Abstract: A method for creating a channel through a foreign material located in a body of a patient, the foreign material defining a material first surface and a substantially opposed material second surface, the channel extending through the foreign material between the material first and second surfaces, the method using an apparatus including an electrode, the method comprising: positioning the electrode substantially adjacent to the material first surface; energizing the electrode with a radiofrequency current; and using the electrode energized with the radiofrequency current to deliver energy into the foreign material to create the channel, wherein the foreign material is included in a stent graft.

Abstract: An energy delivery apparatus for delivering electrical energy at a target location, the energy delivery apparatus being usable in combination with a magnetic field. The energy delivery apparatus includes an electrical conductor, the electrical conductor having a substantially elongated configuration; an electrode for delivering the electrical energy at the target location, the electrode being electrically coupled to the electrical conductor and located at a predetermined location therealong; and a guiding element mounted to the electrical conductor in a substantially spaced apart relationship relative to the electrode, the guiding element including a magnetically responsive material. The energy delivery apparatus is constructed such that a movement of the guiding element causes a corresponding movement of the electrode. The magnetic field is used to move the guiding element in order to position the electrode substantially adjacent to the target location.

Abstract: A method for creating a channel through a foreign material located in a body of a patient, the foreign material defining a material first surface and a substantially opposed material second surface, the channel extending through the foreign material between the material first and second surfaces, the method using an apparatus including a substantially elongated member defining a proximal end region and a substantially longitudinally opposed distal end region, the apparatus including an electrode located about the distal end region, the method comprising: introducing the distal end region into the body of the patient; positioning the electrode substantially adjacent to the material first surface; energizing the electrode with a radiofrequency current; and using the electrode energized with the radiofrequency current to deliver energy into the foreign material to create the channel.

Abstract: A method of surgical perforation via the delivery of electrical, radiant or thermal energy comprising the steps of: introducing an apparatus comprising an energy delivery device into a patient's heart via the patient's superior vena cava; positioning the energy delivery device at a first location adjacent material to be perforated; and perforating the material by delivering energy via the energy delivery device; wherein the energy is selected from the group consisting of electrical energy, radiant energy and thermal energy.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device and methods are disclosed for creating a channel through a region of tissue. The device comprises an elongate member for receiving the energy from an electrical energy source. An electrical insulation layer surrounds the elongate member along the device proximal region. An electrode tip is coupled to the distal end of the elongate member for delivering the energy, the electrode tip being configured and sized for delivering the energy in a manner such that electrical arcing is generated in the region of tissue in order to create a channel through at least a portion of the region of tissue. An electrically insulative thermal shield is disposed between the electrode tip and the device proximal region for preventing arcing therebetween during the delivery of the energy and for thermally protecting the device proximal region from heat produced by the delivery of the energy through the electrode tip.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method are described for delivering energy to a body of a human or animal through a plurality of energy delivery devices. In some embodiments, a plurality of energy delivery devices are coupled to a generator and the number of energy delivery devices is automatically detectable. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the amount of energy delivered through the energy delivery devices is controlled, at least in part, by dynamically varying the amount of time that each energy delivery device is delivering energy.

Abstract: A method for creating a channel through an occlusion located in a substantially elongated body vessel of a patient, The method uses a channel creating apparatus defining an apparatus distal end portion insertable into the body vessel, the channel creating apparatus including an energy delivery component operatively coupled to the apparatus distal end portion for delivering energy substantially adjacent the apparatus distal end portion. The method includes: inserting the apparatus distal end portion into the body vessel; creating a channel first portion through the occlusion harder section using, at least in part, a delivery of energy into the occlusion harder portion; and creating a channel second portion through the occlusion softer portion by pushing the apparatus distal end portion through at least a portion of the occlusion softer portion substantially without delivering energy into the occlusion softer portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving accuracy of placement of a cannula during delivery of electrical energy to neural structures. The apparatus includes a cannula operable to deliver electrical current where a portion of the cannula is electrically insulated and a portion of the cannula is exposed and electrically conductive. The cannula further includes a radiopaque marker located to differentiate the electrically insulated region from the electrically exposed region by allowing it to be more clearly delineated using fluoroscopy or other radiographic imaging techniques. The cannula may be used to treat pain by delivering energy to a neural structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a positioning tool that aids in the positioning of a treatment device under image guidance. The tool is positioned on the external surface of the patient's skin and comprises an alignment portion and an instrument positioning portion that may be viewed under an imaging means. The tool is also visible to the user without any imaging means. The tool is aligned with an internal target and provides a visual reference indication for the target location for orienting at least one treatment device at a desired treatment site relative to the internal target.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for detecting, analyzing and displaying errors in a medical treatment system. Detected errors are analyzed to define further errors. Errors may be classified, for example, in response to severity, and prioritized. Prioritization may depend on a scope of the error, an order of occurrence, importance, or other factors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving accuracy of placement of a cannula during delivery of electrical energy proximate to bodily tissue, e.g. neural structures. The apparatus optionally includes a cannula operable to deliver electrical current where a portion of the cannula is electrically insulated and a portion of the cannula is exposed and electrically conductive. The cannula further includes a radiopaque marker to identify a specific portion of the cannula, for example to differentiate the electrically insulated region from the electrically exposed region, by allowing it to be more clearly delineated using fluoroscopy or other radiographic imaging techniques. The radiopaque marker is optionally tapered in order to reduce the force required to insert a cannula comprising a radiopaque marker into the patient's body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for detecting, analyzing and displaying errors in a energy source of a medical treatment system. Detected errors are analyzed to define further errors. Errors may be classified, for example, in response to severity, and prioritized. Prioritization may depend on a scope of the error, an order of occurrence, importance, or other factors.

Abstract: A stent to be used in an intraluminal cavity is disclosed. The stent comprises an elongated scaffold formed by a plurality of cells formed by a plurality of interlinked struts. In some embodiments, the scaffold comprises two longitudinally opposed ends, each of the ends having at least one protrusion that can be used to secure a cover to the stent. Each protrusion defines a cavity extending therethrough. The cover is secured to the scaffold at the protrusion by an adhesive extending through the cavity. Alternatively, the scaffold comprises at least two protrusions or segments, each defining a cavity for securing one end of the cover to the scaffold.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the treatment of a thoracic region of a patient's body. Embodiments of the method comprise positioning an energy delivery portion of an electrosurgical device to face a segment of a thoracic vertebra at a distance from the segment; and cooling the energy delivery portion and delivering energy through the energy delivery portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device, and method of use thereof, are described for stabilizing a medical instrument, the medical instrument contacting a patient's body at a point of contact, the method using a plurality of support members for stabilizing the medical instrument, each support member comprising an instrument end and a patient end and an elongate support member body extending therebetween, the method comprising: independently coupling the instrument end of each of the plurality of support members to the medical instrument; and independently attaching the patient end of each of the plurality of support members to a surface of the patient's body for stabilizing the medical instrument.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device, and method of use thereof, are described for stabilizing a medical instrument, the medical instrument contacting a patient's body at a point of contact, the method using a plurality of support members for stabilizing the medical instrument, each support member comprising an instrument end and a patient end and an elongate support member body extending therebetween, the method comprising: independently coupling the instrument end of each of the plurality of support members to the medical instrument; and independently attaching the patient end of each of the plurality of support members to a surface of the patient's body for stabilizing the medical instrument.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for delivering energy to a body of a human or animal during a treatment procedure using an electrosurgical generator, a pre-set overall procedure time being defined for the treatment procedure, a ramp time being defined for a parameter to reach a pre-set threshold during the treatment procedure, the method comprising: measuring the parameter over time; and if the parameter has not substantially reached the pre-set threshold by the ramp time, setting a procedure extension time responsive to the time difference between the ramp time and the time at which the pre-set threshold was reached, and extending the overall procedure time by the procedure extension time.

Abstract: An electrosurgical apparatus is provided. The electrosurgical apparatus comprises an elongate shaft having a proximal region, a distal region comprising an electrically conductive region and one or more lumens therethrough; a stylet occluding at least a portion of an opening defined by a distal end of the elongate shaft; and a temperature sensor associated with the distal region, the stylet being a component of the temperature sensor.