173 results about "Mouth/Throat" patented technology

Devices, systems and methods for performing image guided interventional and surgical procedures, including various procedures to treat sinusitis and other disorders of the paranasal sinuses, ears, nose or throat.

Devices, systems and methods for performing image guided interventional and surgical procedures, including various procedures to treat sinusitis and other disorders of the paranasal sinuses, ears, nose or throat.

Devices, systems and methods for performing image guided interventional and surgical procedures, including various procedures to treat sinusitis and other disorders of the paranasal sinuses, ears, nose or throat.

Sinusitis and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and / or treated using minimally invasive approaches with flexible or rigid instruments. Various methods and devices are used for remodeling or changing the shape, size or configuration of a sinus ostium or duct or other anatomical structure in the ear, nose or throat; implanting a device, cells or tissues; removing matter from the ear, nose or throat; delivering diagnostic or therapeutic substances or performing other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Introducing devices (e.g., guide catheters, tubes, guidewires, elongate probes, other elongate members) may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g. catheters e.g. balloon catheters, guidewires, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, devices for implanting elements like stents, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for delivering diagnostic or therapeutic agents, substance delivery implants, scopes etc.) into the paranasal sinuses or other structures in the ear, nose or throat. Specific devices (e.g., tubular guides, guidewires, balloon catheters, tubular sheaths) are provided as are methods for manufacturing and using such devices to treat disorders of the ear, nose or throat.

Devices, systems and methods useable for dilating the ostia of paranasal sinuses and / or other passageways within the ear, nose or throat. A dilation catheter device and system is constructed in a manner that facilitates ease of use by the operator and, in at least some cases, allows the dilation procedure to be performed by a single operator. Additionally, the dilation catheter device and system may be useable in conjunction with an endoscope and / or a fluoroscope to provide for easy manipulation and positioning of the devices and real time visualization of the entire procedure or selected portions thereof. In some embodiments, an optional handle may be used to facilitate grasping or supporting a device of the present invention as well as another device (e.g., an endoscope) with a single hand.

Sinusitis and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and / or treated using minimally invasive approaches with flexible or rigid instruments. Various methods and devices are used for remodeling or changing the shape, size or configuration of a sinus ostium or duct or other anatomical structure in the ear, nose or throat; implanting a device, cells or tissues; removing matter from the ear, nose or throat; delivering diagnostic or therapeutic substances or performing other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Introducing devices (e.g., guide catheters, tubes, guidewires, elongate probes, other elongate members) may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g. catheters e.g. balloon catheters, guidewires, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, devices for implanting elements like stents, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for delivering diagnostic or therapeutic agents, substance delivery implants, scopes etc.) into the paranasal sinuses or other structures in the ear, nose or throat. Specific devices (e.g., tubular guides, guidewires, balloon catheters, tubular sheaths) are provided as are methods for manufacturing and using such devices to treat disorders of the ear, nose or throat.

Sinusitis, enlarged nasal turbinates, tumors, infections, hearing disorders, allergic conditions, facial fractures and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and / or treated using minimally invasive approaches and, in many cases, flexible catheters as opposed to instruments having rigid shafts. Various diagnostic procedures and devices are used to perform imaging studies, mucus flow studies, air / gas flow studies, anatomic dimension studies, endoscopic studies and transillumination studies. Access and occluder devices may be used to establish fluid tight seals in the anterior or posterior nasal cavities / nasopharynx and to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g., scopes, guidewires, catheters, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for injecting diagnostic or therapeutic agents, devices for implanting devices such as stents, substance eluting devices, substance delivery implants, etc.

Medical devices, systems and methods that are useable to facilitate transnasal insertion and positioning of guidewires and various other devices and instruments at desired locations within the ear, nose, throat, paranasal sinuses or cranium. Direct viewing of such placements via an endoscope.

Sinusitis and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and / or treated using minimally invasive approaches with flexible or rigid instruments. Various methods and devices are used for remodeling or changing the shape, size or configuration of a sinus ostium or duct or other anatomical structure in the ear, nose or throat; implanting a device, cells or tissues; removing matter from the ear, nose or throat; delivering diagnostic or therapeutic substances or performing other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Introducing devices (e.g., guide catheters, tubes, guidewires, elongate probes, other elongate members) may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g. catheters e.g. balloon catheters, guidewires, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, devices for implanting elements like stents, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for delivering diagnostic or therapeutic agents, substance delivery implants, scopes etc.) into the paranasal sinuses or other structures in the ear, nose or throat.

When there is an obstruction to the passage of air through the back of the mouth and nose, the soft palate and the bell collide, producing a vibration called snoring. There are various ways of reducing or eliminating snoring, nasal masks introducing air pressure to the throat (CPAP), surgery of the throat (OPPBA) and devices that are introduced into the mouth to cause a mandibular advancement what increases the oropharyngeal area, improving ventilation, among other solutions. The present invention disclosure an intraocclusal removable device in the form of a “U” that is placed covering all of the upper jaw teeth, wherein two steps, one in each extreme of the lower part of the element, which impede the mandible be closed completely on its normal occlusion, forcing it to produce a forward displacement of the lower jaw.

An apparatus and method are described that uses fractional light based treatment to shrink soft tissue in the mouth or throat to reduce obstruction of the airways for patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. A light delivery probe with scanning optics can be used to deliver treatment. Cooling systems can be added to reduce damage to epithelial layers of tissue. Light based treatment can be nonablative or ablative and is preferably performed with a laser.

An artificial airway device for use in unconscious patients comprises a laryngo-pharyngeal mask including an expandable masking ring. The expandable mask sealingly surrounds the laryngeal inlet when expanded to obstruct communication between the laryngeal inlet and oesophagus. One or more airway tubes connected to the mask provide for fluid flow to a portion of the mask facing the laryngeal inlet when said mask sealingly surrounds the laryngeal inlet. A gastro-tube connected to the mask provides a fluid flow-path to the mask when the mask sealingly surrounds the laryngeal inlet. The distal end of the gastro tube passes through the masking ring at its narrower distal region where, when installed in a patient, it abuts against the oesophagus; and the distal portion of the gastro-tube flattens when the mask is deflated to facilitate smooth passage behind the larynx during insertion through the mouth and throat of the patient.

An apparatus and method for addressing specific physiological symptoms through distinct combinations of jaw alignment, tongue and teeth interaction is described. A dental orthotic comprising a mandibular orthotic conforming to an user's mandibular dentition used for advancing a jaw of an user forward includes a plurality of contours for adjusting the tongue / teeth interaction, and may also include extensions for positioning the user's tongue. The plurality of contours are designed and applied to specific locations on the orthotic and extensions to promote a desired response for a specific physiological symptoms. The oral contours may include specific shapes such as protrusions, depressions, and grooves. The dental orthotic may also include a maxillary orthotic which is affixed to an upper surface of the mandibular orthotic. The contours change the shape of the mandibular orthotic as well as the dental shapes within the mouth, resulting in repositioning of the tongue and tissue of the throat, thereby improving the oral functions as well as relieving neuromuscular responses and autonomic nervous system dysfunctions.

The present invention is directed to a mucoadhesive delivery system for the local or systemic administration of a pharmaceutical agent. The delivery system of the invention effectively and facilely enables transport of the pharmaceutical agent through mucosal membranes and into the vasculattire of the mucosa. The delivery system includes an at least partially water soluble bioadhesive layer and an at least partially water soluble backing layer. Incorporated within either or both of these layers are the pharmaceutical agent and a mucosal penetration enhancing agent. The mucosal penetration enhancing agent displays localized tissue irritation properties. The mucoadhesive delivery system may be in the form of a gel, film, disc or patch. It may be applied to any mucosal membrane of a patient including but not limited to those of the buccal and nasal cavities, throat, eye, vagina, alimentary tract and peritoneum.

Oral phototherapy applicators are disclosed that are sized and shaped so as to fit at least partially in a user's mouth and have at least one radiation emitting element coupled to an apparatus body to irradiate a portion of the oral cavity with phototherapeutic radiation along multiple directions. In one aspect, the apparatus is configured to direct radiation to at least one portion of the oral cavity, such as the teeth, cheeks, tongue, palate, throat, lymphatic tissue, blood, glands, follicles, collagen, pigmentation or facial tissue, generally. The apparatus can further include bristles to provide a phototherapeutic toothbrush. Alternatively, the apparatus body can be adapted for placement in a fixed position relative to the oral cavity during phototherapy.

A gastro-laryngeal mask features softly compliant construction of the distal half of the mask, wherein the mask is of generally elliptical configuration, with an inflatable peripheral cuff to seal and support the mask around the laryngeal inlet. A back cushion is inflatable to engage the back wall of the pharynx and thus to forwardly load the peripheral-cuff seal to the laryngeal inlet. An evacuation tube for external removal of a possible gastric discharge completes an evacuation or discharge passage contained within the mask and opening through the distal end of the peripheral cuff. Special provision is made for assuring integrity of the discharge passage within the flexible distal half of the mask, i.e., assuring against collapse of the distal-end half of the softly compliant evacuation tube in the distal region of the mask, such that inflation of the mask does not compromise viability of the evacuation tube by compressing softly compliant material of the evacuation tube during periods of mask inflation. The special provision also favors such collapse of the mask when deflated as to provide a leading flexible edge for piloting a safe and correct advancing insertional advance of the deflated mask in the patient's throat, in avoidance of epiglottis interference and to the point of locating engagement in the upper sphincter of the oesophagus.

An anti-cough, anti-tussive, and throat soothing synergistic herbal formulation comprising of an extract of Piper cubeba, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Acorus calamus Alpinia galanga, Zingiber officinale and pharmaceutically acceptable additives as a syrup, lozenges or chewable tablets for preventing cracking of voice, dryness of mouth and toning of voice, vocal cord; the present invention also provides a method of preparation of this formulation.

A life saving necklace for a drowning person that comprises microphones for receiving voices originated from the throat of a drowning person; a processor for processing signals received from the microphones represent coughs that are typical to a drowning person and for automatically transmitting a distress signal to a base station; a memory for storing data and operating software for the processor; an electric power source for providing power to the electrical components of the necklace.

The present invention is the universal unmedicamental system to treat the snore and obstructive sleep apnea and recover of the normal breathing during sleep. The invention includes the device, which ensures the fixation of the tongue in a putting forward beyond the mouth position. As a result, the tongue's pharyngeal part pushes forward in the mouth, releasing besides the throat and excluding the tongue from a system of obstruction to the air's passing through the throat. This increases the throat's capacity, depriving the other throat's structures of the possibility to provoke the partial or complete obstruction to the air's passing through the throat during the physiological process of breathing in the time of the sleep.

Pharmaceutically engineered aerosols (e.g. submicrometer and nano-particles and droplets) containing a hygroscopic growth excipient or agent are employed to improve the delivery of respiratory aerosols to the lung. Inclusion of the hygroscopic agent results in near zero depositional loss in the nose-mouth-throat regions and near 100% deposition of the aerosol in the lung. Targeting of the aerosol to specific lung depths is also possible. In addition, methods and apparatuses for delivering aerosols to the lung are provided. The aerosol is delivered to one nostril of a patient while a relatively high humidity gaseous carrier is delivered to the other nostril, resulting in post-nasopharyngeal growth of the aerosol to a size that promotes deposition in the lung.

To deliver a medication and its active ingredients to the esophagus, a nasal irrigator, which is capable of delivering medicated fluid that coats the whole nasal and paranasal sinus cavities, is used. The nasal irrigator forces an aerosol mist of the medicated fluid into the nasal cavity above the inferior turbinate, independent of a user's breathing in. Mucociliary clearance from the nasal cavity then delivers the medication to the throat and it is then topically introduced onto the esophagus over an extended period of time.

In certain embodiments, the present invention is directed to the use of soothing agents to relieve mild irritation and / or enhance the overall soothing, comfort or refreshing feel of mucosal membranes of the eye, oral cavity, otic, nose, throat or vaginal area. The present invention further relates to compositions, articles and methods for masking or reducing the irritant properties of sensory compounds, such as terpenes and / or phenolic agents.

Methods, devices and systems for the treatment of nasal valve collapse or other conditions of the ear, nose or throat.

This inhaler has a drug vial part and diverging cone shaped mouthpiece (11). Drug vial (7) (with needed drugs in propellant, cosolvents) has a spray rod (8) fitting into a socket (9) with a nozzle (10) leading into the mouthpiece. Mouthpiece (11) has a small air hole (12) with a baffle (13) creating audible sound, for early inhalation triggering. A filter (14) covers the air hole. A dose counter (15) records use. The long mouth piece is kept in mouth, air inhaled, alerting sound is heard, drug vial is pressed, the spray is released at back of throat with longer, deeper and slow inhalation for more lung drug deposit and relief with clean filtered air and dose counter! Modified Insulin (protein) inhaler socket has separate propellant (7) and insulin vials (18)! Insulin vial has a piston (19) and valved exit (20) fitting the socket, before propellant vial. Insulin piston fills needed dose in socket, inhaled, propellant vial is pressed, and insulin spray fills lungs!

In one embodiment, a device for reducing or eliminating snoring by providing easy inhalation through the mouth and slightly restricted exhalation allowed only through the nose. This results in positive airway pressure, keeping the soft tissues of the mouth and throat sufficiently separate to discourage snoring.

The present invention relates to the protection of medical patients and personnel from harmful radiation. More specifically, this invention provides a compact, light-weight article to be worn in areas of the body most sensitive to radiation. These include, for example, the pelvic area, the genital and gonad areas, the breast area to guard against radiation to the mammary gland, the neck and throat to protect the thyroid gland, the eye area to protect the crystalline lens.

The present disclosure describes pharmaceutical compositions and methods for reducing duration, intensity, and / or bothersomeness of common colds in humans and for reducing severity or duration of common cold symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, dry / scratchy throat and sneezing in humans exhibiting such symptoms. The compositions herein comprise extracts of at least one of Luffa Operculata (L. operculata), S. officinale (V. sabadilla), and Galphimia Glauca (G. glauca) in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and in various embodiments, comprise a mixture of all three Luffa Operculata (L. operculata) 10% extract MT, S. officinale (V. sabadilla) 3× extract, and Galphimia Glauca (G. glauca) 10% extract MT in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.