body positioning surface disposed along the shaft closer to the distal end than the proximal end and configured to fittingly engage the external auditory canal without penetrating the tympanic membrane and with sufficient force and/or friction to inhibit movement of the guide structure during treatment of the ear; and
a proximal surface that limits axial travel of a treatment probe within the guide structure to inhibit inadvertent injury of tissue structures of the middle or inner ear;
a treatment probe oriented by the guide structure, the guide structure maintaining registration of the treatment probe with a target region of the tympanic membrane when the positioning surface engages the external auditory canal with sufficient force to inhibit movement of the guide structure during treatment, the treatment probe comprising;
a probe shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein at least part of the probe shaft is slidably disposed within the probe lumen of the shaft of the guide structure;
an actuation handle attached to the probe shaft proximal end, the actuation handle including a distal surface that contacts the proximal surface of the guide structure to limit the axial travel of the treatment probe within the guide structure; and
a tympanic membrane piercing tip at the distal end of the probe shaft; and
a tympanostomy tube releasably carried on the treatment probe proximally of the piercing tip, wherein the tympanostomy tube and the piercing tip of the treatment probe are retractable into the probe lumen after the piercing tip is slidably disposed past the distal end of the shaft of the guide structure, to help avoid injury during insertion of the shaft of the guide structure into the external auditory canal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices, systems, methods, and kits for treating the tissue structures of the ear make use of a guide structure that can mechanically register a treatment probe with a target region of a target tissue, the guide structure being fittingly received in an auditory canal and often comprising a conformable body such as a compressible foam, or the like. The guide structure may include an articulating mechanism for selectively orienting the treatment probe toward the target region of, for example, a tympanic membrane. The guide structure may also support a videoscopic image capture device, illumination transmitting optical fibers, an aiming beam transmitter, and the like. Such structures facilitate myringotomy, tympanostomy tube placement, and the like, under local anesthesia in a doctor'"'"'s office.
100 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for treating an ear of a patient having a tympanic membrane and an external auditory canal, the system comprising:
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a guide structure comprising; a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a probe lumen passing therethrough; a conformable body positioning surface disposed along the shaft closer to the distal end than the proximal end and configured to fittingly engage the external auditory canal without penetrating the tympanic membrane and with sufficient force and/or friction to inhibit movement of the guide structure during treatment of the ear; and a proximal surface that limits axial travel of a treatment probe within the guide structure to inhibit inadvertent injury of tissue structures of the middle or inner ear; a treatment probe oriented by the guide structure, the guide structure maintaining registration of the treatment probe with a target region of the tympanic membrane when the positioning surface engages the external auditory canal with sufficient force to inhibit movement of the guide structure during treatment, the treatment probe comprising; a probe shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein at least part of the probe shaft is slidably disposed within the probe lumen of the shaft of the guide structure; an actuation handle attached to the probe shaft proximal end, the actuation handle including a distal surface that contacts the proximal surface of the guide structure to limit the axial travel of the treatment probe within the guide structure; and a tympanic membrane piercing tip at the distal end of the probe shaft; and a tympanostomy tube releasably carried on the treatment probe proximally of the piercing tip, wherein the tympanostomy tube and the piercing tip of the treatment probe are retractable into the probe lumen after the piercing tip is slidably disposed past the distal end of the shaft of the guide structure, to help avoid injury during insertion of the shaft of the guide structure into the external auditory canal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for treating an ear of a patient having a tympanic membrane and an external auditory canal, the system comprising:
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a probe assembly comprising; a guide structure comprising; a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; a conformable body positioning surface disposed along the shaft closer to the distal end than the proximal end and configured to fittingly engage the external auditory canal with sufficient force and/or friction to inhibit movement of the guide structure during treatment of the ear; an inner shaft disposed within the shaft and having a probe lumen therethrough, wherein the probe lumen is eccentrically placed relative to a longitudinal axis of the inner shaft, and wherein the inner shaft is rotatable within the shaft; and a handle coupled with a proximal end of the inner shaft for rotating the inner shaft; a tympanic membrane treatment probe coupled with the guide structure, the treatment probe comprising; a probe shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein at least part of the probe shaft is slidably disposed within the probe lumen of the inner shaft; an actuation handle attached to the probe shaft proximal end; and a tympanic membrane piercing tip at the distal end of the probe shaft; and a tympanostomy tube releasably carried on the treatment probe proximally of the treatment probe'"'"'s piercing tip, wherein the tympanostomy tube and the piercing tip of the tympanic membrane treatment probe are retractable into the probe lumen of the inner shaft after the piercing tip is slidably disposed past the distal end of the shaft of the guide structure, to help avoid injury during insertion of the shaft of the guide structure into the external auditory canal; an image transmission cable coupled with the probe assembly, the image transmission cable comprising; at least one illuminating optical fiber; at least one aiming light optical fiber; and at least one image transmission optical fiber; and an illuminating light source coupled with the probe assembly via the cable; an aiming light source coupled with the probe assembly cable; a camera coupled with the probe assembly via the cable; and a video monitor coupled with the camera. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification