Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a temperature sensor and a control unit that is operable to deactivate an end effector of the surgical instrument. In some versions the temperature sensor detects the temperature of a transducer, while in others the temperature sensor detects the temperature of the end effector. The surgical instrument may also include a trigger and a trigger position sensor. A force sensor or a position sensor may be included to determine the force and/or position of the transmission assembly. The end effector may also include a force sensor or a micro coil. A surgical instrument having a sensor may be included in a surgical system that includes a control unit and a remote controller. In some instances the remote controller may have one or more force-feedback components. In addition, a device interface and a surgeon interface may be included to remotely adjust the settings of the control unit.

Abstract: A computing device for generating and using a graphical user interface (GUI) is disclosed. The computing device includes one or more controllers configured to generate a graphical representation of a plurality of electrodes of an ablation catheter for displaying via the GUI; designate, via the GUI, at least some of the plurality of electrodes to be active electrodes; automatically designate the active electrodes as a source electrode or a sink electrode; assign an amount of energy to each of the designated source electrodes; and estimate an amount of energy associated with each of the designated sink electrodes based at least in part on the assigned energy of the designated source electrodes.

Abstract: A surgical tool that includes a drive housing, an elongate shaft that extends from the drive housing, and an end effector arranged at a distal end of the elongate shaft and having a jaw and a jaw holder that secures the jaw. A wrist couples the end effector to the elongate shaft and includes a distal clevis having an axle that rotatably mounts the jaw holder to the distal clevis. An electrical conductor extends from the drive housing and supplies electrical energy to the jaw via a supply conductor. At least one of the jaw holder and the axle is made of a non-conductive material that insulates the distal clevis from the electrical energy provided to the jaw.

Abstract: A surgical device integrating a suction mechanism with a coagulation mechanism is provided for improving lesion creation capabilities. The device comprises an elongate member having an insulative covering attached about means for coagulating soft tissue. Openings through the covering expose regions of the coagulation-causing elements and are coupled to lumens in the elongate member which are routed to a vacuum source. A fluid source to passively transport fluid along the contacted soft tissue surface may be provided in order to push the maximum temperature deeper into tissue.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed, including methods and systems/apparatus, that can be used to treat cancerous tissue by exploiting the fact that such tissues have vascular branching with fractal descriptions and fractal dimensions, which are different from those found in normal soft tissue vascular branching. Such fractal branching of diseased tissue can produce resonances, or preferential energy absorption, when irradiated by either ultrasound and/or radio frequencies of EM energy; these resonances are not shared by the vascularization in normal soft tissue. Accordingly, one or more specific arrangements of multiband radiation (e.g., RF and/or ultrasonic) used to irradiate such diseased tissue will cause heating and possibly localized necropsy of tumor blood vessels, with little or minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Embodiments can utilize ablation devices in conjunction with RF and/or ultrasonic sources.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the inflation, ablation, and deflation of a balloon catheter. The system includes a balloon catheter, a console, a pressurized gas or liquid inflation source, and an umbilical system to deliver pressurized coolant to the balloon catheter. The system may include controller that monitors the amount of pressure and volume within the balloon catheter. During inflation, the pressure and/or volume of fluid within the balloon is maintained at a target amount in order to provide sufficient mechanized pressure against the desired target region. The system limits the inflation pressure such that a safe quantity of gas would be released should a leak occur. If the amount falls below a certain threshold level, gas or fluid egress is presumed and the inflation process is halted.

Abstract: Ultrapolar non-telescopic electrosurgery pencil with argon beam capability which is capable of using monopolar energy in a bipolar mode for cutting and coagulation and which is also capable of using an ionized gas for cutting and coagulation.

Abstract: Embodiments include cryogenic systems and methods for treating pain or spasm associated with a nerve of a patient. A target nerve may be located and a distal end of a cryogenic system needle may be inserted into a tissue at a desired location in proximity to the target nerve. The needle includes an outer lumen and an inner lumen extending distally within the outer lumen, the inner lumen including a distal opening that is open to the outer lumen. A cooling fluid may be delivered from a cooling fluid source to the needle via a fluidic pathway, the fluidic pathway including the cooling fluid source, the inner lumen, and the outer lumen, wherein a flow of the cooling fluid cools the needle so that the needle cools the target nerve at the desired location sufficiently such that the pain or spasm is inhibited.

Abstract: A surgical forceps comprising: a first working arm and a second working arm configured to move towards and away from each other; and an electromagnetic latching system; wherein the electromagnetic latching system is configured to create a force that is in a direction aligned with closing of the forceps or opposite to the closing of the forceps when an electromagnetic activation button is depressed.

Abstract: An exemplary microwave ablation system is provided. The system may use a switching antenna for both microwave heating of target tissue and microwave radiometry to monitor the temperature of the heated tissue to ensure that the desired temperatures are delivered to adequately treat the target tissue and achieve therapeutic goals. The system may integrate switching components into the switching antenna, which eliminates error from heating of the reference termination and heating of the electrical cables.

Abstract: An energy delivery probe is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the energy delivery probe is that it can apply energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, denaturate the prostate. In some embodiments, the energy can be applied with a vapor media. The energy delivery probe can include a vapor delivery member configured to extend into a transition zone prostate tissue. A condensable vapor media can be delivered from the vapor delivery member into the transition zone tissue, wherein the condensable vapor media can propagate interstitially in the transition zone tissue and be confined in the transition zone tissue by boundary tissue adjacent to the transition zone tissue. Methods associated with use of the energy delivery probe are also covered.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method of using the same are disclosed for carrying out a transvascular procedure such as a Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) procedure using energy to create a tract between the hepatic vein and the portal vein. The present invention provides a flexible puncturing solution to effectively perform a transvascular procedure such as a TIPS procedure while minimizing damage to the liver and surrounding soft tissues or organs.

Abstract: An end effector includes a distal clevis, an axle mounted to the distal clevis, a first jaw holder and corresponding first jaw member rotatably mounted to the axle, and a second jaw holder and corresponding second jaw member rotatably mounted to the axle. A sleeve axle has a first end, a second end, and a central passageway that extends between the first and second ends. The axle is received within the central passageway and the sleeve axle is rotatable relative to the axle.

Abstract: A portable electrocauter used especially for electrofulguration, electrodesiccation and electrocoagulation contains a source of energy and an applicator. The electrocauter is provided with the source of DC with the maximal current of 1 mA and voltage between 0.8 to 12 kV. The applicator is provided with precisely aiming finish and the patient is conductively connected with the equipment by disposable grounding electrode while the output of the discharge between the working electrode and the surface of the skin is in the range of 0.3 to 4.0 W.

Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating neuromodulation via hemodynamic responses are disclosed herein. A system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, a neuromodulation catheter comprising an elongated shaft having a distal portion, and a plurality of electrodes spaced along a distal portion. The system can further include a controller communicatively coupled to the electrodes. The controller can be configured to apply first and second stimuli at and/or proximate to a target site within a blood vessel before and after delivering neuromodulation energy to the target site, and detect, via at least one of the electrodes, vessel impedance resulting from the first and second stimuli to determine a baseline impedance and a post-neuromodulation impedance. The controller can further be configured to assess the efficacy of the neuromodulation based, at least in part, on a comparison of the baseline impedance and the post-neuromodulation impedance.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a surgical tool for cutting and hemostasis of biological tissues. The surgical tool includes a hollow blade comprising a cutting implement residing within a hollow cavity configured to provide high-pressure steam through an apical surface. The cutting implement can operate independently or in cooperation with the provided high-pressure steam. The surgical tool of the present disclosure applies a directionally-controlled, high-pressure steam flow to a tissue region of interest. A control unit provides temperature-controlled steam at a flow-rate determined in accordance with tissue type and intended procedure.

Abstract: Various aspects of the invention relate to methods and devices for treating diseases and conditions including atherosclerosis and endocarditis using low-temperature, non-equilibrium plasmas. A device may be, for example, a catheter that carries electrodes and a dielectric material for generating a localized, non-equilibrium plasma in a bodily fluid such as blood.

Abstract: An electroporation therapy apparatus method, and system is provided. The apparatus, system, and method comprise an electroporation generator (26). The electroporation generator (26) is configured to output an asymmetric balanced waveform to a medical device, and the asymmetric balanced waveform comprises a first positive phase and a first negative phase. The first positive phase comprises a first current and a first time and the first negative phase comprises a second current and a second time. The first current is greater than the second current and the second time is greater than the first time. The asymmetric balanced waveform is configured to irreversibly electroporate a target tissue.

Abstract: Electrosurgery blades including electrosurgery blade assemblies having argon beam capability. The electrosurgery blade includes a non-conductive planar member having opposite planar sides and a sharp cutting tip and a conductive layer located on one or both of the opposing planar sides of the non-conductive layer. In embodiments of the electrosurgery blade assemblies having argon beam capability, the electrosurgery blade assembly includes a non-conductive tube member having a hollow tubular shaped opening and a slot where at least a portion of the conductive layer of the electrosurgery blade is positioned within the slot of the non-conductive tube member.

Abstract: A method, including performing an initial ablation of a tissue using an electrode in a probe distal end to apply a first power to the tissue, and measuring a change of temperature of the distal end while applying the first power. The method also includes estimating a thickness of the tissue in response to the measured change of temperature, and in response to the estimated thickness, computing at least one of a second power required and a time period for ablation, to complete ablation of the tissue. The method further includes performing a subsequent ablation of the tissue using the computed at least one of the second power and the time period for ablation.