Abstract: In order to so improve a surgical system for connecting body tissue, comprising a surgical instrument having two tool elements movable relative to each other, each of which comprises a high-frequency electrode, the high-frequency electrodes, in an approach position of the tool elements, defining a minimum distance from each other, lying opposite each other and facing each other, that an overstretching of connections of parts of body tissue, in particular, made by a flow of current, is avoided when removing the surgical instrument, it is proposed that the instrument comprise a shaft at the distal end of which at least a first one of the tool elements is arranged or formed, and that a second tool element be adapted to be moved from an operating position, in which it is adapted for movement into the approach position, into a removal position and/or vice versa, a surface area of a perpendicular projection of the second tool element onto a projection plane extending perpendicularly to the shaft direction in the re

Abstract: A catheter-based medical device including controlled refrigerant dispersion is disclosed. The device includes a fluid injection tube that carries refrigerant from a coolant supply to the distal portion of the device. A fluid dispersion unit is disposed on the distal end of the fluid tube to control the angle of distribution for refrigerant that is expelled from the fluid injection tube. Controlling the angle of distribution for the refrigerant facilitates dispersion of the fluid in a predetermined spray pattern. The disclosure further relates to cryoablation treatment systems incorporating such a catheter, and to cryoablation treatment methods for tissue treatment to address various conditions suitably treatable with cryoablation.

Abstract: A catheter system can include an electrical adapter and a catheter. The electrical adapter includes a hollow adapter body having a longitudinally extending channel and an electrical terminal positioned within the channel. The electrical adapter can be configured to connect to an energy source. The catheter can include an elongated body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and an electrical connector coupled to the proximal end portion. The electrical connector forms the outer periphery of the catheter along a portion of the longitudinal length of the catheter. The electrical terminal and the electrical connector contact each other when the electrical connector is advanced through the channel to an electrical contact position in the channel, and are isolated from each other when the electrical connector is proximal of the electrical contact position.

Abstract: The surgical instrument for sealing and/or cutting tissue includes a handle assembly and an end effector assembly operatively connected to the handle assembly. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members each including a jaw housing and an electrically conductive surface defining a plurality of bores and an adhesive applicator assembly disposed in one of the jaw members. The electrically conductive surfaces are configured to effect a tissue seal. The adhesive applicator assembly includes a platform defining a reservoir therein and a plurality of needles in communication with the reservoir. The platform is movable between a neutral position in which the plurality of needles are disposed within the jaw housing and an actuated position in which the plurality of needles extend through the respective plurality of bores defined in the electrically conductive surface.

Abstract: A catheter is configured to access a renal artery. A lumen of the catheter's shaft is dimensioned to receive a flexible actuation member which extends between the shaft's proximal and distal ends. The actuation member is moveable within the lumen and subject to elastic deformation, friction, and/or whip along its length. A flexible support member is coupled to a distal end of the actuation member and extendible beyond a distal tip of the shaft. An RF ablation electrode at a distal end of the support member is configured to ablated perivascular renal nerve tissue. A position converter at the distal end of the shaft is configured to convert movement of the actuation member into one or both of controlled rotational and axial movement of the support member and electrode to one of a multiplicity of stable circumferential positions substantially free of elastic deformation, friction, and/or whip impacting actuation member movement.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument is provided and includes a housing configured to connect to a source of bipolar electrosurgical energy and an electrode body coupled to the elongated housing. The electrode body includes an electrode face, first and second bipolar electrodes and a blade. The electrode face is formed on the distal end of the electrode body and includes a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis therethrough. The first and second electrodes have a leading edge and a trailing edge, are formed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and connect to opposed electrical potentials. The blade is positioned between the electrodes with at least a portion of the blade extending beyond the electrode face.

Abstract: The present embodiments enable the length and/or diameter of the heating segment of a medical treatment device to be adjusted on the fly during a treatment procedure, without a need to interrupt the procedure, thus allowing a single catheter to be used at different locations in a hollow anatomical structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a cartridge assembly to couple a tissue treatment device with an electrosurgical unit, with the cartridge assembly operable with a power delivery apparatus and a fluid delivery apparatus of the electrosurgical unit. The invention also provides an electrosurgical unit comprising a power delivery apparatus and a fluid delivery apparatus operable with the cartridge assembly and a system thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus, including an insertion tube having a proximal tube end and a distal tube end that includes an electrode, a first irrigation line including proximal and distal irrigation line ends and configured to supply fluid from the distal irrigation line end through apertures in the tube, and an electrical line including a proximal electrical line end and a distal electric line end coupled to the electrode. The apparatus includes a slip ring unit having a stator, a rotor connected to the proximal electrical line end, and a hollow channel extending through respective centers of the stator and the rotor along a longitudinal axis of the slip ring unit. The apparatus includes a rotary joint in fluid communication with the proximal irrigation line end, an angle sensor configured to detect torsion of the proximal irrigation line end, and a drive mechanism coupled to rotate the rotor responsively to the torsion.

Abstract: A surgical system and associated method for fusing tissue are disclosed. The system has an electrosurgical generator capable of delivering electrosurgical power, a surgical instrument, and a power control circuit. The surgical instrument is electrically connected to the electrosurgical generator and adapted to transfer electrosurgical power from the electrosurgical generator to a distal end of the surgical instrument. The power control circuit controls the delivery of radio frequency energy to tissue in contact with the distal end of the surgical instrument. The surgical system is configured to deliver radio frequency energy at a non-pulsing power to the tissue for a period of time of 3 seconds or less. The non-pulsing power has no less than 7 Watts and no more than 35 Watts, and further causes the tissue to begin to desiccate and to fuse within the period of time.

Abstract: A method of assessing a tissue ablation treatment, including positioning a medical device adjacent a target tissue; measuring a first impedance magnitude a first frequency with the medical device; measuring a first impedance phase at a second frequency with the medical device; ablating at least a portion of the target tissue with the medical device; measuring at second impedance magnitude at a third frequency with the medical device; measuring a second impedance phase at a fourth frequency with the medical device; comparing at least one of (i) the first and second impedance magnitudes and (ii) the first and second impedance phases; and providing an indication of the efficacy of the ablation treatment based at least in part on the comparison.

Abstract: A cryogenic needle probe having a proximal and distal region. A cooling supply tube provides pressurized cooling fluid within the needle. The proximal region is more conductive that the distal region. The proximal region is conductively coupled to a heat source.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating obesity, insulin resistance and co-morbidities of these conditions by removing tissue from the abdomen. More specifically, it relates to a method of removing abdominal fat and omentum to which the fat is attached, in order to improve health.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may be a renal nerve modulation catheter. The catheter may include an elongate catheter shaft. The catheter shaft may have a plurality of cuts formed therein define a plurality of electrode assemblies. The electrode assemblies may each include a main strut, one or more branched spacer struts extending from the main strut, and an electrode extending from the main strut and positioned radially inward from the spacer struts.

Abstract: A surgical system and associated method for sealing the passageway of a fluid-carrying vessel with a diameter up to 5 millimeters comprises an electrosurgical generator capable of delivering electrosurgical power, a surgical instrument electrically connected to the electrosurgical generator and adapted to transfer electrosurgical power from the electrosurgical generator to a pair of end effectors disposed at a distal end of the surgical instrument. The system also includes a power control circuit for controlling the delivery of radio frequency energy to the vessel through the end effectors, wherein the delivery of the radio frequency energy to the vessel comprises, raising the output current to a range below 1.75 Amperes RMS and the output voltage to a range below 135 Volts RMS. Radio frequency energy is applied to the vessel for a period of time while the power is held approximately constant.

Abstract: A medical device system and associated method for guiding ablation therapy sense cardiac signals using implantable electrodes and detect spontaneous cardiac events from the sensed cardiac signals. Pacing pulses are delivered in response to detecting a spontaneous cardiac event and a return cycle length is measured. The spontaneous cardiac event is clustered with a previously detected cardiac event in response to the measured return cycle length. Data corresponding to the clustered cardiac events is displayed to guide an ablation therapy.

Abstract: A cryogenic medical device for delivery of subcooled liquid cryogen to various configurations of cryoprobes is designed for the treatment of damaged, diseased, cancerous or other unwanted tissues, particularly as utilized for the ablation of cardiac tissue in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The device is a closed or semi-closed system in which the liquid cryogen is nitrogen contained in both the supply and return stages. The device is capable of generating cryogen to a supercritical state, specifically supercritical nitrogen, and may be utilized in any rapid cooling systems. As designed, the device also integrates endocardial catheters and epicardial probes.

Abstract: A medical device includes a treatment portion, a long cylindrical insertion portion, an operation portion and transmission portion. The insertion portion includes a regulation member provided while being projected from an inner wall surface of the insertion portion for regulating a length by which the treatment portion protrudes from the distal end of the insertion portion. The transmission portion includes an operation wire inserted in the insertion portion and has a distal end fixed to the treatment portion and an contacting member fixed to the operation wire and disposed at a position opposite to the treatment portion with respect to the regulation member. A rotating bearing member contacting the regulation member and the contacting member respectively and can rotate relative to at least any one of the regulation member and the contacting member around an axis of the operation wire is provided between the regulation member and the contacting member.

Abstract: A device for morcellating tissue within a body cavity of a patient comprises a stationary tube (8) having a distal end portion, and a bipolar electrosurgical electrode assembly (13) located at the distal end of the tube. The electrosurgical electrode assembly (13) comprises first and second electrodes (14, 16) separated by an insulation member (15). When an electrosurgical cutting voltage is applied to the electrode assembly (13), and relative movement is initiated between the tube (8) and the tissue, a slug of severed tissue is formed within the tube such that it can be removed from the body cavity of the patient. The bipolar electrosurgical assembly (13) has a first circumferential region (A) and a second circumferential region (B), the first circumferential region (A) being longer than the second circumferential region (B).

Abstract: A medical device system and associated method for guiding ablation therapy sense cardiac signals using implantable electrodes and detect spontaneous cardiac events from the sensed cardiac signals. Pacing pulses are delivered and a return cycle length is measured in response to the plurality of pacing pulses. The spontaneous cardiac event is clustered with a previously detected cardiac event in response to the measured return cycle length, and a targeted ablation site is estimated in response to the measured return cycle length. A transit time interval, corresponding to a distance traversed by a depolarization associated with a last one of the plurality of pacing pulses when a reset condition occurs, is computed using the return cycle length, and the ablation site is estimated in response to the computed transit time interval.