Abstract: A titanium electrosurgical instrument, such as a scalpel (20), and electrosurgical devices, e.g., needle (40), and Bovie tips (40), are provided with a silane coating (30) directly against the solid titanium metal (26, 43, 73) of the body tissue-contacting distal ends (24, 47, 70) thereof whereby to impart advantageous non-stick properties thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing cardiac ablations employs a catheter comprising an anchoring device and an ablating device to perform the ablations to electrically isolate the pulmonary veins and left atrium from surrounding atrial tissue. The anchor can comprise a balloon-type device, a stent-like device, a strut-like device, a spring-strut-like device, an umbrella-like device, a mushroom-like device, or other device that allows the catheter to maintain a position with respect to target tissue. The ablator can comprise a balloon ablator, an umbrella ablator, a pinwheel ablator, an umbrella ablator incorporating a cinch mechanism, a mushroom balloon ablator and a segmented balloon or pinwheel ablator. The anchor and ablator can also comprise a combination mushroom balloon anchor section and mushroom balloon ablator section. The anchor and ablator can include electrodes for measuring a conductance therebetween when in deployed position, so as to determine the effectiveness of the ablation.

Abstract: Medical device systems, methods and devices are provided for treating a valve in a heart to minimize valve regurgitation. The medical device system includes an RF energy source, a handle, a treatment catheter, and a treatment device. The handle is operatively coupled to the RF energy source and coupled to the treatment catheter. The treatment device includes exposed electrode portions of one or more electrodes operatively coupled to the RF energy source and configured to contact tissue of a valve annulus. Further, one or more of the exposed electrode portions include a marker associated therewith. With this arrangement, a physician may view the one or more markers and selectively activate particular exposed electrode portions with RF energy to selectively treat a portion of the valve annulus.

Abstract: Bipolar electrosurgical forceps are provided with dual irrigating tubes that deliver irrigating liquid to the opposed surfaces of the tips of the forceps to prevent the sticking of body tissue to the tips. To reduce the manufacturing costs of the forceps and enable the forceps to be single use, disposable forceps, each tube of the dual irrigating tools is a plastic tube adhered along one of the opposing surfaces of the pair of forceps arms. Each tube also has a flat nozzle at the distal end of the tube that disburses irrigating liquid across the opposed surfaces of the forceps arm distal and tips.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device comprising: forceps including: (i) a first working arm having a contact surface and (ii) a second working arm having a contact surface; wherein the forceps has a first electrical configuration where the contact surface of the first working arm and the contact surface of the second working arm are substantially opposite each other so that the contact surfaces of the forceps can be used to grip an item between the working arms and so that the forceps is configured to deliver a first therapy current through the first working arm, the second working arm, or both; and wherein the forceps has second electrical configuration where the contact surface of the first working arm and the contact surface of the second working arm are askew relative to each other and an electrode edge is formed on at least one side of the forceps so that a second therapy current extends from the electrode edge.

Abstract: A surgical probe includes a connection hub, an antenna assembly, and an outer jacket. The antenna assembly is coupled to the connection hub, extends distally from the connection hub, and includes a radiating portion coupled thereto at the distal end thereof. The radiating portion is configured to deliver energy to tissue to treat tissue. The outer jacket is coupled to the connection hub, extends distally therefrom, and is disposed about the radiating portion. The outer jacket includes a distal end member configured to be spaced-apart from the radiating portion a target axial distance. One or more of the couplings between the antenna assembly and the connection hub, the radiating portion and the antenna assembly, and the outer jacket and the connection hub defines a flexible configuration permitting axial movement therebetween to maintain the target axial distance between the radiating portion and the distal end member.

Abstract: An ablation probe is provided. The ablation probe includes a housing that is configured to couple to a microwave energy source. A shaft extends distally from the housing and includes a radiating section at a distal end thereof. A sensor assembly is operably disposed on the housing and includes a pair of sensor contacts. One or more sensors are positioned adjacent the radiating section and extend along the shaft. The sensor(s) have a pair of sensor contact pads that are positioned on the shaft for contact with the pair of sensors such that during transmission of microwave from the radiating section into target tissue at least one electrical parameter is induced into the at least one sensor and detected by the pair of sensor contacts.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator, a power source configured to deliver power to at least one load connected to the generator, a master configured to generate an initial pulse, and a plurality of slaves connected in series to the master. The initial pulse cooperates with a first floating power supply configured to create an electrical connection between at least one first load and the power source. A first slave is configured to generate a subsequent pulse based on the initial pulse. The subsequent pulse cooperates with a second floating power supply configured to create an electrical connection between at least one second load and the power source. The subsequent pulse is configured to cause an ensuing slave to generate an additional pulse. The additional pulse cooperates with a corresponding floating power supply configured to create an electrical connection between at least one additional load and the power source.

Abstract: A catheter includes an inflation balloon and at least one electrode. The inflation balloon is inflatable within a vessel. The at least one electrode extends around at least a portion of a periphery of the inflation balloon. The at least one electrode is expandable as the inflation balloon is inflated, and contracts as the inflation balloon is deflated. The at least one electrode is held in place along a length of the inflation balloon with a tether member, which is secured at opposing distal and proximal ends of the inflation balloon.

Abstract: The electrosurgical systems and methods according to the present disclosure use a multi-stage power converter for generating electrosurgical energy. The electrosurgical systems include an electrosurgical generator having a power converter coupled to an electrical energy source and configured to generate electrosurgical energy. The power converter includes a boost converter configured to convert a first direct current from the electrical energy source to a second direct current, and a phase-shifted pulse width modulation (PS-PWM) resonant inverter configured to invert the second direct current to an alternating current. The electrosurgical generator also includes a plurality of sensors configured to sense a voltage and a current of the generated electrosurgical energy and a controller coupled to the power converter and the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a controller for controlling ablation of a target tissue of a patient with an ablation device comprising at least one electrode and at least one sensor. The controller typically comprises a storage medium and one or more computing devices operably coupled with the storage medium. The storage medium can comprise patient image data and the one or more computing devices are configured to direct power to the at least one electrode.

Abstract: The present energy treatment device has an insertion part, a pair of arms which are provided in a distal portion of the insertion part and which are capable of performing an opening-closing operation, a treatment member which is attachably and detachably provided in a first arm, a locked part which is provided in a second arm and which is capable of locking the treatment member, and a manipulation part which causes the pair of arms to perform an opening-closing operation, wherein the treatment member includes a knife wire, and a locking member which is positioned with respect to the first arm, being attachable to and detachable from the first arm, and capable of being locked by the locked part, the locked part has a retainer which is capable of holding the locking member with a force stronger than a force of the first arm to hold the locking member.

Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating tissue parameters, including mass of tissue to be treated and a thermal resistance scale factor between the tissue and an electrode of an energy delivery device, are disclosed. The method includes sensing tissue temperatures, estimating a mass of the tissue and a thermal resistance scale factor between the tissue and an electrode, and controlling an electrosurgical generator based on the estimated mass and the estimated thermal resistance scale factor. The method may be performed iteratively and non-iteratively. The iterative method may employ a gradient descent algorithm that iteratively adds a derivative step to the estimates of the mass and thermal resistance scale factor until a condition is met. The non-iterative method includes selecting maximum and minimum temperature differences and estimating the mass and the thermal resistance scale factor based on a predetermined reduction point from the maximum temperature difference to the minimum temperature difference.

Abstract: A self-limiting electrosurgical return electrode for use with electrosurgical procedures is disclosed. The return electrode includes a conductive element and pads disposed on opposing sides of the conductive element. The conductive element, optionally in combination with the pads, is configured to limit the density of electrical current that passes from a patient to the return electrode. The conductive element and the pads can cooperate to define two separate working surfaces on opposing sides of the return electrode. The return electrode can also be safely used with patients of substantially any size and without requiring adjustments to the power settings of an electrosurgical generator.

Abstract: A surgical needle having notches in a sidewall with enhanced ultrasound reflectivity is disclosed. Indentations, ridges, projections, overhanging edges, and other structures are formed in the notches to retain small amounts of air or other reflective material as the surgical needle is passed through tissue. The additional amounts of reflective material retained by these structures will significantly enhance the ultrasound reflectivity and enhance the response to ultrasonic probing to provide an enhanced image during needle placement in a medical patient so that the needle may be accurately placed as desired. Alternatively or additionally, the notches are filled with a substance that contains air bubbles suspended in the substance wherein the suspended air bubbles provide the reflectivity enhancement. In both embodiments, the needle will be visible at any angle in which the device is used in a medical patient.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides ablation catheters that are constructed such that they may be inserted into the body and into a target blood vessel in a linear conformation and subsequently changed into a helical conformation using a pull wire secured to the ablation catheter prior to an ablation procedure to allow electrodes present on the ablation catheter to contact the wall of the blood vessel. After the ablation is complete, the helical-shaped ablation catheter may be returned to its linear conformation by reversing the tensioned pull wire for extraction from the body.

Abstract: An energy delivery system for use in performing a medical procedure is provided. The medical procedure can employ an energy source, the energy source can be connected to an energy delivering device via a transmission line. The energy delivery system can include a measurement system, the measurement system can be configured to sample an output signal generated by the energy source. The energy delivery system includes a control system, which includes a calibration unit. The calibration unit can be configured to generate a calibration signal. The calibration signal can have a magnitude and phase, wherein the magnitude and phase is representative of the output signal and the transmission line loss information. The energy delivery system can also include a control unit, the control unit being configured to receive the calibration signal and adjust the energy source as needed.

Abstract: A scanning cannula for scanning an electrosurgical instrument for electrical insulation defects includes an elongated sleeve having a receiving end, an opposite exit end, and a passageway extending from the receiving end to the exit end. At least one sweeping contact is disposed in the passageway with a limit switch or photocell upstream. A circuit is electrically connected to the at least one sweeping contact. A communication device is connected to the circuit to transmit signals from the circuit to a controller of a surgical instrument. An electrosurgical instrument inserted into the receiving end of the sleeve passes through the at least one sweeping contact, and any electrical defect of the electrosurgical instrument detected by the at least one sweeping contact and assessed by the software is relayed as an error signal to the circuit, which communicates the error signal to the controller. The controller cuts current to the electrosurgical instrument and signals an alarm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tissue ablation system including an ablation device having a deployable applicator head configured to be delivered to a tissue cavity and ablate marginal tissue surrounding the tissue cavity. The deployable applicator head is configured to be delivered to a tissue cavity while in a collapsed configuration and ablate marginal tissue surrounding the tissue cavity while in an expanded configuration.

Abstract: A fluid stream is directed toward tissue to generate a plurality of shedding clouds. The fluid stream can be scanned such that the plurality of shedding clouds arrive a different overlapping locations. Each of the plurality of shedding clouds can remove a portion of the tissue. In many embodiments, an apparatus to ablate tissue comprises a source of pressurized fluid, and a nozzle coupled to the source of pressurized fluid to release a fluid stream, in which the fluid stream generates a plurality of shedding clouds.