Abstract: A method for treating tissue includes applying an energy modality to tissue at an amplitude, measuring tissue impedance of the tissue, modulating application of the energy modality based on the measured tissue impedance, and ceasing application of the energy modality when a termination parameter is met.

Abstract: A headgear for placing sensors on a subject's head includes a centerpiece; a plurality of arms attached to and radiating outward and generally downward from the centerpiece; and sensor tips attached to the dorsal ends of at least some of the arms. At least one of the plurality of arms is a lower arm that is elastic and/or spring-like. When the headgear is placed on a subject's head, the at least one lower arm is so disposed in relation to the maximum circumference of the subject's head that the at least one lower arm must be bent outward for placement of the headgear on the subject's head and thereby provide a reactive force toward the head that causes the at least one lower arm to grasp at least a portion of the head that is at and/or below the maximum circumference of the head.

Abstract: A radio frequency system capable of selectively heating skin and subcutaneous fat tissues using a single frequency dual mode antenna device is disclosed. A detailed description and theory of operation of the antenna device are disclosed. The antenna device disclosed herein is capable of generating electric fields that are either mostly tangent, or mostly normal, to the skin surface, resulting in either predominantly heating skin or predominantly heating fat. The method for treating skin and subcutaneous fat tissues using such system is also disclosed.

Abstract: The cooling system (100, 300, 400, 500, 700, 750) includes an applicator (101, 501, 701) configured to hold a predetermined amount of solid coolant and fluid coolant (117) to cool a targeted area of the body (162, 570) to crystalize the lipid-rich cells underneath the targeted area to reduce the fat cells. The applicator may include a thermoelectric cooler (TEC, 136, 704, 706) where the hot side is cooled by coolant held within the applicator. The cold side of the TEC may be thermally coupled to a cooling plate (138, 560) configured to cool a targeted area of the skin at a predetermined temperature range for a predetermined period of time. The cooling system may also be used to relieve localized pain at certain area of the body and/or utilized for cryotherapy.

Abstract: Biomaterials, such as hydrogels, can be mechanically secured to electrodes of an implantable device, such as electrodes made of noble metals. The hydrogel can be mechanically secured via anchoring features of the electrode. Anchoring features can include apertures, voids, textures, or other patterns created in or on the electrode. The hydrogel can incorporate into the anchoring features to mechanically hold the hydrogel against the electrode. The anchoring features, by being located in or on the electrode, can further increase the surface area of the electrode that is exposed to the hydrogel, which can facilitate the conduction of electrical signals between the electrode and surrounding biological tissue. The substrate supporting the electrode can include additional anchoring features that further assist in mechanically securing the hydrogel.

Abstract: Biomaterials, such as hydrogels, can be mechanically secured to an electrode of an implantable device using a non-swellable shell. Hydrogel can be applied to an electrode surface and then mechanically constrained in place by a non-swellable shell. The non-swellable material can be secured to a substrate supporting an electrode or can otherwise surround an electrode and the hydrogel. The non-swellable shell can include openings or passthroughs that allow for electrical conduction across the non-swellable shell. The hydrogel can extend out of the openings to contact adjacent biological tissue. In some cases, an outer layer of hydrogel can surround the non-swellable shell and connected to the inner layer of hydrogel through the openings of the non-swellable shell.

Abstract: A biosensor of the invention is a capacitive noncontact sensor with two sensor channels split into a plurality of physically interdigitated symmetrical electrodes and shield sections. Two capacitive plates are electrically connected to the two sensor channels. The capacitive noncontact sensor is sized and packaged to be worn by a person to place the capacitive plates close to the skin of the person and form first and second channel input capacitors with the skin. A signal reconstruction circuit obtains a bio signal from the first and second channel input capacitors through the electrodes by reconstructing differences in the two sensor channels. The circuit includes different parasitic input capacitance in the two channels to create channel-specific outputs that depend on input coupling capacitance.

Abstract: An actuation mechanism for actuating an electrosurgical end effector includes a housing and a shaft assembly extending distally from the housing. The shaft assembly includes an elongate collar, a shaft extending through the elongate collar, and a longitudinal bar axially movable relative to the shaft. The elongate collar has an internal threadform extending along a length thereof. The longitudinal bar includes a proximal end having an extension engaged to the internal threadform of the elongate collar and a distal end configured to be coupled to a knife blade of an electrosurgical end effector. Rotation of the elongate collar axially moves the longitudinal bar relative to the elongate collar to move the knife blade.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device for monitoring and visualising electrical activity of biological tissue. The device uses a sensor arrangement comprising a matrix of conductive sensors and a transducing element for transducing electric fields in a variation of an optical property. In use, electric fields generated by the biological tissue are sensed by the sensor arrangement and transduced by the transducing element for optical imaging.

Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes first and second shafts configured to rotate about a pivot to move jaw members between an open position and a closed position. A knife deployment mechanism is operably coupled to a knife and is configured to move the knife between a retracted position and an extended position. A knife lockout is configured to move between a first position wherein the jaw members are in the open position and movement of the knife from the retracted position to the extended position is prevented, a second position wherein the jaw members are in the closed position and movement of the knife from the retracted position to the extended position is permitted, and a third position wherein the jaw members are in the closed position and movement of the knife from the retracted position to the extended position is prevented.

Abstract: Extraction devices for extracting chronically implanted devices such as leadless cardiac pacemakers (LCP). In some cases, the extraction devices may be configured to cut, tear or ablate through at least some of the tissue ingrowth around and/or over the chronically implanted device such that a retrieval feature on the chronically implanted device may be grasped for removal of the chronically implanted device. Implantable medical devices such as LCPs may include features that facilitate their removal.

Abstract: A catheter may be adapted to map a chamber of the heart. The catheter may include a magnetic and/or ultrasound sensor for navigation. The body of the catheter may be pliable and configured to form a predetermined shape upon exiting a catheter sheath. Upon exiting the catheter sheath, the catheter body may be configured to form one or more loops, and the loops may be non-overlapping loops. In some examples, the non-overlapping loops may be concentric loops. Alternatively, the catheter body may be configured to form one or more splines. The catheter body may include an embedded electrode assembly. The electrodes of the electrode assembly may be may be arranged in one or more rows and configured to detect a wave front. The electrode assembly may also be configured to generate and activation sequence and determine a direction of an activation source.

Abstract: A catheter adapted to determine a contact force, the catheter including a proximal segment, a distal segment, and an elastic segment extending from the proximal segment to the distal segment. The distal segment includes a plurality of tip electrodes including at least three radial electrodes disposed about a circumference of the distal segment. The radial electrodes are configured to output electrical signals indicative of a contact vector of the contact force. The elastic segment includes a force sensing device configured to output an electrical signal indicative of a magnitude of an axial component of the contact force, wherein the contact force is determined by scaling the magnitude of the axial component of the contact force by the contact vector.

Abstract: A ratio of reversible electroporation and irreversible electroporation may be controlled by selecting a symmetric waveform or asymmetric waveform to either minimize or enhance irreversible effects on cells in the target tissue. Combined reversible and irreversible electroporation includes inserting one or more therapeutic electrodes into a target tissue, introducing an electroporation compound into the target tissue, selecting a pulse waveform that is either 1) asymmetric bipolar that has positive and negative pulses with different durations, or 2) symmetric bipolar that has positive and negative pulses with the same duration, and delivering to the target tissue a series of electrical pulses having the selected pulse waveform.

Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a first member including a first housing and a first jaw member with a tissue contacting surface. A second member includes a second jaw member with a tissue contacting surface configured to communicate electrosurgical energy with the tissue contacting surface of the first jaw member a fluid receptacle at least partially disposed within the first housing. The fluid receptacle defines first and second receptacle sections, the first receptacle section defining a first internal dimension and the second receptacle section defining a second internal dimension less than the first internal dimension. A fluid is disposed within the fluid receptacle. A trigger plunger is mounted within the fluid receptacle. A knife shaft is at least partially disposed within the fluid receptacle distal of the trigger plunger and the fluid. A knife blade is disposed adjacent the first and second jaw members.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator, a control device, a method for operating the electrosurgical generator and a computer program product. The electrosurgical generator includes an ultrasonic generator for providing an excitation signal by which an ultrasonic converter can generate an ultrasonic vibration, a radiofrequency generator for providing a radiofrequency energy at two output contacts, and a control unit adapted to independently activate the radiofrequency generator and the ultrasonic generator. The control unit is further adapted to determine a DC-offset voltage between the two output contacts of the radiofrequency generator, check if the DC-offset voltage exceeds a DC-offset threshold value, and deactivate the ultrasonic generator if the DC-offset voltage does not exceed the DC-offset threshold.