Methods and devices for facilitating visualization in a surgical environment

A method of performing a minimally invasive surgical procedure, said method comprising the steps of:

• inserting a distal end portion of an illuminating guidewire internally into a paranasal sinus of a patient,
• emitting light from the distal end portion of the illuminating guidewire within the paranasal sinus, wherein a proximal end portion of the illuminating guidewire is connected to a power source to enable the distal end portion to emit light;
• observing a transillumination spot resulting from the light emitted from the distal end portion of the illuminating guidewire that occurs on an external surface of the patient, wherein the transillumination spot is sufficiently smaller than the sinus;
• correlating the location of the observed transillumination spot on the external surface of the patient with an internal location of the patient that underlies the location of the observed transillumination spot, to confirm positioning of the distal end portion of the illuminating guidewire;
• advancing a working device over the guidewire so that a proximal end of the guidewire extends proximally from the working device;
• positioning a working end of the working device at a target location in an opening into the paranasal sinus;
• and
• performing a surgical procedure with the working device at the target location to enlarge the opening into the paranasal sinus.