Airway Procedures

About Airway Procedures

Medtronic offers a broad portfolio of manual and powered ENT instruments for laryngeal surgery and airway procedures.  These are some of our key products for both adult and pediatric patients:

Powered Instruments

Straightshot M4 Microdebrider

Straightshot Microdebrider Blades for Airway Procedures

With its precision and versatility, our award-winning Straightshot^® M4 Microdebrider is well-suited for a variety of lesions throughout the airway. It allows custom speed, suction, and irrigation settings, as well as the simplicity of preset application-specific settings. With the Straightshot's innovative finger wheel control, the rotatable blades facilitate precise placement of the cutting window without changing the position of the handpiece, offering hand stability while operating within the confines of the airway. You can use our microdebrider for:

• Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP)
• Tracheal or laryngeal polypectomy
• Tracheal or laryngeal lesion debulking
• Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy 
• Microdebrider-assisted extended uvulopalatoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea

Innovative Blades for the Airway

Our selection of application-specific Straightshot blades for airway procedures gives you maximum flexibility for treating adult and pediatric patients. Blade selection is dictated by the condition being treated and anatomic location. Cutting edges progress from the less aggressive Skimmer^® Blade for precise excision of small lesions in delicate areas to the most aggressive Tricut^® Blade for rapid removal of large bulky growths.

Blade length ranges from 18 to 45 cm in 2.9, 3.5, and 4.0 mm diameters to meet the needs of varying patient anatomies. Some of our innovative blades include:

Skimmer Blade removing papilloma

• The Skimmer Blade for precise excision of small lesions in delicate areas. It was specifically designed for gently and quickly shaving recurrent respiratory papillomas (RRP) near the vocal fold while minimizing damage to the epithelium. Skimmer Blades offer a better treatment for RRP through shorter procedure times, quicker patient recovery, and eliminating the thermal burn and other risks associated with laser techniques.¹ The recurrent nature of papilloma with resultant numerous surgeries often leads to progressive scarring and poor voice outcomes that may be prevented by the ability to avoid injury to normal tissues with the microdebrider.²

Tricut Blade excising suprastomal granuloma

• The aggressive Tricut Blade for rapid removal of large bulky growths.

• The Powered Intracapsular Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy (PITA^™) Set, which studies show offers a safe, effective method for many patients that results in faster recovery, less postoperative pain, and a faster return to normal diet than traditional methods.^3-5

Manual Instruments for Laryngeal Surgery

Our selection of manual laryngeal instruments includes the MicroFrance^® brand, a premier line of ENT instruments designed with many world-renowned ENT surgeons to facilitate new surgical techniques and improve patient outcomes.

MicroFrance ENT instruments are finely crafted with exceptional quality and precision to help you minimize trauma when operating on or near the delicate vocal cords. These instruments are designed for the unique challenges of laryngeal surgery, microlaryngeal manipulation and dissection, and phonosurgery. Some of our innovative MicroFrance laryngeal surgery products are described below.

Sataloff Laryngoscopes

These laryngoscopes, designed in conjunction with Robert T. Sataloff, MD, enable optimal visualization with an enhanced design for examining the vocal cords at the anterior commissure and vallecular regions. A large proximal opening provides true binocular microscope vision, while dual light fibers and dual suction offer maximum illumination and visualization during microsurgery. The elevated triangular tips are blunted to reduce tissue trauma.

Sataloff Laryngeal Instrument Set

Designed in conjunction with Robert T. Sataloff, MD, this set consists of very sharp, precise, and fine-tipped instruments for delicate laryngeal microsurgery. These instruments are designed to enable you to perform precise and minimally traumatic procedures for the treatment of vocal fold pathologies. The unique heart-shaped graspers feature atraumatic jaws with high quality serrations, ideal for mini-microflap procedures.

Benninger Microlaryngeal Instruments

These instruments, designed in conjunction with Michael Benninger, MD, are intended to provide maximum hand stabilization during microlaryngeal surgery. The reverse action handles are thumb-activated to reduce the amount of distal tip movement and wrist movement required for easier, atraumatic dissection.

Bouchayer Laryngeal Instruments

Designed in conjunction with Marc Bouchayer, MD, this versatile and complete phonosurgery set of specialized forceps, knives, retractors, and injection instruments can help you address even the most difficult pathologies of the larynx.

Additional Products

For our complete line of products for laryngeal surgery and airway procedures, see our online ENT Product Catalog.