Abstract: A method of body tissue ablation includes defining an ultrahigh-power ultrashort-duration (UPUD) ablation protocol that specifies an ablation signal having (i) a target ablation power of at least 400 Watts and (ii) a pulse duration that does not exceed three seconds, for creating a specified lesion in tissue in a body of a patient. Contact is made between an ablation probe and the tissue. Using the ablation probe, the ablation signal is applied to the tissue according to the UPUD protocol, which delivers the ablation signal having the specified target ablation power and duration.

Abstract: A medical instrument sheath including an elongated hollow tube having a wall comprised of polymeric material; and at least one electrical lead embedded inside the wall, wherein the at least one electrical lead is configured to be connected with a respective electrode disposed in a member located inside the sheath and extending from a distal end of the sheath.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention are directed towards apparatuses, systems, and method that may include a tissue ablation system. The tissue ablation system may include an ablation device, an ablation generator, and a controller configured to initiate a pre-ablation procedure in a medium, and during the pre-ablation procedure monitor temperature data and/or power data.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for transvascular ablation of target tissue are disclosed herein. The devices and methods may, in some examples, be used for splanchnic nerve ablation to increase splanchnic venous blood capacitance to treat at least one of heart failure and hypertension. For example, the devices disclosed herein may be advanced endovascularly to a target vessel in the region of a thoracic splanchnic nerve (TSN), such as a greater splanchnic nerve (GSN) or a TSN nerve root. Also disclosed are method of treating heart failure, such as HFpEF, by endovascularly ablating a thoracic splanchnic nerve to increase venous capacitance and reduce pulmonary blood pressure.

Abstract: An expandable balloon, which is coupled to a distal end of a shaft for insertion into an organ of a patient, includes an expandable membrane, one or more electrodes and one or more respective conductive coils. The one or more electrodes are disposed over an external surface of the membrane. The one or more respective conductive coils are each disposed proximate a respective RF ablation electrode. The one or more conductive coils are configured as magnetic sensors.

Abstract: Methods for estimating of the effectiveness of catheter ablation procedures to form lesions, and particular lesions which together form an ablation segment of an ablation line. Lesion effectiveness parameters are received, and effectiveness, optionally the joint effectiveness, of corresponding ablations (optionally planned, current, and/or already performed) is estimated. In some embodiments, estimating is based on use by computer circuitry of an estimator constructed based on observed associations between previously analyzed lesion effectiveness parameters, and observed lesion effectiveness. Additionally or alternatively, estimators may be constructed based on analytic functions. The estimator is used by application to the received lesion effectiveness parameters.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods that may include a microwave ablation probe. The microwave ablation probe may include a feedline having an inner conductor, an outer conductor and a dielectric; and an antenna including a helical arm, the helical arm being electrically connected to the outer conductor of the feedline at a junction point, and a linear arm, the linear arm being electrically connected to the inner conductor of the feedline.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus that includes an intrabody probe and an electrode coupled to a distal end of the intrabody probe. The electrode includes a flexible electrically-insulating substrate, comprising a substrate surface. The electrode further includes a layer of an electrically-conducting metal covering at least part of the substrate surface. The electrode further includes a metallic sheet, comprising an inner sheet surface, and an outer sheet surface shaped to define multiple depressions. The electrode further includes an adhesive, which fills the depressions and bonds the outer sheet surface to the layer of the electrically-conducting metal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A dispersive return pad for a radiofrequency ablation procedure includes a skin material adapted to be worn on a patient's skin, a conductive material positioned adjacent to the skin material, a non-conductive material surrounding the conductive material, and a phase-change material surrounding at least a portion of a side edge of the conductive material. Further, the phase-change material is configured to undergo a phase transition at a target temperature range corresponding to a non-damaging hyperthermic temperature range for the patient's skin. As such, the phase-change material is configured to absorb excess heating from the RF ablation procedure and to prevent burns to the patient's skin.

Abstract: To determine appropriate treatment doses of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), the Canady Helios Cold Plasma Scalpel was tested across numerous cancer cell types including renal adenocarcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, ovarian adenocarcinoma, and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Various CAP doses were tested consisting of both high (3 L/min) and low (1 L/min) helium flow rates, several power settings, and a range of treatment times up to 5 minutes. The impact of cold plasma on the reduction of viability was consistently dose dependent, however the anti-cancer capability varied significantly between cell lines. While the lowest effective dose varied from cell line to cell line, in each case an 80-99% reduction in viability was achievable 48 hours after CAP treatment. Therefore, it is critical to select the appropriate CAP dose necessary for treating a specific cancer cell type.

Abstract: The disclosed technology is directed to a surgical instrument comprises a sheath having respective opposed proximal and distal ends. A pair of grasps is disposed on the distal-end portion of the sheath gripping a treatment target therebetween. A drive shaft is coupled to at least one of the pair of grasps to open or to close the pair of grasps by being moved along the longitudinal axis with respect to the sheath. Electric elements are used to apply treatment energy to the treatment target. A first operating device supplies the electric energy to the electric elements in a first supply state. A first member produces a force to open or close the pair of grasps and applies the force to the drive shaft. A second member is disposed in line with the first member and applies a force to the drive shaft in response to the operation input.

Abstract: The inventive device (10) can be used for tissue coagulation and/or tissue ablation. It comprises at least one electrode (16) that serves for generating a spark or plasma jet and is connectable to an electric source (20) for this purpose. The probe (11) is assigned to a measuring device (24) that emits and/or receives light in the proximity of the electrode (16) and determines the distance of the probe (11) from the tissue (36) and/or the tissue temperature and/or the composition of the influenced tissue (36). Preferably the measuring device (24) is operated synchronized with pulses or pauses of the pulse-pause-modulated radio frequency voltage (UHF) of the electrode (16) in order to simultaneously carry out the desired measurements during the operation of the instrument (11) and to feedback control the operation of the instrument (11) based on the gained measurement results.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an instrument shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and an interior passageway extending from the proximal end to the distal end, a first conduit fluidly coupled to the instrument shaft and being configured for selective connection to an irrigation source, and a second conduit fluidly coupled to the instrument shaft and being configured for selective connection to a vacuum source, wherein the instrument shaft is configured for percutaneous insertion without use of a trocar.

Abstract: A probe and method of using a probe are disclosed. The probe may comprise a first member, a tip, a second member, and a third member. The first member may have a first and second end portions. The tip may be configured to engaged to the first member at the second end portion. The second member may be configured to extend and be positioned within the first member. The third member may be configured to be disposed outward of the second member along at least a portion of the second member, engage an inner surface of the first member, and define to least one passage between the third member and the first member. The probe may be coupled to a fluid supply and return, and fluid may flow within the probe, including within the passage defined between the first and third members.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator capable of supplying energy in a waveform that causes electroporation in biological tissue. The electrosurgical generator may comprise an electroporation waveform supply unit that is integrated with an electromagnetic signal supply unit for generating microwave electromagnetic signals and radiofrequency electromagnetic signals for treatment. The electrosurgical generator may be configured to deliver different types of energy along a common feed cable. The electroporation waveform supply unit comprises a DC power supply and a DC pulse generator. The DC power supply may include a DC-DC converter for up-converting a voltage output by an adjustable voltage supply. Each DC pulse may have a duration in the range 1 ns to 10 ms and a maximum amplitude in the range 10 V to 10 kV.

Abstract: An ablation system includes multiple electrodes configured to contact body tissue of a patient, including two or more ablation electrodes for contacting respective locations in a target organ and a return electrode. A signal-generating unit includes multiple signal generators, which are configured to apply respective composite signals to respective ones of the ablation electrodes. The composite signals include multiple, respective signal components, including respective ablation signals, having different, respective ablation-signal amplitudes and phases at a common ablation-signal frequency, and respective probe signals having respective probe-signal amplitudes and different respective probe-signal frequencies. A processor is coupled to measure the probe signals received by each of the multiple electrodes, and responsively to the measured probe signals, to control the ablation-signal amplitudes and phases.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a catheter tip by electroplating a conductive material over an insert comprising a negative to a domelike shape thereby forming a shape of the catheter tip comprising a dome with the domelike shape, selectively positioning a plurality of irrigation holes between outer and inner surfaces of the catheter tip, removing the insert thereby leaving the catheter tip and the plurality of irrigation holes, and electropolishing the catheter tip. In other examples, the insert is not removed and instead the step of electroplating causes the insert to be encapsulated with the conductive material thereby forming the catheter tip.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides catheters for electroporation systems. One catheter includes a plurality of catheter electrodes disposed along a portion of a distal end of the electroporation catheter. The plurality of catheter electrodes includes a plurality of first type catheter electrodes adapted for use with an electroporation generator during an electroporation procedure and a plurality of second type catheter electrodes adapted for use with an electroporation generator during an electroporation procedure and for use with a diagnostic subsystem. The plurality of first type catheter electrodes is positioned at a distal end of the electroporation catheter. Each second type catheter electrode is adjacent another second type catheter electrode.

Abstract: The plasma sensor monitors parameters characterizing the condition of the plasma during the treatment phase and/or the change thereof in order to recognize a prefiguring or already occurred interruption of the plasma in this manner and to avoid this interruption and, in the ideal case, avoid this by already changing the voltage form previously. The mentioned mechanisms can be used by the control device (22) also during a pulse packet. The length of each pulse packet is adapted at each change of the voltage form according to their characteristics in order to guarantee a constant average power.

Abstract: A lung function analysis system includes motion sensing devices each including accelerometers, gyros, battery, processor, and ireless transmitter, the processor configured to read motion data from the accelerometers and gyros and transmit the motion data over the wireless transmitter. The system includes a data collection device receiving the motion data and recording the motion data in a database; and a computing device with a lung function data analysis routine adapted to analyze the motion data to provide information useful in treating pulmonary disease. In embodiments, the lung function analysis routine includes a classifier trained on a database of motion data and diagnoses. In embodiments, the accelerometers and gyros are three-axis and/or the devices include electromyographic sensors. In embodiments, the system includes remote sensors such as a stereo camera with or without markers, millimeter-wave radar, or an ultrasonic echolocation device.