Patent ID: 8439687

Claim:
An apparatus useable for simulated insertion and positioning of a medical or surgical device within an anatomical opening or passageway that leads to a paranasal sinus, said apparatus comprising: a substantially flat first panel having a top surface, a bottom surface and at least one side surface; a simulated nasal opening formed in a side surface of the first panel; a simulated nasal passage with a simulated intranasal septum on one side thereof; at least one simulated paranasal sinus cavity; at least one ostium or tract connecting the simulated nasal passage to said at least one simulated paranasal sinus cavity; and a substantially flat second panel mounted in juxtaposition to the top surface of the flat first panel, said second panel comprising a window through which an operator may view the medical or surgical device as it is inserted through the simulated nasal opening and advanced through the simulated nasal passage to a position within said at least one ostium or tract or said at least one simulated paranasal sinus cavity; and a substantially flat third panel mounted in juxtaposition to the bottom surface of the flat first panel; wherein the simulated nasal passage and at least one simulated paranasal sinus cavity are substantially two-dimensional simulations of anatomical structures that naturally occur in three dimensions in the actual human paranasal anatomy.