Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a surgical device comprising electrodes on the sides of an end of an effector to aide in sealing during various surgical procedures, such as a liver resection. During a sealing procedure, the surgeon may wipe the surgical site with the end effector, causing the electrodes to touch the fractured area. Electrosurgical energy may be applied to the electrodes during the wiping, causing coagulation of smaller vessels, such as tiny blood vessels and bile ducts in the parenchyma of the liver. In some cases, due to the nature of some smaller vessels, electrosurgical energy should be delicately applied to cause sealing but to avoid overly damaging the remaining tissue. In some embodiments, the thin design of the electrodes allows for an appropriate amount of electrosurgical energy to be applied to the fractured area.

Abstract: An endoscopic forceps includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom for treating tissue. A longitudinal axis is defined through the shaft. An end effector assembly is operably coupled to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. A rotating assembly operably coupled to the shaft is configured to rotate the shaft and the end effector about the longitudinal axis. A drive assembly is configured to selectively and releasably engage the rotating assembly. Engagement of the rotating assembly with the drive assembly couples the rotating assembly to the shaft such that the shaft is rotatable about the longitudinal axis in a predetermined direction when the rotating assembly is rotated. And, disengagement of the rotating assembly from the drive assembly uncouples the rotating assembly from the shaft such that the shaft is non-rotatable about the longitudinal axis when the rotating assembly is rotated.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus that includes an electrical interface and a processor. The processor is configured to receive, via the electrical interface, a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor at a distal end of an intrabody probe, to estimate a temperature of tissue of a subject, based on the sensed temperature and a parameter of an ablating current driven, by an ablation electrode at the distal end of the intrabody probe, into the tissue, and to generate an output in response to the estimated temperature. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method and system of providing therapy to a patient's uterus is provided, which can include any number of features. The method can include the steps of inserting a uterine device into the uterus and performing a uterine integrity test to determine that the uterus is intact and not perforated. If it is determined that the uterus is not perforated, a patency test can be performed to determine that the uterine device is not clogged or embedded in tissue. If the uterus is intact and the device is not clogged or embedded in tissue, the uterus can be treated with the uterine device, e.g., uterine ablation. Systems for performing these methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a guide assembly for an instrument comprising two legs, in particular forceps, the guide assembly comprising first and second guide elements, wherein the guide elements each comprise a base body, provision being made in each case on the outer side of the base body for an arrangement for snapping into place in an opening on an inner side of the legs of the instrument, provision being made on the inner side of the base body in the case of the first guide element for a protrusion and in the case of the second guide element for a recess, which is complementary to the protrusion, and provision being made in each case for a hollow on the outer side of the base body of the first as well as the second guide elements.

Abstract: A system and method for using a remote control to control an electrosurgical instrument, where the remote control includes at least one momentum sensor. As the surgeon rotates their hand mimicking movements of a handheld electrosurgical instrument, the movements are translated and sent to the remote controlled (RC) electrosurgical instrument. The surgeon uses an augmented reality (AR) vision system to assist the surgeon in viewing the surgical site. Additionally, the surgeon can teach other doctors how to perform the surgery by sending haptic feedback to slave controllers. Also, the surgeon can transfer control back and forth between the master and slave controller to allow a learning surgeon to perform the surgery, but still allow the surgeon to gain control of the surgery whenever needed. Also, the surgeon could be located at a remote location and perform the surgery with the assistance of the AR vision system.

Abstract: An electrosurgical tubular shaft for use with a surgical instrument grip for formation of an electrosurgical tubular shaft instrument is provided. The tubular shaft comprises a tube, an electrosurgical tool arranged at the distal end on the tubular shaft, at least one electric connection line electrically connected to the tool and extending in the tube, and at least one coupling element arranged at the proximal end on the tubular shaft for interacting with at least one corresponding coupling element of the instrument grip for releasably coupling the instrument grip to the tubular shaft. The tube comprises an outlet opening which is arranged distally of the at least one coupling element and through which the at least one connection line issues from the tube. The tubular shaft comprises an electric connection element for an electric energy supply. A surgical instrument grip and an electrosurgical tubular shaft instrument are also provided.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include an attachable power and control system to supply energy to electrodes of a wiping electrode coagulation system of a surgical device. A surgical device includes electrodes at an end of effector to aide in sealing during various surgical procedures. During the procedure, the surgeon may wipe the surgical site with the end effector, causing the electrodes to touch the fractured area. Electrosurgical energy may be applied to the electrodes during the wiping, causing coagulation of smaller vessels. The attachable power and control system may be configured to slide over the shaft of the surgical device. The power and control system also may be configured to supply power to the electrodes and to control when energy is applied to the electrodes, based in part, for example, on measuring a distance or angle of the opening of the jaws at the end effector.

Abstract: A medical device for sympathetic nerve ablation includes a catheter shaft and an expandable member disposed on the catheter shaft. The balloon is configured to be able to shift between an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration. The medical device includes an elongate electrode assembly constructed as a flexible circuit and a protective bumper member. The elongate electrode assembly may have an outer edge and may be disposed on an outer surface of the balloon. The protective bumper member may cover at least a portion of the outer edge of the elongate electrode assembly.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, first, second, and third actuators operably coupled to the housing, an at least partially semi-rigid shaft extending distally from the housing, an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft, and first, second, and third bars extending through the shaft in non-coaxial arrangement. The first bar is operably coupled between the first actuator and the end effector assembly such that actuation thereof effects manipulation of the end effector assembly. The second bar is operably coupled between the second actuator and a first deployable component such that actuation thereof effects deployment of the first deployable component relative to the end effector assembly. The third bar is operably coupled between the third actuator and a second deployable component such that actuation thereof effects deployment of the second deployable component relative to the end effector assembly.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a shaft assembly; a handle assembly; a battery assembly; a first driver configured to drive movement of at least a first component of the surgical instrument; a second driver configured to drive movement of at least a second component of the surgical instrument; a motor powered by the battery assembly and configured to selectively actuate the first driver or the second driver using an output of the motor; and a controller for the motor, configured to: perform a first limiting operation to the output of the motor when the motor actuates the first driver and a first limiting condition is met, and perform a second limiting operation to the output of the motor when the motor actuates the second driver and a second limiting condition is met.

Abstract: A catheter device provides a balloon structure and a side-firing laser lumen within the balloon to create lesions in the pulmonary vein (PV) in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Mounted on the balloon so as to contact the PV when the balloon is inflated are one or more electrodes which may be used in a measurement mode, a treatment mode, or both.

Abstract: A deployment mechanism for selectively deploying and retracting an energizable member and/an insulative member relative to an end effector assembly of a surgical instrument includes one or more actuators, a clutch assembly, and a drive assembly. The clutch assembly is configured to couple to the actuator(s) to provide rotational motion in the first direction in response to such rotation of the actuator(s) and to decouple from the actuator(s) in response to rotation thereof in the second direction. The drive assembly is operably coupled to the clutch assembly and is configured to convert the rotational motion provided by the clutch assembly into longitudinal motion to translate the energizable member and/or insulative member from a storage position to a deployed position and to translate the energizable member and/or the insulative member from the deployed position back to the storage position.

Abstract: A catheter device for renal denervation ablation includes a flexible catheter shaft having an electrically insulating expandable member in its distal portion with at least one electrode located proximal to the member, at least one electrode located distal to the member, and with openings in the distal shaft with at least one opening proximal to the proximal electrode and one opening distal to the distal electrode of said electrode pair, said openings connected through an inner lumen in the catheter that provides a path for blood to flow through the expandable member. In one embodiment, the device comprises a flexible catheter shaft with a multiplicity of recessed paired electrodes disposed in recessed spaces in its distal portion, such that an electrically conducting portion of each electrode is exposed to the exterior of the catheter within a recessed space, and with an electrical insulator separating the electrodes of each pair.

Abstract: In the present invention, a system and method for determining the orthogonality and applied force vector of an ablation catheter includes the steps of providing an electrophysiology system including an RF generator, a processor operably connected to the RF generator, a display operably connected to the processor and an ablation catheter operably connected to the RF generator and the processor, the catheter including an ablation electrode disposed opposite the RF generator and a number of microelectrodes disposed on and electrically isolated from the ablation electrode, the processor configured to compare data signals obtained from the microelectrodes with one another to derive a difference value for each pair of data signals, obtaining data signals from the microelectrodes, comparing the data signals from microelectrode pairs to determine difference values and generating a visual representation on the display of the orthogonality and applied force vector of the ablation electrode using the difference values.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector assembly and a deployment mechanism for deploying a proximal hub associated with an energizable member between proximal and distal positions. The deployment mechanism includes a rotatable shaft, a cord including a proximal end engaged to the rotatable shaft and a distal end engaged to the proximal hub, a biasing member positioned to bias the proximal hub towards the distal position, and a gear assembly operably coupled to the rotatable shaft. The gear assembly is configured to move the proximal hub from the distal position to the proximal position against the bias of the biasing member by rotating the rotatable shaft relative to the cord to at least partially wind-up the cord about the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: Ablation systems of the present disclosure facilitate the safe formation of wide and deep lesions. For example, ablation systems of the present disclosure can allow for the flow of irrigation fluid and blood through an expandable ablation electrode, resulting in efficient and effective cooling of the ablation electrode as the ablation electrode delivers energy at a treatment site of the patient. Additionally, or alternatively, ablation systems of the present disclosure can include a deformable ablation electrode and a plurality of sensors that, in cooperation, sense the deformation of the ablation electrode, to provide a robust indication of the extent and direction of contact between the ablation electrode and tissue at a treatment site.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a medical instrument (for example, an ablation device) comprises an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, an energy delivery member positioned at the distal end of the elongate body, a first plurality of temperature-measurement devices carried by or positioned within the energy delivery member, the first plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member, and a second plurality of temperature-measurement devices positioned proximal to a proximal end of the energy delivery member, the second plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member.

Abstract: A device and method for determining ablation electrode to tissue contact to assess the effectiveness of an ablation procedure by determining the effect of saline irrigation on catheter tip temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft, an expandable dilator, and a wire assembly. The expandable dilator is located at the distal end of the shaft. The expandable dilator is operable to transition between a non-expanded configuration and an expanded configuration. The wire assembly is disposed about an exterior of the expandable dilator. The proximal end of the wire assembly is proximal to the proximal end of the expandable dilator. The distal end of the wire assembly is distal to the distal end of the dilator. The wire assembly is configured to apply bipolar RF energy to tissue.