Devices, systems and methods for diagnosing and treating sinusitus and other disorders of the ears, nose and/or throat

An anterior/posterior occlusion and access device for use in the diagnosis and/or treatment of sinusitis or a disorder of the ear, nose or throat, said device comprising:

• a tube having an anterior end, a posterior end and at least one lumen;
• an anterior occluder at a first location on the tube;
• a posterior occluder at a second location on the tube, said second location being posterior to said first location;
• a working device insertion opening located anterior to the anterior occluder;
• and
• a working device exit opening located between the anterior occluder and the posterior occluder;
• and
• at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of a) a valve that is operative to allow a working device to be inserted through said device insertion port while preventing blood or other fluid from backflowing out of the device insertion port at least when no working device is inserted therethrough, b) at least one moveable suction port for suctioning blood, fluid or debris from a plurality of locations between the anterior occluder and posterior occluder and/or c) separate infusion and suction lumens such that fluid may be infused into a location between the anterior and posterior occluders at the same time that fluid is being suctioned from a location between the anterior and posterior occluders.
• said nasal access and occlusion device being deployable such that i) the anterior occluder occludes the nostril or nasal cavity on one side of the intranasal septum ii) the posterior occluder occludes the nasopharynx at a location posterior to the intranasal septum and iii) a working device may be inserted through the working device insertion opening and advanced out of the working device exit opening to a location within the nose, nasopharynx or paranasal sinus.

A nasal access and anterior occlusion device for use in the diagnosis and/or treatment of sinusitis or a disorder of the ear, nose or throat, said device comprising:

• an anterior occluder for occluding the nostril or nasal cavity on one side of the nasal septum;
• and
• a working device insertion port through which a working device may be inserted and advanced past the anterior occluder to a location within the nose, nasopharynx or paranasal sinus;
• and
• at least one valve that allows a working device to be inserted through said working device insertion port and prevents blood or other fluid from backflowing out of the working device insertion port, at least when no working device is inserted therethrough.

A device for removing polyps or other tissue from the nose, nasopharynx or paranasal sinus, said device comprising:

• a flexible catheter having a distal end and a lumen;
• a flexible tube having an open distal end and a lumen extending therethrough, said flexible tube being rotatably disposed within a lumen of the catheter such that the flexible tube may rotate while the catheter does not rotate;
• a rotating cutter on the distal end of the flexible tube;
• and
• an opening formed in the catheter such that matter may be received through the opening and cut by the rotating cutter.

A method for treating deafness or hearing impairment in a human or veterinary patient having a Eustachian tube, a cochlea, a tympanic cavity and an outer ear, said method comprising the steps of:

• (A) inserting a flexible catheter through the patient's nose and into the Eustachian tube;
• (B) providing a cochlear implant system comprising a cochlear electrode array, a transducer and a power source;
• (C) advancing the cochlear electrode array through the catheter that is inserted in the Eustachian tube and into the cochlea;
• and
• (D) communicating the cochlear electrode array to the transducer and power source such that the cochlear implant system delivers sound-associated electrical impulses to the cochlea.