Abstract: Surgical devices for treating tissue are provided. Also provided are systems for treating tissue and methods of treating tissue. An exemplary surgical device has a handle, a fluid passage connectable to a fluid source, a tip portion and a distal end. The tip portion can simultaneously provide RF power and conductive fluid to tissue. The tip portion includes an electrode having a domed portion having a domed surface and a cylindrical portion having a cylindrical surface. The domed portion is located distal to the cylindrical portion and occupies at least a portion of the distal end of the surgical device. The device includes a fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the fluid outlet opening configured to provide the conductive fluid to a surface of the electrode proximal to the distal end surface of the surgical device.

Abstract: Surgical devices for treating tissue are provided. Also provided are systems for treating tissue and methods of treating tissue. An exemplary surgical device has a handle, a fluid passage connectable to a fluid source, a tip portion and a distal end. The tip portion can simultaneously provide RF power and conductive fluid to tissue. The tip portion includes an electrode having a domed portion having a domed surface and a cylindrical portion having a cylindrical surface. The domed portion is located distal to the cylindrical portion and occupies at least a portion of the distal end of the surgical device. The device includes a fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the fluid outlet opening configured to provide the conductive fluid to a surface of the electrode proximal to the distal end surface of the surgical device.

Abstract: A method for the ablation of human or animal articular cartilage is disclosed that employs an exogenous absorber, such as a compound having the molecular formula C43H47N2NaO6S2, to coat or color the surface of the articular cartilage. The coated or colored cartilage surface then has an energy absorption peak at a specific wavelength due to the exogenous absorber, which makes it possible to employ a simple and cheap laser diode to generate a pulsed laser beam at the specific wavelength so as to superheat the coated or colored cartilage thereby causing at least partial ablation of cartilage.

Abstract: A tunneling device is provided to assist in passing a suture or tape into a body. The tunneling device includes an outer assembly and an inner member or stylet, having a light transmissive distal tip, positioned within the outer assembly. The outer assembly is provided with a light port or guide to transmit light towards the distal tip of the stylet. The disclosed illuminated tunneling device is particularly adapted for use in an Intravaginal Slingplasty procedure. The illuminated tunneling device can be provided with an external source of light or may include an integral self-contained source of light. Additionally, a light guide, or light tube, may be formed integral with the outer tubular member or may be provided as a separate element.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laser device for machining material, comprising a laser beam source which supplies pulsed laser radiation, and a variable deflection unit that introduces said laser radiation into the material at different, selectable points so as to create optical breakthroughs. The inventive laser device further comprises a pulse-selecting apparatus which modifies selected laser pulses of the pulsed laser radiation regarding at least one optical parameter in such a way that no more optical breakthroughs can be created using the modified laser pulses.

Abstract: A guided laser ablation device. The device includes a mulitmode laser ablation fiber that is surrounded by one or more single mode optical fibers that are used to image in the vicinity of the laser ablation area to prevent tissue damage. The laser ablation device is combined with an optical coherence domain reflectometry (OCDR) unit and with a control unit which initializes the OCDR unit and a high power laser of the ablation device. Data from the OCDR unit is analyzed by the control unit and used to control the high power laser. The OCDR images up to about 3 mm ahead of the ablation surface to enable a user to see sensitive tissue such as a nerve or artery before damaging it by the laser.