Abstract: An electrode assembly may include an electrode support made of a first electrically insulative material and an electrode on the electrode support, the electrode having a working surface extending generally transverse to a thickness of the electrode. The electrode assembly may further include an insulative spacer retained in the electrode and made of a second electrically insulative material. The second electrically insulative material may be different from the first electrically insulative material. The insulative spacer of the electrode assembly may have a body portion extending into the thickness of the electrode, and a head portion protruding beyond the working surface of the electrode.

Abstract: Spinal tumor ablation devices and related systems and methods are disclosed. Some spinal tumor ablation devices include electrodes that are fixedly offset from one another. Some spinal tumor ablation devices include a thermal energy delivery probe that has at least one temperature sensor coupled thereto. The position of the at least one temperature sensor relative to other components of the spinal tumor ablation device may be controlled by adjusting the position of the thermal energy delivery probe in some spinal tumor ablation devices. Some spinal tumor ablation devices are configured to facilitate the delivery of a cement through a utility channel of the device.

Abstract: A medical probe for insertion has at least one distal electrode coupled to an energy source to apply energy to tissue inside the body. A plurality of apertures are formed in the electrode. A fluid-directing assembly is disposed in the distal section of the probe having an axial channel that is in fluid communication with at least one trans-axial channel disposed at right angles to the axial channel and leading to an exterior of the assembly. A blocking terminus is disposed forward of the at least one trans-axial channel that prevents irrigation fluid from flowing axially in a forward direction so that the fluid flows outwardly into the lumen of the electrode in at least one trans-axial direction.

Abstract: Devices and systems for the selective positioning of an intravascular neuromodulation device are disclosed herein. Such systems can include, for example, an elongated shaft and a therapeutic assembly carried by a distal portion of the elongated shaft. The therapeutic assembly is configured for delivery within a blood vessel. The therapeutic assembly can include one or more energy delivery elements configured to deliver therapeutic energy to nerves proximate a vessel wall.

Abstract: An electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor has a flexible thin ring-shaped substrate configured to be worn about a patient's finger. The substrate has an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. A first ECG electrode is positioned at the outer surface of said substrate and a second ECG electrode is positioned at the inner (or outer) surface of the said substrate in contact with the finger (or the adjacent finger if the electrode is on the outer surface), whereby the two ECG electrodes receives a single-lead ECG signal when the first electrode is touched to the patient's body. Touching different locations on the body or wearing multiple rings can provide multi-lead ECG measurements. The ring shape can be converted to a wearable patch for continuous ECG measurements.

Abstract: A system for cardiac treatment includes a monitoring probe having a probe distal end, a magnetic field generator coupled to the probe distal end, a catheter having a catheter distal end, a magnetic sensor coupled to the catheter distal end, and a console. The monitoring probe is configured for insertion into an esophagus of a patient. The catheter is configured for insertion into a heart of a patient. The console is configured to drive the magnetic field generator to emit magnetic fields, to receive signals from the magnetic sensor in response to the magnetic fields, and to estimate respective distances between the catheter distal end and the probe distal end based on the signals.

Abstract: A device comprising a three-dimensional polymeric element and an electronic element integrated with the polymeric element is disclosed. The electronic element is made up of one or more electrode(s) each individually connectable to a measuring device and/or a controller, and each independently having a thin electrically-isolating layer deposited thereon such that the electrode is exposed to an environment surrounding the electrode at one or more pre-determined locations over the electrode. The device can include cells and/or tissue and/or a therapeutically active agent incorporated within the polymeric material. Processes of fabricating the device, systems for operating the device and methods utilizing same are also disclosed.

Abstract: A plasma surgery apparatus includes an HF generator for generating an HF activation signal, a gas source for providing a plasma gas, and a plasma applicator having a channel which opens out at a distal end of the applicator and through which the plasma gas can flow. The apparatus also includes an HF electrode that is electrically connected to the HF generator. When the HF electrode is supplied with the HF activation signal, a plasma is provided originating from the distal end of the applicator. The apparatus also includes a control unit and a flow regulator for regulating a flow rate the plasma gas in the channel. The control unit receives or requests an operating variable of the HF generator and, according to a saved functional relationship, controls the flow regulator so that the flow rate of the plasma gas is correlated with a detected value of the operating variable.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, a first handle, and a second handle. The second jaw is pivotally coupled with the first jaw. The first jaw and the second jaw are configured to grasp tissue. The jaws provide offset electrode surfaces that are operable to deliver bipolar RF energy to tissue grasped between the jaws. The apparatus is further operable to sever tissue. A lockout feature selectively prevents tissue severing, based on an energization state of the jaws.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for positioning electrodes within a body. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for slidably moving multiple features relative to a sheath inserted into a body and positioned relative to a reference point includes a primary actuator configured to move a primary electrode, a secondary actuator configured to move a secondary electrode, and a control mechanism. The control mechanism is configured to selectively prevent movement of at least one of the primary actuator based on a position of the secondary actuator and of the secondary actuator based on a position of the primary actuator and lock positions of the primary actuator and the secondary actuator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and a method for aesthetic skin treatment. The system includes an array of RF electrodes assembled on a flexible or rigid substrate. A plurality of RF voltage generators configured to address individually each of the RF electrodes of the array and supply to each pair of RF electrodes RF voltage. The amplitude of the RF voltage applied to inner pair of RF electrodes is lower than the RF voltage applied to outer pair of RF electrodes.

Abstract: Catheters, systems, and related methods for optimized for mapping, minimizing, and treating cardiac fibrillation in a patient, including an array of at least one stacked electrode pair, each electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein each electrode pair is configured to be orthogonal to a surface of a cardiac tissue substrate, wherein each first electrode is in contact with the surface to record a first signal, and wherein each second electrode is separated from the first electrode by a distance which enables the second electrode to record a second signal, wherein the catheter is configured to obtain one or more measurements from at least a first signal and a second signal in response to electrical activity in the cardiac tissue substrate indicative of a number of electrical circuit cores and distribution of the electrical circuit cores for a duration across the cardiac tissue substrate.

Abstract: A distal-end assembly of a medical device, the distal-end assembly includes a flexible substrate and electrical conductors. The flexible substrate is configured to be coupled to a distal end of an insertion tube. The electrical conductors are disposed on the flexible substrate and are shaped to form: (i) one or more electrodes, configured to exchange electrical signals with a proximal end of the medical device, and (ii) one or more printed filters shaped to form at least a resistor, which are disposed adjacently to at least one of the electrodes and are configured to filter signals in a predefined frequency range from the electrical signals exchanged between the at least one of the electrodes and the proximal end.

Abstract: A distal-end assembly of a medical device, the distal-end assembly includes a flexible substrate and electrical conductors. The flexible substrate is configured to be coupled to a distal end of an insertion tube. The electrical conductors are disposed on the flexible substrate and are shaped to form: (i) one or more electrodes, configured to exchange electrical signals with a proximal end of the medical device, and (ii) one or more printed filters, which are disposed adjacently to at least one of the electrodes and are configured to filter signals in a predefined frequency range from the electrical signals exchanged between the at least one of the electrodes and the proximal end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat sink parameter determination apparatus for determining a parameter of a heat sink like a blood vessel within an object such as a person (3) by minimizing a deviation between a measured temperature distribution, which has preferentially been measured by ultrasound thermometry, and a modeled temperature distribution, wherein the modeled temperature distribution is modeled based on a provided heat source parameter like the location of an ablation needle (2) and the heat sink parameter to be determined by using a given thermal model. This determination of heat sink parameters, which may be geometric and/or flow parameters, considers the real temperature distribution and is thus based on real heat sink influences on the temperature distribution. This can lead to an improved determination of heat sink parameters and hence to a more accurate temperature distribution which may be determined based on the determined heat sink parameters.

Abstract: Electrosurgical wands. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are electrosurgical wands having features that reduce contact of tissue with an active electrode of a wand, decrease the likelihood of clogging, and/or increase the visibility within surgical field. For example, wands in accordance with at least some embodiments may comprise standoffs, either along the outer perimeter of the active electrode, or through the main aperture in the active electrode, to reduce tissue contact. Wands in accordance with at least some embodiments may implement slots on the active electrodes to increase bubble aspiration to help keep the visual field at the surgical site clear. Wands in accordance with at least some embodiments may implement aspiration flow pathways within the wand that increase in cross-sectional area to reduce the likelihood of clogging.

Abstract: Apparatus for evoking and sensing ophthalmic physiological signals in an eye, the apparatus comprising: an elongated tubular light pipe having a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end terminating in a spheroid recess; an active electrode having a distal end and a proximal end, the active electrode being mounted to the elongated tubular light pipe and extending proximally along the elongated tubular light pipe so that the distal end of the active electrode terminates at the spheroid recess at the distal end of the elongated tubular light pipe; and a reference electrode having a distal end and a proximal end, the reference electrode being mounted to the elongated tubular light pipe and extending proximally along the elongated tubular light pipe so that the distal end of the reference electrode terminates at the spheroid recess at the distal end of the elongated tubular light pipe; wherein the distal end of the active electrode is located closer to the longitudinal axis of the elongat

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, a first handle, and a second handle. The second jaw is pivotally coupled with the first jaw. The first jaw and the second jaw are configured to grasp tissue. The jaws provide offset electrode surfaces that are operable to deliver bipolar RF energy to tissue grasped between the jaws. The apparatus is further operable to sever tissue. A lockout feature selectively prevents tissue severing, based on an energization state of the jaws.

Abstract: A headwear for electroencephalography is provided. The headwear includes a first arm to be attached to an area extending from a forehead or an occiput of a subject to a top of a head of the subject and configured to hold a first electroencephalogram electrode, a second arm connected to the first arm to be attached to a lateral side of the head of the subject and configured to hold a second electroencephalogram electrode, a third arm connected to the first arm to be attached to another lateral side of the head of the subject and configured to hold a third electroencephalogram electrode, a stretchable support member connectable to the first to third arms to cover at least a portion of the head in a direction toward the first arm, and at least one adjusting mechanism to adjust tightness of the first to third arms to the head.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to cryosurgery apparatuses and systems for and methods of treatment of distal lung tissue or lesions, and more particularly to guided cryogenic delivery to a distal treatment area within lung tissue via a low-profile, high pressure, closed-tipped catheter or probe configured to pass through a working channel of a bronchoscope and extend to a distal region of the lung.