Abstract: High-strength microwave antenna assemblies and methods of use are described herein. The microwave antenna has a radiating portion connected by a feedline to a power generating source, e.g., a generator. Proximal and distal radiating portions of the antenna assembly are separated by a junction member. A reinforcing member is disposed within the junction member to increase structural rigidity.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device for directing energy to a target volume of tissue includes a coaxial feedline having an inner conductor, an outer conductor and a dielectric material disposed therebetween. A proximal cylindrical dielectric sleeve is coupled to the inner conductor at a distal end of the coaxial feedline. A distal cylindrical dielectric sleeve is coupled to the inner conductor. First and second dielectric segments are coupled to the inner conductor and disposed between the proximal cylindrical dielectric sleeve and the distal cylindrical dielectric sleeve. The device also includes an elongated shaft overlying the proximal cylindrical dielectric sleeve, the first dielectric segment, the second dielectric segment and the distal cylindrical dielectric sleeve. The elongated shaft includes an opening defined therethrough, wherein the opening is at least partially aligned with the first dielectric segment.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an ablation planning and navigation system. The planning system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of images and a controller configured to render the plurality of images in three dimensions, automatically segment the plurality of images to demarcate a target area, and automatically determine a treatment plan based on the target area. The navigation system includes an ultrasound device having a fiducial pattern that obtains an ultrasound image, an ablation needle having a image capture device that captures an image of the fiducial pattern, and a controller that receives the ultrasound image and the fiducial image. The controller determines a position of the ablation needle based on the fiducial image. The planning and navigation system also includes a controller that receives data from the planning system and the navigation system and a display configured to display the received information.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument is provided and includes an elongated housing having proximal and distal ends. The proximal end configured to couple to a source of electrosurgical energy via first and second channels extending along a length of the housing to the distal end thereof. The distal end including a reflector having a dielectric load operably coupled thereto and configured to receive at least a portion of the first conductor therein. In a first mode of operation, electrosurgical energy is transmitted to the first channel and reflected from the reflector to electrosurgically treat tissue. The reflector is configured to receive at least a portion of the second channel therein. In a second mode of operation, electrosurgical energy transmitted to the second channel to dissect tissue.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a planning and navigation system. The planning system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of images and a controller configured to render the plurality of images in three dimensions, automatically segment the plurality of images to demarcate a target area, and automatically determine a treatment plan based on the target area. The navigation system includes an ultrasound device having a fiducial pattern that obtains an ultrasound image, a surgical device having a image capture device that captures an image of the fiducial pattern, and a controller that receives the ultrasound image and the fiducial image. The controller determines a position of the surgical device based on the fiducial image. The planning and navigation system also includes a controller that receives data from the planning system and the navigation system and a display configured to display the received information.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a surgical navigation system. The navigation system includes an ultrasound device configured to obtain an ultrasound image in a scan plane The ultrasound device has a fiducial pattern disposed thereon. A surgical device having an image capture device configured to capture a fiducial image of the fiducial pattern is also provided. The system also includes a controller configured to receive the ultrasound image and the fiducial image, wherein the controller determines a position of the surgical device in relation to the scan plane based on the fiducial image. A display is configured to display the ultrasound image and a virtual image of the surgical device based on the position of the surgical device in relation to the scan plane.

Abstract: An energy delivery system for controlling blood loss is provided. The system includes an energy-activated patch configured for placement on tissue. The patch includes an energy-delivering layer configured to deliver energy to the tissue. The system also includes an energy source in operative engagement with the energy-activated patch for energizing the energy-delivering layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a planning and navigation method. The planning and method includes obtaining and rendering a plurality of images. The plurality of images are segmented to demarcate a target area. A treatment plan is determined based on the target area. The navigation method includes obtaining an ultrasound image of a scan plane including the target and obtaining a fiducial image of a fiducial pattern disposed on an ultrasound device. The obtained fiducial image is corrected and a correspondence between the fiducial image and a model image is found. A position of the surgical device is transformed to model coordinates. Then the ultrasound image and a virtual image of the surgical device is displayed to allow a surgeon to navigate the surgical device to the target using the displayed ultrasound image and the virtual image. The target is treated based on the treatment plan.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a planning system for planning a surgical procedure. The planning system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of images and a controller configured to render the plurality of images in three dimensions. The controller also automatically segments the plurality of images to demarcate a target area and automatically determines a treatment plan based on the target area. A display is configured to display the rendered plurality of images and the target area.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to fiducial tracking system. The fiducial tracking system includes a first device having a fiducial pattern disposed thereon and a second device having an image capture device disposed thereon. The image capturing device is configured to obtain a fiducial image of the fiducial pattern. A controller is also provided that is configured to receive the fiducial image, correct the fiducial image for lens distortion, find correspondence between the fiducial image and a model image, estimate a camera pose, and transform a position of the second device to model coordinates.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system is provided and includes a power source, a microwave applicator, a switching mechanism and a controller. The power source is configured to generate microwave energy. The microwave applicator is configured to deliver microwave energy from the power source to tissue. The switching mechanism includes a housing having input and output ports. The input port is connectable to the power source and the output port is connectable to the microwave applicator. The housing is configured to house one or more switches therein. The controller is in operative communication with the switching mechanism to toggle the switch from a first state, wherein microwave energy generated by the power source is directed to the microwave applicator to a second state, wherein microwave energy is directed to a resistive load operably coupled to the switching mechanism.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a reusable component and a limited-use component releasably engagable with the reusable component. The limited-use component is configured for one or more uses and includes a clocking mechanism configured to count each engagement of the reusable component and the limited-use component to one another. The clocking mechanism is incrementally transitionable upon each successive count from one or more uses state, wherein the clocking mechanism permits both mechanical engagement and electrical coupling of the reusable component and the limited-use component to one another, to a spent state, wherein the clocking mechanism inhibits both mechanical engagement and electrical coupling of the limited-use component and the reusable component to one another.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a reusable component and a limited-use component. The reusable component includes a first electrical contact. The limited-use component is releasably engagable with the reusable component. The limited-use component includes a second electrical contact configured to electrically couple to the first electrical contact to establish electrical communication between the reusable component and the limited-use component. The second electrical contact is movable from a first position, wherein the second electrical contact is positioned to electrically couple to the first electrical contact upon engagement of the limited-use component and the reusable component to one another, to a second position, wherein the second electrical contact is positioned to inhibit electrical coupling to the first electrical contact upon engagement of the limited-use component and the reusable component to one another.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a reusable component and a limited-use component releasably engagable with the reusable component. The reusable component includes a detecting member and is configured to connect to a source of energy. The limited-use component is transitionable from a first state to a second state. The detecting member is configured to detect a response of the limited-use component for determining the state of the limited-use component. Energy is permitted to be supplied to the limited-use component when it is determined that the limited-use component is disposed in the first state. Energy is inhibited from being supplied to the limited-use component when it is determined that the limited-use component is disposed in the second state.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical device, one or more temperature sensors associated with the electrosurgical device, a fluid-flow path leading to the electrosurgical device, and a flow-control device disposed in fluid communication with the fluid-flow path. The electrosurgical device includes a probe for directing energy to tissue. The electrosurgical system includes circuitry for detecting bending of the probe. The circuitry alerts the user of excessive bending by activating an alarm, such as an audible alarm, lighting one or more LEDs or other light sources, tactile feedback, or any other means. The electrosurgical system further includes a processor unit communicatively-coupled to the one or more temperature sensors and communicatively-coupled to the flow-control device. The processor unit is configured to control the flow-control device based on determination of a desired fluid-flow rate using one or more electrical signals outputted from the one or more temperature sensors.

Abstract: A tissue sensor probe and corresponding electromagnetic surgical ablation system are disclosed. The system includes an ablation probe operatively coupled to a generator, a controller operatively coupled to the generator, and a tissue sensor probe operatively coupled to the controller. The tissue sensor probe includes an electrically-conductive enclosure configured to shield a temperature sensor from electromagnetic radiation produced by the ablation probe. At least a portion of the electrically-conductive enclosure is made of a high thermal-conductivity material. A material of high thermal-conductivity is disposed in the electrically-conductive enclosure in thermal association with the thermally-conductive material of the electrically-conductive enclosure. The temperature sensor is disposed in the material of high thermal conductivity so as to electrically isolate the temperature sensor from the enclosure.

Abstract: A microwave energy delivery and measurement system, including a microwave generator and a microwave energy delivery device, for performing medical procedures, and a remote power coupler system for measuring one or more parameters of the microwave energy signal including a remote RF sensor housed in the microwave energy delivery device and a power coupler processer coupled with the processing unit of the microwave energy delivery device.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system for directing energy to tissue includes a generator assembly operable to supply power having a selected phase, amplitude and frequency, and an applicator array assembly. The applicator array assembly includes a shell assembly, a plurality of energy applicators disposed within the shell assembly, and a power divider unit electrically coupled to the generator assembly. The power divider unit is operable to divide power into the applicator array assembly.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical device adapted to direct energy to tissue and a fluid path leading to the electrosurgical device. The system also includes an optical sensor unit operably associated with the fluid path. The optical sensor unit includes a light-emitting element to generate light output and a light-receiving element to collect light outputted from the light-emitting element. The light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are disposed such that light output from the light-emitting element passes through the fluid path to the light-receiving element. The optical sensor unit is capable of detecting an air bubble in the fluid path passing through the optical sensor unit using a sensed characteristic of light collected at the light-receiving element.

Abstract: A system for reducing radiated emissions the system including a microwave generator that supplies microwave energy at a fundamental frequency, a coaxial transmission cable that transmits microwave energy between the microwave generator and a microwave energy delivery device and an isolation apparatus connected between the microwave generator and the coaxial transmission cable. The isolation apparatus is configured to electrically isolate the coaxial transmission cable from the microwave generator and capacitively couple the microwave generator ground to the coaxial transmission cable.