From BusinessWeek:

Medical device maker Medtronic said Friday a study has shown that its disposable covers for sinus-probing tools help prevent bacterial contamination.

The company said researchers at Boston University showed the company’s Endosheaths are as effective at protecting contamination as antibacterial solutions. The sheaths are placed over endoscopes, medical instruments used to examine the nose and throat area for reflux disease, snoring, sinusitis and other ailments.

The results were presented at the annual Triological Society meetings in Orlando, Fla., according to Medtronic.

The company said in a statement that its disposable sheath “helps physicians maximize time treating patients.”

Medtronic, the world’s largest device maker, sells pacemakers, spinal implants, stents and hundreds of other implants.

Tampa, Florida (AP) – A dentist is being sued for allegedly leaving part of his drill in a woman’s head for nearly a year.

The lawsuit said Donna Delgao’s surgeon left an inch-long piece of steel in a wound after dental surgery in 2008. The tool was found lodged in her right maxillary sinus. It was only removed 11 months later by another surgeon.

The lawsuit says Delgao suffered nosebleeds, sinus infections and dizziness. Her attorney said she also may suffer side effects, including nickel poisoning.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and a jury trial. There was no phone listing for the oral surgeon, Ralph Eichstaedt. He told the St. Petersburg Times he wouldn’t comment on the lawsuit.

From the Med Tech Sentinel:  Like a relentless opponent in a boxing match, sinus infections refuse to stay down for long. Bombard them with antibiotics, blast them with nasal sprays, attack them with hot compresses and decongestants–sinus infections have a way of returning full-force to inflict more misery.

Sinusitis, or inflammation of the nasal passages, is characterized by symptoms including facial pain, headaches, fatigue and congestion. The American Rhinological Society estimates that 35 million people in the U.S. suffer from sinusitis, making it the most common chronic illness in the country. Americans spend billions of dollars per year attempting to treat sinusitis.

A new study by Oregon Health and Science University indicates that minimally invasive surgery can significantly benefit adults with chronic sinusitis. A total of 302 patients were followed for 18 months after undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery. Up to 76 percent of subjects reported improved quality of life after the surgery, including less pain and better social functioning.

Many patients seeking long-term relief from chronic sinusitis opt for endoscopic surgery, in which a catheter-like device is inserted into the sinuses (hollow spaces inside the skull that are connected to the nasal cavity) to clear blockages. One company specializing in such devices is Acclarent of Menlo Park, Calif. The company’s Balloon Sinuplasty system uses a catheter to widen the sinus passageways and allow for normal sinus drainage and function.