Abstract: A vessel sealing device having a pair of electrodes that are maintained in spaced apart configuration when closed by non-uniform coating formed from a non-conductive material that has been applied to roughened electrodes so that the coating allows for the passage of a predetermined amount of radiofrequency (RF) energy between the electrodes. The coating has a predetermined thickness that spaces the electrodes apart while also having the predetermined non-uniformity that allows RF energy to pass between the electrodes when a vessel is trapped therein, thus desiccating the vessel positioned in the jaws. The electrodes may include a series of grooves in a herringbone pattern, with each electrode having the pattern oriented in the same direction or in opposite directions.

Abstract: The devices and method described herein allow for therapeutic damage to increase volume in these hyperdynamic hearts to allow improved physiology and ventricular filling and to reduce diastolic filling pressure by making the ventricle less stiff.

Abstract: Methods for treating skin and subcutaneous tissue with energy such as ultrasound energy are disclosed. In various embodiments, ultrasound energy is applied at a region of interest to affect tissue by cutting, ablating, micro-ablating, coagulating, or otherwise affecting the subcutaneous tissue to conduct numerous procedures that are traditionally done invasively in a non-invasive manner. Methods of lifting sagging tissue are described.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating tissue with microwave energy used in applications such as destroying a soft tissue by microwave ablation and/or creating point, line, area or volumetric lesions. Various embodiments of flexible, low-profile devices are also disclosed where such device can be inserted non-invasively or minimally invasively near or into the target tissue such as cardiac tissue. The devices disclosed herein comprise antennas wherein the field profile generated by an antenna is tailored and optimized for a particular clinical application. The antennas use unique properties of microwaves such as interaction of a microwave field with one or more conductive or non-conductive shaping elements to shape or redistribute the microwave field.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for the treatment of tissue using energy delivery. Specifically, certain embodiments may be used for the treatment of lung tissue, such as lung nodules, using RF ablation, via a catheter provided with a first electrode attached to a distal end of the catheter, wherein the first electrode is hollow, wherein the first electrode comprises a piercing tip configured to pierce through an airway wall and a second electrode received in a movable manner within the first electrode, wherein the second electrode is extendable from the first electrode to form a first extended configuration.

Abstract: Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods for delivering energy to tissue for a wide variety of applications, including medical procedures (e.g., tissue ablation, resection, cautery, vascular thrombosis, treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and dysrhythmias, electrosurgery, tissue harvest, etc.). In certain embodiments, devices, systems, and methods are provided for delivering energy to difficult to access tissue regions (e.g. central or peripheral lung tissues), and/or reducing the amount of undesired heat given off during energy delivery.

Abstract: The present invention provides a double-layer cryogenic inflatable balloon including an inflatable balloon assembly and a cryogenic balloon assembly. The inflatable balloon assembly includes an inflatable balloon, an outer catheter and a liquid-filling cavity provided with a liquid-filling chamber, the inflatable balloon, the outer catheter and the liquid-filling cavity being communicated with each other. The cryogenic balloon assembly includes a cryogenic balloon, an inner catheter and a fluid-diverting cavity provided with a gas return chamber as well as a gas inlet pipe and an inflation assembly, the cryogenic balloon, the inner catheter and the fluid-diverting cavity being communicated with each other, wherein the cryogenic balloon is located in the inflatable balloon, and the inner catheter is located in the outer catheter.

Abstract: A working end of a catheter includes at least one therapeutic element, such as a resistive heating element, usable to deliver energy for ligating, or reducing the diameter of, a hollow anatomical structure. In certain examples, the catheter includes a lumen to accommodate a guide wire or to allow fluid delivery. In certain embodiments, a balloon is inflated to place resistive element(s) into apposition with a hollow anatomical structure and to occlude the structure. Indexing devices and methods are also disclosed for successively treating portions of the hollow anatomical structure. In certain examples, marks along the catheter shaft provide visual verification to the physician of the relative position of the therapeutic element of the catheter. Embodiments of indexing devices may include pairs of rings and/or hinged arms that move a catheter a desired indexed position between successive treatments.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter is provided, including a flexible elongate body; an expandable element positioned on the elongate body; a substantially linear thermal segment located proximally of the expandable element, the thermal segment defining a first flexibility, where the thermal segment is positioned between two portions of the catheter body each including a flexibility less than that of the thermal segment; a first fluid flow path in fluid communication with the expandable element; and a second fluid flow path in fluid communication with the thermal segment.

Abstract: A transseptal insertion device is provided including device housing, a pusher slidably disposed in the device housing and a guide element extending from the pusher. The device housing is configured to be inserted into the right atrium of a patient's heart and the guide element can then be advanced from the device housing and against the cardiac septum to facilitate stable puncturing of the cardiac septum by a needle carried by a catheter inserted through the device housing, to provide access to the left atrium. The guide element can be formed as a webbing or ring. The pusher and/or guide element can optionally be inflatable.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and compositions are provided for implanting an implantable device into a biological tissue (e.g., muscle, brain). A subject implantable device includes: (i) a biocompatible substrate, (ii) a conduit (e.g., an electrode, a waveguide) that is disposed on the biocompatible substrate, and (iii) an engagement feature (e.g., a loop) for reversible engagement with an insertion needle. The biocompatible substrate can be flexible (e.g., can include polyimide). The implantable device is implanted using an insertion needle that includes an engagement feature corresponding to the engagement feature of the implantable device. To implant, an implantable device is reversibly engaged with an insertion needle, the device-loaded insertion needle is inserted into a biological tissue (e.g., to a desired depth), and the insertion needle is retracted, thereby disengaging the implantable device from the insertion needle and allowing the implantable device to remain implanted in the biological tissue.

Abstract: A catheter and tissue cutting system percutaneously permits the creation of an anastomosis between a first and second anatomical structure, such as a vein and an artery. The system comprises a catheter having a main body with a lumen and tapered distal tip, configured to be moved distally into the first anatomical structure over a primary guidewire. A cutting electrode is nested in the main body, with a lumen which tracks over a secondary guidewire, and is insertable into the secondary anatomical structure. An energy supply is operative to energize the cutting electrode in order to cut a tissue wall defining the first anatomical structure.

Abstract: Bacteria, cancer cells, fungus and other harmful cells located beneath the surface of a mammal body can be effectively destroyed by passing an electrical current through the area to be treated. Electrodes are positioned on either side of the area to be treated, for example, gums, fingers, arms, legs, feet and torso, and an electric current is caused to flow between the electrodes and through the area to be treated. The electric current will destroy the bacteria, cancer cells, fungus or other harmful cells.

Abstract: A system including a catheter navigable to a location within a patient, a lumen extending through the catheter and ending at the distal end in an orifice, a fluid controller in fluid communication with the lumen of the catheter and capable of supplying a fluid to or removing a fluid from an area proximate the desired location. The control of the fluid in the area proximate the desired location affecting a dielectric constant of the area proximate the desired location. The system includes a microwave energy source, and a microwave ablation probe connected to the microwave energy source, the microwave ablation probe being navigable to a desired location within the patient. Application of energy from the microwave energy source to the microwave ablation probe in an area proximate the desired location having the affected dielectric constant results in a substantially spherical tissue effect in the area proximate the desired location.

Abstract: An electrocautery unit for connecting to a handle of an electrocautery device, the unit comprises a body, a light unit and an electrode. The body has a body proximal end and a body distal end, and a body axis extending lengthwise along the center of the body. The body's proximal end comprises a connecting element for connecting said body to a handle having a handle axis extending lengthwise along the center of the handle, so that said body axis is coaxial with said handle axis when said body is connected to said handle. The light unit may be constructed and arranged to emit a light having a central axis coaxial with said body axis. The electrode comprises a proximate end connected to the body distal end, and an electrode tip at a distal said. When the electrode is connected to the body, the electrode lays outside of the body axis and extends into said body axis such that the electrode tip is within said body axis, wherein said light and said electrode tip are coaxial to said body axis and said handle axis.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating assessment and convenient display of graphical output indicative of lesion formation and outputting data indicative of lesion formation to a 3D mapping system to display on a 3D model are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods relating to a low-voltage, pre-treatment pulse routine for evaluating a potential for non-target tissue damage from the delivery of energy, such as electroporation energy to an area of target tissue. In one embodiment, a medical system includes a medical device having a treatment element; and a control unit in communication with the medical device, the control unit being configured to: deliver a low-voltage, pre-treatment pulse routine through the treatment element to an area of target tissue; determine whether the low-voltage, pre-treatment pulse routine has a stimulation effect on an area of non-target tissue; and deliver an ablation energy routine through the treatment element to the area of target tissue when the control unit determines that the low-voltage, pre-treatment pulse routine does not have a stimulation effect on the area of non-target tissue.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft and a probe that extends distally from a distal end of the shaft. The probe includes a distal tip configured to puncture a tissue surface to enter a nerve canal of a patient, and an ablation element operable to ablate a nerve located within the nerve canal. The surgical instrument further includes a stop element arranged proximally of the distal tip. The stop element is configured to abut the tissue surface punctured by the distal tip. In some examples, the ablation element may be in the form of an RF electrode operable to ablate the nerve with RF energy. The surgical instrument may further include a navigation sensor operable to generate a signal corresponding to a location of the probe within the patient.

Abstract: Ablation systems and methods detect and address distortion caused by a variety of factors. A method includes measuring a temperature curve at target tissue; applying ablation energy to the target tissue; determining a peak temperature on the temperature curve; if the peak temperature is greater than the predetermined peak temperature, determining a time at which the temperature curve crosses to a lower temperature; and if the determined time is greater than a predetermined time, generating a message indicating that the target tissue was successfully ablated. Another method includes determining a distance between a remote temperature probe and an ablation probe, applying ablation energy to target tissue, measuring temperature at the remote temperature probe, estimating ablation size based on the determined distance and the temperature measured by the remote temperature probe, and determining whether the target tissue is successfully ablated based on the estimated ablation size.

Abstract: A biopotential can be measured with high accuracy without the electrodes coming into direct contact with the skin and without being affected by any motion artifact. The present invention comprises a first lead which detects a biopotential containing noise components, a second lead which is electrically isolated from the first lead and detects noise components, and a differential amplifier circuit which is input with a first signal output from the first lead and a second signal output from the second lead, and which amplifies and outputs a difference between the first signal and the second signal, wherein a value of an input impedance on the second signal side of the differential amplifier circuit is set so that the noise components detected from the second lead will have a frequency that is higher than a frequency spectrum of the biopotential.