Abstract: An energy treatment instrument includes a first grasping piece, and a second grasping piece which opens or closes relative to the first grasping piece and which grasps a blood vessel between the first grasping piece and the second grasping piece. In accordance with the kind of blood vessel grasped between the first grasping piece and the second grasping piece, an actuation state of the energy treatment instrument is switched between a first mode to coagulate a blood vessel of a circulatory system, and a second mode to coagulate a blood vessel of a pulmonary circulation in contrast to the first mode.

Abstract: An imaging, guidance, planning and treatment system integrated into a single unit or assembly of components, and a method for using same, that can be safely and effectively deployed to treat prostate cancer in all medical settings, including in a physician's office or in an outpatient setting. The system utilizes the novel process of Radio-Frequency Electrical Membrane Breakdown (“EMB” or “RFEMB”) to destroy the cellular membranes of unwanted or cancerous tissue without denaturing the intra-cellular contents of the cells comprising the tissue, thereby exposing tumor antigens and other intra-cellular components which can have an immunologic effect on local or distant cancerous tissue, with or without the addition of immunologic adjutant drugs. The system preferably comprises at least one EMB treatment probe 20, at least one trackable biopsy needle 200, at least one trackable anesthesia needle 300, and at least one controller unit for at least partially automating the treatment process.

Abstract: A catheter with an electrode assembly has a functional electrode located at a first position on the electrode assembly and a shunting electrode located proximal to the first position. Irrigation fluid carried by the catheter may be electrically coupled with a patient's blood through the shunting electrode. The shunting electrode may be used to reduce noise in an electrocardiogram signal that results from the pump used to supply the irrigation fluid.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering energy to a patient's body includes a plurality of probes each having an elongate member with a distal region having an electrically non-conductive outer circumferential portion and a proximal region. Each of the plurality of probes further includes an electrically conductive energy delivery device extending distally from the electrically non-conductive outer circumferential portion for delivering one of electrical and radiofrequency energy to the patient's body. The energy delivery devices further include an electrically conductive outer circumferential surface. The system also includes at least one controller communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of probes. The controller includes a user interface having a control screen. The control screen includes an independent control module and a simultaneous control module that allows a user to select between independent control or simultaneous control of the plurality of probes.

Abstract: The instrument comprises a jaw arrangement with two jaws that have, on their side facing the counter-electrode arrangement, rounded or flat electrode surfaces. The counter-electrode arrangement comprises at least one counter-electrode surface that may be rounded or flat. One of the electrode surfaces has a band edge preferably bordered by an insulator on one side, said band edge being adjacent to the adjacent electrode surface of the jaw arrangement. The counter-electrode surface has a band edge adjacent to the insulator facing the band edge of the one electrode surface. The band edges of the electrode surfaces acting as the coagulation surfaces are close enough such that they form cutting edges that develop a cutting effect with low voltages that are otherwise suitable only for coagulation. Accordingly, it is possible to provide fusion instruments that are extremely delicate, display lower thermal inertia and an excellent fusion and cutting effect.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention may be related to an apparatus for non-invasive directional tissue treatment. The apparatus includes a radiofrequency (RF) generator and an array of RF energy delivery elements in active communication with the RF generator, a power source and a controller. In some embodiments, each of the RF energy delivery elements comprises a pair of electrodes with opposite polarity such that each electrode has a first dimension and a second dimension, the first dimension perpendicular to the second dimension and to an imaginary line connecting the pair of electrodes to each other. In some embodiments, the first dimension of each electrode and the distance between the electrodes in each pair are configured to create an elongated heated volume of tissue when the RF generator is activated and at least one of the RF delivery elements is in contact with the tissue.

Abstract: A balloon catheter includes a shaft, a balloon made of an expandable membrane, a flexible substrate, one or more electrodes, and one or more radiopaque flags. The shaft is configured for insertion into a heart of a patient. The balloon is fitted at a distal end of the shaft. The flexible substrate is disposed on the membrane. The one or more electrodes are disposed over the flexible substrate and have a fishbone configuration. The one or more radiopaque flags are coupled to the expandable membrane, wherein the one or more radiopaque flags include a serpentine pattern so that the radiopaque flags fold in conformance with flexible substrate as the expandable membrane is collapsed into a compressed or folded configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods for body temperature management using a heat transfer catheter carrying a heat transfer fluid to heat or cool a desired, focused portion of a patient's body. In accordance with certain aspects of the invention, the heat transfer catheter may include hollow nodes that have greater rigidity than the remainder of the catheter to aid in placement of the heat transfer catheter within and navigation of the desired portion of the patient's body. Methods of using such heat transfer catheter to effect temperature management of the patient's body are also disclosed.

Abstract: Spinal tumor ablation devices and related systems and methods are disclosed. Some spinal tumor ablation devices include electrodes that are fixedly offset from one another. Some spinal tumor ablation devices include a thermal energy delivery probe that has at least one temperature sensor coupled thereto. The position of the at least one temperature sensor relative to other components of the spinal tumor ablation device may be controlled by adjusting the position of the thermal energy delivery probe in some spinal tumor ablation devices. Some spinal tumor ablation devices are configured to facilitate the delivery of a cement through a utility channel of the device.

Abstract: An irrigated electrophysiology catheter has a tip electrode having a shell, and a support member configured to plug the shell and support one or more tip components and/or facilitate their functions. Advantageously, the support member has an electrically-conductive interface portion and an insert-molded portion, wherein the interface portion, typically constructed of a precious metal alloy, is structurally minimized, yet still configured for electrical connection with the shell and the lead wire, so as to reduce the amount and hence the cost of its manufacture, whereas the insert-molded portion is constructed of a significantly less-costly material and is readily configured with micro-complex 3-D geometry adapted to support tip structure and functions including irrigation, force sensing and temperature sensing, as a further cost savings in the manufacturing of the tip electrode by reducing materials, labor and time.

Abstract: An ophthalmic marking device is provided herein for marking a patient's eye. The device may include a handle and a tip with a tip element, a first portion of the tip element protruding from the tip to be exposed. The tip element is electrically conductive to resistively generate heat with electrical flow therethrough. A source of electrical power is associated with the device and electrically coupled to the tip element. The source of the electrical power and the tip element are configured to cause the first portion of the tip element to have a temperature in a range of 250° F.-450° F. Advantageously, the subject invention provides for a relatively low-cost device for marking a patient's eye and allows for creating a less traumatic marking on a patient's eye as compared to higher temperature electrocautery devices.

Abstract: Catheters, systems, and related methods for optimized for mapping, minimizing, and treating cardiac fibrillation in a patient, including an array of at least one stacked electrode pair, each electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein each electrode pair is configured to be orthogonal to a surface of a cardiac tissue substrate, wherein each first electrode is in contact with the surface to record a first signal, and wherein each second electrode is separated from the first electrode by a distance which enables the second electrode to record a second signal, wherein the catheter is configured to obtain one or more measurements from at least a first signal and a second signal in response to electrical activity in the cardiac tissue substrate indicative of a number of electrical circuit cores and distribution of the electrical circuit cores for a duration across the cardiac tissue substrate.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for performing a variety of treatment procedures safely with a single treatment device. For example, a system is provided that includes a treatment device with a highly conformable balloon that is inflated at a constant pressure and that remains “soft” during use, which enhances balloon-tissue contact, treatment efficacy, and patient safety. In one embodiment, a system for ablating tissue comprises: a treatment device including a highly conformable balloon; a control unit including a fluid supply reservoir in fluid communication with the highly conformable balloon, the control unit being configured to deliver fluid from the fluid supply reservoir to the highly conformable balloon such that the highly conformable balloon is maintained at a balloon pressure of between 0.2 psig and 3.0 psig.

Abstract: An electrosurgical waveform having both radiofrequency (RF) energy and microwave energy components that is arranged to perform efficient haemostasis in biological tissue. The waveform comprises a first portion primarily of RF electromagnetic energy, and a second portion primarily of microwave electromagnetic energy that follows the first portion. The second portion further comprises a plurality of RF pulses, wherein the first portion transitions to the second portion when either a duration of the first portion meets or exceeds a predetermined duration threshold, or an impedance determined during the first portion meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold. The waveform is arranged to deliver energy rapidly so that haemostasis can occur in a short time frame in a situation where the maximum available power is limited, or to avoid undesirable thermal damage to the biological tissue.

Abstract: A method for cardiac treatment, which includes acquiring and saving an initial map of a chamber of a heart of a patient in an initial ablation procedure, with locations of ablation lesions marked on the initial map. In preparation for a redo ablation procedure, subsequent to the initial ablation procedure, a current map of the chamber is acquired, the initial map is registered with the current map, and the locations of the ablation lesions from the registered initial map are marked and displayed on the current map.

Abstract: Systems for treating a subject's tissue can include a thermally conductive cup with vacuum features configured to facilitate removal of air located between the cup and the subject's skin. The vacuum features can extend along cup to provide airflow paths to a vacuum port. The applicator can cool and/or heat the retained tissue to affect targeted tissue. After the treat period, the vacuum can be reduced or stop and the applicator can be removed from the subject.

Abstract: An application of a radiofrequency catheter ablation system to treatment of essential hypertension. The treatment process is under ultrasonic guidance, an electrode needle is made to penetrate into target tissue of a patient, electrification is conducted to start ablation, the needle is withdrawn or made to penetrate into the other side of the target tissue for target ablation after reaching ablation temperature and duration time, and overall ablation treatment is completed. The system can treat a secondary center for regulating the activity of a whole-body sympathetic system to reduce its activity, thus, the blood pressure level of a patient can be reduced, and fewer kinds and smaller dosage of antihypertensive drugs taken or ceased altogether. By treating the secondary center, the activity of the whole-body sympathetic system, insulin resistance and whole-body fibrosis is reduced, and other diseases characterized in activity abnormity of the sympathetic system might be treated too.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a flexible frame, a coupling portion, and an insulating portion. The flexible frame is configured to support a thermal therapeutic member and is transitioned between a first configuration and a second configuration to place the therapeutic member in substantially continuous contact with a target portion of the body. The coupling portion is coupled to the flexible frame and is transitioned from a first configuration to a second configuration to retain the flexible frame in its second configuration. The insulating portion is transitioned from a first configuration to a second configuration to be coupled to the flexible frame. The insulating portion at least partially controls a transfer of thermal energy between the thermal therapeutic member and the target portion of the body.

Abstract: A treatment instrument includes a treatment section treating a target of treatment such as a living tissue. The treatment section has an outer surface. A first resin film (first resin coating) covers part of the outer surface of the treatment section. A second resin film (second resin coating) covers at least a boundary between a region covered by the first resin film and a region not covered by the first resin film on the outer surface of the treatment section.

Abstract: A hybrid plasma device includes a power supply; a manipulation unit configured to receive at least two skin treatment programs; a gas supply unit configured to supply at least one inert gas; a control unit configured to control the gas supply unit to supply one species of inert gases or to supply at least two species of inert gases; a gas output unit configured to be controlled to output one species of inert gases or to output a mixture of at least two species of inert gases; a plasma handpiece configured to receive said one species of inert gases or the mixture of at least two species of inert gases from the gas output unit and to generate plasma from said one species or mixture to and to eject the generated plasma out of the handpiece; and a plasma driver unit configured to apply power to the plasma handpiece.