Abstract: A catheter and catheter system for treatment of a blood vessel of a patient include an elongate flexible catheter body with a radially expandable structure. A plurality of electrodes or other electrosurgical energy delivery surfaces can radially engage material to be treated when the structure expands. A material detector near the distal end of the catheter body may measure circumferential material distribution, and a power source selectively energizes the electrodes to eccentrically treat of a body lumen.

Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps includes a pair of first and second shaft members pivotably coupled to one another, an end effector assembly coupled to the pair of first and second shaft members, and a resilient, compressible pivot assembly pivotably coupling the first and second shaft members to one another.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system for treating tissue, including a first and second electrode; a high-frequency high-voltage supply unit which can be electrically connected to first and second electrode and is designed to supply a specified treatment alternating voltage to electrodes; and a measuring unit which can be electrically connected to first and second electrode and has a measurement voltage supply module that is designed to provide a measurement alternating voltage of at least one first and second frequency, wherein the measuring unit is additionally designed to receive an electric response signal for first and second frequency via first and second electrode and determine at least one property of a tissue located between first and second electrode therefrom. The electrosurgical system relates further to an electrosurgical generator for treating tissue, to a method of operating an electrosurgical system, to using electrosurgical system and to applying the method of operating an electrosurgical system.

Abstract: A combination patient return pad and surgical smoke evacuator includes a return electrode configured to attach to a surface and a suction tube for drawing surgical smoke from a surgical site.

Abstract: A hand tool has a pivot connection pivotally attaching a first arm to a second arm, with the pivot connection fixed relative to the first arm and movable to first and second positions relative to the second arm. A spring urges the pivot connection into the first position. When jaws on the front ends of the arms clamp tissue with force greater than a pre-set threshold, the spring force is overcome and the jaws may move linearly apart, allowing for more uniform clamping of the tissue. The first arm may have an arm spring extending between a front segment pivotally attached to a rear segment of the first arm.

Abstract: A catheter carries a position sensor in a distal, on-axis position in an irrigated ablation tip electrode. The tip electrode has a shell wall that defines a cavity through which fluid flows and exits via fluid ports formed in the shell wall. The cavity is sealed by an internal member extends into the cavity with a baffle portion and a distal portion. The distal portion safely houses the position sensor and the baffle portion diffuses and disperses fluid entering the tip electrode for a more uniform flow through the cavity. The distal portion is configured to provide an annular region that runs along the length of the tip electrode to better feed fluid to the more distal fluid ports on the tip electrode for more uniform cooling at all locations on the tip electrode.

Abstract: A catheter and catheter system can use energy tailored for remodeling and/or removal of target material along a body lumen, often of atherosclerotic material of a blood vessel of a patient. An elongate flexible catheter body with a radially expandable structure may have a plurality of electrodes or other electrosurgical energy delivery surfaces to radially engage atherosclerotic material when the structure expands. An atherosclerotic material detector system may measure and/or characterize the atherosclerotic material and its location, optionally using impedance monitoring.

Abstract: Magnetic guided ablation catheters and methods of manufacture are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a catheter includes a unitary flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end. A plurality of magnets are positioned along an axis of the unitary flexible tubing, the plurality of magnets provided within the unitary flexible tubing. During operation, the plurality of magnets are responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the catheter within a body of a patient.

Abstract: An apparatus, a system, and a method for thermally comforting a patient include pneumatic, convective device providing thermal treatment for persons or animals, which is adapted for use in combination with a clinical garment such as a hospital gown, robe, bib, and other equivalents. The pneumatic convective device provides convective warming focused or directed primarily on the thorax or body core. The pneumatic convective device includes at least one inlet for being accessed through a clinical garment, a region in distribution with the inlet for distributing a stream of pressurized, thermally treated air, and a permeable member for emitting pressurized, thermally treated air from the distribution region.

Abstract: A surgical system includes a surgical instrument having a body, a shaft extending distally from the body, an ultrasonic transducer supported by the body, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade configured to be driven by the ultrasonic transducer with ultrasonic energy, and an RF electrode operable to seal tissue with RF energy. A generator is operatively coupled with the surgical instrument and is operable to generate a combined drive signal having an ultrasonic energy component and an RF energy component. Filter circuitry arranged externally of the body of the surgical instrument is operable to convert the combined drive signal to an ultrasonic drive signal configured to energize the ultrasonic transducer to drive the ultrasonic blade with ultrasonic energy, and an RF drive signal configured to energize the RF electrode with RF energy sufficient to seal tissue.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient with a bioelectrical system is provided. The method may include inserting a probe into a first position in an anatomy of the patient, the system being provided with a plurality of electrodes; energizing a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes with a measurement level of power; determining a complex impedance in the patient's anatomy; determining whether the first position is a desired position of the probe for ablating a predetermined portion of tissue of the patient, based on the complex impedance determined; and energizing one of the plurality of electrodes with an ablation level of power, the ablation level of power being greater than the measurement level of power. An apparatus for performing BIA on a patient is also provided.

Abstract: A device for treating esophageal target tissue comprises a catheter, a balloon and a refrigerant delivery device. The catheter has a distal portion and a refrigerant delivery lumen. The balloon is mounted to and the refrigerant delivery device is coupled to the distal portion. The refrigerant delivery device comprises a chamber with the refrigerant delivery lumen opening into the chamber, a refrigerant delivery opening fluidly coupled to the balloon interior, and a distribution passageway fluidly coupling the chamber and the refrigerant delivery opening. A refrigerant is deliverable through the refrigerant delivery lumen, into the chamber, through the distribution passageway, through the refrigerant delivery opening and into the balloon interior so to place the balloon into an expanded, cooled state so that the balloon can press against and cool esophageal target tissue. The medical device may include means for sensing a leak in the balloon.

Abstract: A fluid detection assembly for detecting fluid contamination within a medical device includes a first pair of detection wires and a controller. The first pair of detection wires includes an input first detection wire and a spaced apart output first detection wire that are in fluid communication with one another. The input first detection wire conducts a first electrical signal and the output first detection wire receives the first electrical signal. The controller receives the first electrical signal from the output first detection wire and determines a first propagation delay. The controller can determine a type of fluid contamination, such as blood or saline, based on the first propagation delay. The fluid detection assembly can include a second pair of detection wires that is spaced apart from the first pair of detection wires.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are described herein for applying energy to tissue for ablation of tissue while allowing the tissue to be resorbed within the body. Such methods, devices, and systems control application of energy to maintain a temperature of target tissue above an ablation temperature, being dependent upon the activation time, and below a transformation temperature, also being dependent upon the activation time, where the transformation prevents or hinders resorption of the treated tissue by the body.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of sealing tissue includes interrogating the tissue with an electrical signal and adjusting an electrical parameter of at least one of the ultrasonic energy or the RF energy in response to the tissue feedback to inhibit transecting the tissue. The ultrasonic surgical instrument has an end effector, a shaft assembly, a body, and a power controller. The power controller is operatively connected to the ultrasonic blade and the RF electrode and configured to direct activation of the ultrasonic blade or the RF electrode. The power controller is further configured to interrogate the tissue with the electrical signal via the ultrasonic blade or the RF electrode to provide a tissue feedback and adjust an electrical parameter of the ultrasonic energy or the RF energy in response to the tissue feedback to inhibit transecting the tissue.

Abstract: A medical system, including a medical device having a plurality of deployable arms, and at least one electrode on at least one of the plurality of arms; and an electric signal generator in communication with the medical device, the electric signal generator programmed to deliver pulsed energy to the medical device sufficient to induce irreversible electroporation ablation.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of sealing a tissue based on a production clamp force includes determining an ultrasonic seal process with the controller based on the production clamp force between an upper jaw and a lower jaw of an end effector and activating the ultrasonic energy or RF energy according to the determined ultrasonic seal process. The ultrasonic surgical instrument further includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, a jaw, an RF electrode, 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 and clamp together with a production clamp force in the closed position. The controller operatively connects to the ultrasonic blade and the RF electrode and includes the ultrasonic seal process based on the production clamp force stored thereon for driving the ultrasonic blade or the RF electrode.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of sealing a tissue includes generating a desired burst pressure in the tissue, sealing the tissue, verifying that the tissue is sealed with further application of at least one of the ultrasonic energy and the RF energy. The ultrasonic surgical instrument further includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, an RF electrode, and a controller. The controller operatively connects to the ultrasonic blade and the RF electrode and is configured to direct application of ultrasonic and RF energies according to an initial phase, a power phase, and a termination phase for respectively generating a desired burst pressure in the tissue, sealing the tissue, and verifying the sealing of the tissue while inhibiting transection of the tissue.

Abstract: The disclosure describes devices, systems, and techniques for identifying and treating bladder dysfunction. In one example, a method includes identifying one or more focal points at respective locations of bladder tissue of a bladder of a patient, the one or more focal points initiating coordinated contractions of a detrusor muscle. The method may also, or alternatively, include ablating, for each of the one or more focal points, a respective portion of the bladder tissue at the respective location of the focal point. Ablation of these targeted portions of the bladder tissue may reduce the coordinated contractions of the detrusor muscle and alleviate overactive bladder symptoms.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for creating tissue necrosis include an energy delivery apparatus that can be positioned adjacent a target treatment site such as a vessel without direct contact with the treatment site tissue. Collimated energy is then directed to the vessel to create necrotic regions in the tissue. Exemplary use in renal vessels creates necrotic regions in adjacent nerves which can alleviate hypertension in a patient.