USPTO Patent for Transcanal Ear Surgery Systems and Methods

ChangeBridge: Patent Grants - Medical Devices (A61M)

Published March 24th, 2026

Detected March 24th, 2026

Summary

The USPTO has granted a patent (US12582555B2) to Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC for transcanal ear surgery systems and methods. The patent describes a surgical technique involving a flooded ear canal environment for improved cooling and visualization during tissue resection.

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What changed

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued patent US12582555B2 to Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC for novel systems and methods related to transcanal ear surgery. The patent details a surgical approach that maintains a fluid-filled ear canal to facilitate tissue resection with a submerged cutting instrument, aiming to enhance cooling and visualization during procedures. The filing date for this patent was April 12, 2019.

This patent grant is primarily an intellectual property matter and does not impose new regulatory obligations on medical device manufacturers or healthcare providers. However, it signifies innovation in surgical technology within the otology field. Companies operating in this space should be aware of this granted patent as it may impact their own product development and intellectual property strategies concerning ear surgery devices and techniques.

Source document (simplified)

← USPTO Patent Grants

Systems and methods of performing transcanal ear surgery

Grant US12582555B2 Kind: B2 Mar 24, 2026

Assignee

Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC

Inventors

Conor O'Shea, Damian Michael Curtin, Aidan Vaughan, Eoin Connolly

Abstract

Systems and methods for performing transcanal ear surgery. A volume of fluid is maintained within the ear canal to provide a flooded environment. A cutting member of a cutting instrument is submerged and operated within the flooded environment to resect tissue within the ear. A reservoir system may be coupled to the patient to facilitate providing the flooded environment. The reservoir system at least partially surrounds the auricle of the ear in fluid-tight sealing engagement with the head of the patient. An irrigation pump and a suction source on one or both of the reservoir system and the cutting instrument are operated to provide the flooded environment. The reservoir system includes an access opening sized to receive one or more surgical instruments, for example, the cutting instrument and an endoscope. The flooded environment improves cooling of the surgical site and visualization of the surgical site from the endoscope.

CPC Classifications

A61F 11/20 A61B 2017/00787 A61B 2217/005 A61B 2217/007 A61B 17/320758 A61B 2017/0034 A61B 1/018 A61B 1/227 A61B 1/32 A61M 39/06 A61M 39/02 A61M 2039/062 A61M 2039/0626