Myringotomy tube inserter and method for inserting myringotomy tubes

Claim 1

A myringotomy tube inserter for inserting a myringotomy tube in an incision in the tympanic membrane of a patient's ear, comprising: an elongated hollow tubular sleeve member including a first handle non-rotatably attached to said sleeve member for holding and manipulating said inserter; a shaft member positioned within said sleeve member and having a proximal end extending from one end of said sleeve member and a distal end extending from the other end of said sleeve member, said shaft member independently movable both longitudinally and rotationally within said sleeve member, said shaft member distal end adapted to releasably hold a myringotomy tube adjacent said sleeve member other end, said shaft member proximal end terminating in an enlarged head portion adapted for gripping to enable rotation of said shaft member with respect to said sleeve member, such rotation being effective to rotate a myringotomy tube, releasably held on said distal end of said shaft member, relative to said sleeve member to permit said sleeve member and said first handle to remain in a fixed orientation as said shaft member and the myringotomy tube are rotated; and means for urging said shaft member longitudinally with respect to said sleeve member to withdraw said shaft member distal end within said sleeve member to cause said sleeve member other end to exert pressure against a myringotomy tube releasably held on said shaft member distal end, releasing the tube from said shaft member, rotation of said shaft member during insertion of the myringotomy tube into an incision in the tympanic membrane aiding such insertion, said urging means being operable upon such insertion to retract said distal end of said shaft member from the myringotomy tube.