Abstract: A method for ablating a uterine endometrium enlarges an expandable-contractible frame to expand a compliant energy-delivery surface into a planar triangular shape and engage the surface against the walls of a patient's uterine cavity. The frame has flexible outer elements in lateral contact with the compliant surface and flexible inner elements not in said lateral contact, wherein the inner flexible element and outer flexible elements have substantially dissimilar material properties. Energy is applied through the compliant energy-delivery surface to ablate the endometrium.

Abstract: Tissue is treated using a radiofrequency power supply connected to an applicator having a chamber filled with an electrically non-conductive gas surrounded by a thin dielectric wall. A radiofrequency voltage is applied at a level sufficient to ionize the gas into a plasma and to capacitively couple the ionized plasma with the tissue to deliver radiofrequency current to ablate or otherwise treat the tissue.

Abstract: An integrated hysteroscopic treatment system which includes an endoscopic viewing system, a fluid management system, a resecting device and a controller for operating all the systems.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a shaft having proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween. A handle is coupled to the proximal end of the shaft, and an image sensor is carried on the distal end of the shaft. A channel extends through at least a distal shaft portion and has a channel diameter, and a section of the channel is re-configurable between a constricted shape and a non-constricted shape to accommodate tools introduced therethrough. The combined diagonal dimension and channel diameter is usually greater than the outer shaft diameter. The image sensor may be connected to a connector on the housing by a first slack flex circuit and a lights source on the shaft may be connected to a connector on the housing by a second slack flex circuit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for endometrial ablation. The systems include a handle and elongated introducer sleeve extending to an expandable working end having a fluid-tight interior chamber. A thin dielectric wall surrounds at least a portion of the interior chamber and has an external surface for contacting endometrial tissue. The thin dielectric wall surrounds a collapsible-expandable frame and receives an electrically non-conductive gas. First and second polarity electrodes are exposed to the interior and exterior of the chamber, respectively. A radiofrequency power source operatively connects to the electrode arrangement to apply a radiofrequency voltage across the first and second electrodes, wherein the voltage is sufficient to initiate ionization of the neutral gas into a conductive plasma within the interior chamber, and to capacitively couple the current in the plasma across the thin dielectric wall to ablate endometrial tissue engaged by the external surface of the dielectric structure.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a shaft having proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween. A handle is coupled to the proximal end of the shaft, and an image sensor is carried on the distal end of the shaft. A channel extends through at least a distal shaft portion and has a channel diameter, and a section of the channel is re-configurable between a constricted shape and a non-constricted shape to accommodate tools introduced therethrough. The combined diagonal dimension and channel diameter is usually greater than the outer shaft diameter. The image sensor may be connected to a connector on the housing by a first slack flex circuit and a lights source on the shaft may be connected to a connector on the housing by a second slack flex circuit.

Abstract: A surgical fluid management system includes a console and a cassette for delivering fluids to a surgical site. The console has a pump rotor and a pressure-sensing membrane. The cassette has a cassette housing, a flexible fluid delivery tube in the housing. The flexible fluid delivery tube has a lumen configured to interface with the pump rotor and to deliver a flow of fluid from a fluid source as the rotor is rotated. A pressure-transmitting membrane is located in a wall of the cassette housing and in fluid communication with said fluid delivery lumen,. The pressure-transmitting membrane flexes outwardly in response to a positive pressure in the lumen and flexes inwardly in response to a negative pressure in the lumen. The pressure-transmitting membrane detachably adheres to or presses against the pressure-sensing membrane to cause the pressure-sensing membrane to move in response to pressure changes in the flexible fluid delivery tube.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a shaft having proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween. A handle is coupled to the proximal end of the shaft, and an image sensor is carried on the distal end of the shaft. A channel extends through at least a distal shaft portion and has a channel diameter, and a section of the channel is re-configurable between a constricted shape and a non-constricted shape to accommodate tools introduced therethrough. The combined diagonal dimension and channel diameter is usually greater than the outer shaft diameter. The image sensor may be connected to a connector on the housing by a first slack flex circuit and a lights source on the shaft may be connected to a connector on the housing by a second slack flex circuit.

Abstract: A system for treating uterine tissue comprises an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between said proximal and distal ends. An energy applicator at the distal end of the elongated shaft is actuatable between a non-expanded shape to be inserted through a patient's cervical canal and an expanded shape to conform to the walls of the patient's uterus. A handle is coupled to a proximal end of the elongated shaft. The handle may include first and second moveable grips coupled to actuate the energy applicator with an upper spring and a lower spring disposed to urge the first and second moveable grips to move apart. An inflatable seal may be located at a distal end of the elongated shaft with a thermally insulating sleeve disposed over the elongated shaft proximal to the inflatable seal.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a shaft having proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween. A handle is coupled to the proximal end of the shaft, and an image sensor is carried on the distal end of the shaft. A channel extends through at least a distal shaft portion and has a channel diameter, and a section of the channel is re-configurable between a constricted shape and a non-constricted shape to accommodate tools introduced therethrough. The combined diagonal dimension and channel diameter is usually greater than the outer shaft diameter. The image sensor may be connected to a connector on the housing by a first slack flex circuit and a lights source on the shaft may be connected to a connector on the housing by a second slack flex circuit.

Abstract: Described herein is a venous pressure monitoring system which is configured to determine central venous pressure based on jugular venous pressure. One embodiment of the JVP monitoring system may include at least one signal processor, at least one accelerometer, at least one memory 5 for storing computer instructions related to the processor(s) and/or accelerometer(s), at least one display, and at least one patch adapted to be held in place or otherwise secured to a patients neck. The signal processor may be in communication with the accelerometer(s) to translate the output from the accelerometer(s) to yield a signal and calculate the central venous pressure.

Abstract: A method is provided to place new slides on zooming user interface canvas is provided that includes: receiving user request to add a new slide; determining whether a zoom level of a current viewing window has changed to meet a prescribed threshold zoom level since addition of a previously added slide; in response to a determination that the zoom level has changed, using a current viewing window zoom level as a reference zoom level; in response to a determination that the zoom level has not changed, using a previous viewing window zoom level as the reference zoom level; and determining a placement of the new slide with reference to the reference zoom level.

Abstract: A system for accessing a patient's uterine cavity and detecting perforations in the uterus includes an elongated probe having a flow channel extending to a terminal outlet in a distal region of the probe. A fluid source is coupled to the flow channel, and a seal on the probe is positionable in an endocervical canal. The probe may be trans-cervically inserted into the uterine cavity, and a fluid may be introduced through the channel to flow outwardly from the terminal outlet into the uterine cavity. A parameter of said fluid flow is monitored to detect a perforation in the uterus.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for endometrial ablation. In accordance with a method, a working end of an RF ablation device is positioned in a patient uterus to contact endometrial tissue, the working end comprising a dielectric wall capable of non-expanded and expanded shapes. An indicator mechanism is operatively coupled to the wall and configured to indicate non-expanded and expanded shapes of the wall.

Abstract: A method is provided to edit a display screen of a zooming user interface system; the method includes receiving a user request to transform a set of display elements that are displayed on a display screen encompassed by a frame; in response to the user request an information structured is produced in a non-transitory storage device that indicates each display element of the set of display elements that is displayed on the display screen encompassed by the frame; each display element indicated by the information structure is transformed according to the user request.

Abstract: Tissue is treated using a radiofrequency power supply connected to an applicator having a chamber filled with an electrically non-conductive gas surrounded by a thin dielectric wall. A radiofrequency voltage is applied at a level sufficient to ionize the gas into a plasma and to capacitively couple the ionized plasma with the tissue to deliver radiofrequency current to ablate or otherwise treat the tissue.

Abstract: A system for accessing a patient's uterine cavity and detecting perforations in the uterus includes an elongated probe having a flow channel extending to a terminal outlet in a distal region of the probe. A fluid source is coupled to the flow channel, and a seal on the probe is positionable in an endocervical canal. The probe may be trans-cervically inserted into the uterine cavity, and a fluid may be introduced through the channel to flow outwardly from the terminal outlet into the uterine cavity. A parameter of said fluid flow is monitored to detect a perforation in the uterus.

Abstract: A method is provided to place new slides on zooming user interface canvas is provided that includes: receiving user request to add a new slide; determining whether a zoom level of a current viewing window has changed to meet a prescribed threshold zoom level since addition of a previously added slide; in response to a determination that the zoom level has changed, using a current viewing window zoom level as a reference zoom level; in response to a determination that the zoom level has not changed, using a previous viewing window zoom level as the reference zoom level; and determining a placement of the new slide with reference to the reference zoom level.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity. A method comprises introducing transcervically a probe into a patient's uterine cavity, providing a flow of a fluid (e.g., CO2) through the probe into the uterine cavity and monitoring the rate of the flow to characterize the uterine cavity as perforated or non-perforated based on a change in the flow rate.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for endometrial ablation. In accordance with a method, a working end of an RF ablation device is positioned in a patient uterus to contact endometrial tissue, the working end comprising a dielectric wall capable of non-expanded and expanded shapes. An indicator mechanism is operatively coupled to the wall and configured to indicate non-expanded and expanded shapes of the wall.