Abstract: The invention relates to a connector plug for a medical instrument, in particular a bipolar electrode or forceps, comprising an insulating body for connecting two limbs of the instrument, wherein the insulating body has openings for receiving, inserting or sliding in the limbs, wherein in each of the openings a latching or spring element is provided for fastening one of the limbs of the instrument in the insulating body.

Abstract: A system includes a probe, a processor, and a bubble detector. The probe is configured for insertion into a lumen of a patient and is coupled to an irrigation pump. The processor is configured to control delivery of irrigation fluid to the probe by turning on and controlling the irrigation pump. The bubble detector is coupled to a proximal portion of the probe. In response to the irrigation pump being turned on, the bubble detector is configured to automatically start detection of gas bubbles in the irrigated fluid, and transmit fail-safe signals indicating fail-safe bubble detection is operational. The processor is further configured to monitor the fail-safe signals and, in absence of fail-safe signals, to automatically disable delivery of the irrigation fluid.

Abstract: A forceps includes an instrument housing, an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the instrument housing, and a rotation knob assembly. The rotation knob assembly is supported in the instrument housing and includes a rotation knob and an inner housing. The rotation knob is coupled to the shaft assembly and positioned to rotate about the inner housing to rotate the elongated shaft assembly relative to the instrument housing. The inner housing is coupled to the instrument housing and supports electrical contacts configured to transmit electrical energy through the rotation knob assembly.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of limiting an ultrasonic blade temperature includes adjusting at least one power parameter of the ultrasonic energy in response to reaching a predetermined frequency parameter change threshold in the ultrasonic blade limiting the temperature of the ultrasonic blade to an upper temperature limit. The ultrasonic surgical instrument further includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, a jaw, and a controller. The jaw is movably positioned relative to the ultrasonic blade and configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The controller operatively connects to the ultrasonic blade and is configured to measure an ultrasonic frequency of the ultrasonic blade. The controller has a memory including a plurality of predetermined data correlations that correlate changes in measured ultrasonic frequency of the ultrasonic blade to a blade temperature of the ultrasonic blade.

Abstract: An auxiliary return system for use with a bipolar electrosurgical device includes a tissue guard defining open proximal and distal ends and a body extending therebetween. The body includes outer and inner peripheral surfaces, the inner peripheral surface defining a lumen extending between the open proximal and distal ends, the outer peripheral surface including an elongated channel defined therein configured to receive a ground wire, a distal end of the elongated channel includes a pocket defined between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the body. An electrically conductive rivet includes a proximal end configured to engage the inner peripheral surface of the body and a distal end configured to engage the outer peripheral surface of the body to secure the rivet within the pocket. The distal end including a connector configured to engage the ground wire to provide electrical continuity between the ground wire and the rivet.

Abstract: A device and system for thermally affecting tissue that includes a balloon catheter with a reduced distal length for ease of navigation and that also includes a balloon that is more resistant to bursting and delamination. The balloon may include a proximal neck generally attached to an elongate body and a distal neck generally attached to a shaft disposed within the elongate body. The distal neck is turned inward to extend within the balloon chamber and the proximal neck may either extend within the chamber or extend proximally away from the balloon chamber. Alternatively, the device may include an inner balloon and an outer balloon, the distal necks of both being turned inward and extending within the inner balloon chamber. The proximal necks may both also be turned inward to extend within the chamber or the proximal neck of the outer balloon may extend away from the balloon chamber.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides electroporation systems, methods of controlling electroporation systems to limit electroporation arcs through intracardiac catheters, and catheters for electroporation systems. One method of controlling an electroporation system including a direct current (DC) energy source, a return electrode connected to the DC energy source, and a catheter connected to the DC energy source is disclosed. The catheter has a at least one catheter electrode. The method includes positioning the return electrode near a target location within a body and positioning the catheter electrode adjacent the target location within the body. A system impedance is determined with the return electrode positioned near the target location and the catheter electrode positioned within the body. The system impedance is adjusted to a target impedance to arcing from the catheter electrode.

Abstract: In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to a surgical instrument that can supply mechanical energy and electrical energy to an end effector of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may be operated in a first operating mode in which a transducer of the surgical instrument produces mechanical energy, or vibrations, that are transmitted to the end effector and a second operating mode in which electrical energy, or current, can flow through the end effector to perform electrosurgery. In another general aspect, the surgical instrument may comprise a clamp, or jaw, which can be moved into a closed position to hold tissue against a waveguide, or blade, of the end effector. In the second operating mode of the surgical instrument, current can flow from a power source, through the waveguide, and return to the power source through a path comprising the jaw.

Abstract: Provided is a medical device comprising an inner tubular member, an outer tubular member having a distal end and an open window disposed at the distal end, a first electrode and/or a second electrode disposed at the distal end of the outer tubular member, and a cannulated plunger or armature or shaft configured to drive the inner tubular member to cut tissue in cooperation with the open window of the outer tubular member. The first electrode and the second electrode may be configured to provide RF energy needed for a surgical operation and may be configured to be substantially symmetrical or asymmetrical along a longitudinal axis of the outer tubular member.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for an electrosurgical pencil includes an insulative core configured to support an active wire around a peripheral surface thereof and a ground electrode coupled about the insulative core and adapted for insertion within an electrosurgical pencil. A hypotube is disposed between the ground electrode and the active pin and encapsulates the active pin to insulate the active pin from the ground electrode. An active pin is included that is adapted for insertion within the pencil and has a tensioning assembly including: a set screw with threads that engage grooves of the active pin such that, upon rotation, the set screw advances to secure the active wire within the active pin; and a nut is fixed within the hypotube that includes grooves that engage threads of the active pin such that, upon rotation, the active pin translates proximally to tension the active wire about the insulative core.

Abstract: A system and method can be used to denervate at least a portion of a bronchial tree. An energy emitter of an instrument is percutaneously delivered to a treatment site and outputs energy to damage nerve tissue of the bronchial tree. The denervation procedure can be performed without damaging non-targeted tissue. Minimally invasive methods can be used to open airways to improve lung function in subjects with COPD, asthma, or the like. Different sections of the bronchial tree can be denervated while leaving airways intact to reduce recovery times.

Abstract: A cosmetic method for treating a skin of a person is presented, the method comprises inserting one or more needles to one or more depths into the skin of the person such that at least a tip of at least one needle of the one or more needles is deployed within a muscle layer of the person's skin; applying a negative DC voltage to the one or more needles, while a skin of the person is in contact with a positive electrode to form one or more closed circuits of DC current through the person's body; and providing the DC current for a pre-selected amount of time to damage and/or ablate muscles and/or muscle nerve cells in the muscle layer; thereby providing a skin treatment comprising reducing and/or smoothing wrinkles from the person's skin.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a medical system includes a medical instrument having a grasper head including first and second complementary grasping jaws, and first and second conducting surfaces disposed on respective distal portions of the first and second grasping jaws, the conducting surfaces being electrically isolated from each other in the grasper head, an actuator configured to close the grasping jaws so as to bring the conducting surfaces into contact with a tissue of a body part of a living subject, and a proximity sensor configured to output at least one proximity signal responsive to a displacement between the grasping jaws, and processing circuitry coupled to sense the displacement between the first and second grasping jaws responsively to the at least one proximity signal, and apply an electrical current between the first and second conducting surfaces of the grasping jaws when the sensed displacement is less than a given threshold displacement.

Abstract: A catheter-mounted balloon includes an inflatable chamber defining a volume expandable from a deflated state to an inflated state, the inflatable chamber having a distal transition portion, a proximal transition portion, and a cylindrical body portion disposed between the distal transition portion and the proximal transition portion. The cylindrical body portion of the inflatable chamber includes a pleat zone having a pleat when the inflatable chamber is in the deflated state. The catheter-mounted balloon further includes an electrode disposed along a wall of the inflatable chamber. The pleat traverses the electrode such that is electrode is pleated as well.

Abstract: A surgical device (10) includes a handle (122) and a rotatable assembly (130) coupled and rotatable with respect to the handle (122). The surgical device (10) further includes a switch (126) coupled to the handle (122) and having a plurality of positions. A first inductor (1122) is coupled to the switch (126) and a second inductor (1102) is coupled to the rotatable assembly (130). A current signal propagating through the first inductor (1122) and/or a current signal propagating through the second inductor (1102) changes based on a position of the switch (126).

Abstract: A treatment instrument includes a rotating body and a housing. The rotating body includes a connecting portion including: a supported portion having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface, and an engaged portion that is adjacent to the supported surface. The housing includes a supporting portion that is configured to support the supported portion of the rotating body, the supporting portion being rotatable around a predetermined rotation axis; and an engaging portion that is configured to generate a frictional force larger than a frictional force between the supporting portion and the supported portion by coming into contact with the engaged portion.

Abstract: A current sensor includes a current sense coil disposed about a conductive lead, the current sense coil configured to sense a current passing through the conductive lead. The current sense coil includes: a first outer coil configured to detect a first magnetic field generated by the current; a second outer coil configured to detect the first magnetic field, the second outer coil further configured to cancel an electrical field induced in the first outer coil; and an inner conductor disposed between the first outer coil and the second outer coil, the inner conductor configured to detect a second magnetic field generated by the current.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided to detect electrical contact between anatomical tissue and a shield conductor: a transformer; an alternating current (AC) reference frequency signal generator to inject a reference frequency signal to a primary winding of the transformer; a reactive impedance coupled in parallel with a secondary winding of the transformer between a first node and a second node; and a phase match detector circuit to detect a phase match between the reference frequency signal and a reflected reference frequency signal that is reflected from the secondary winding to the primary winding.

Abstract: A system for inflating a cryogenic ablation catheter balloon, the system comprising a fluid source containing a fluid in a liquid state, a first supply line fluidly coupled to the fluid source and configured to be fluidly coupled to an internal space within the cryogenic ablation catheter balloon, the first supply line including an inline multi-stage pressure regulating system. The multi-stage pressure regulating system includes a first stage configured to cause the fluid to transition from the liquid state to a gas state, and a second stage downstream of the first stage configured to maintain the fluid downstream of the second stage at a pressure corresponding to an inflation pressure of cryogenic ablation catheter balloon.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument with first and second branches that are pivotably supported by a support pin is disclosed. The first branch has a first tissue contact surface and the second branch has a second tissue contact surface. The two tissue contact surfaces are electrically connected with an electric connection device at the first branch. The electric connection is at least partly established via a respective conductor. The second conductor is integrally formed by one single body. The second conductor has a contact section with at least one contact part in contact with an electrically conductive circumferential surface of the support pin, such that an electric rotation connection is established between the contact section and the support pin. In this manner the second conductor arranged in the first branch can establish an electric connection with the second branch via the support pin and further with the second tissue contact surface.