Abstract: A method of controlling a function of a surgical instrument of a surgical robot with a input of a user interface includes selecting a function of a surgical instrument to link a input of the user interface with the function of the surgical instrument, actuating the input to activate the function of the surgical instrument, and delinking the input from the surgical instrument in response to an event of the surgical robot or the user interface.

Abstract: Control systems and methods for delivery of energy that may include control algorithms that prevent energy delivery if a fault is detected and may provide energy delivery to produce a substantially constant temperature at a delivery site. In some embodiments, the control systems and methods may be used to control the delivery of energy, such as radiofrequency energy, to body tissue, such as lung tissue.

Abstract: A surgical end effector may comprise first and second jaw members. The second jaw member may comprise an offset proximal supply electrode that is positioned to contact an opposing member of the first jaw member when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position. The second jaw member may also comprise a distal supply electrode that is positioned distal of the offset proximal electrode and is aligned with a conductive surface of the first jaw member when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position. When the first and second jaw members are in the closed position, the proximal supply electrode may be in contact with the opposing member and the distal supply electrode is not in contact with the conductive surface of the first jaw member.

Abstract: An ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability and an ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil with argon beam capability that are both capable of using monopolar energy in a bipolar mode for cutting and coagulation and using ionized gas for cutting and coagulation.

Abstract: Provided is a high frequency hyperthermia device which includes a main body (110) which includes a high frequency generator (114) which generates high frequency currents using drive power, a hand piece (120) which is connected to the main body (110) through a cable (140) and in which a handle (121) to be gripped by a user is disposed on an upper portion of the hand piece (120), and four or more contact electrodes (122), through which the high frequency currents being supplied are applied to skin (S) in contact with the contact electrodes (122) to generate deep heat in an internal body, are disposed on a lower surface of the hand piece (120), and an alternating switch (130) which is disposed between and connected to the high frequency generator (114) and the contact electrodes (122) in a circuit manner and which supplies the high frequency currents output from the high frequency generator (114) to the contact electrode (122), wherein the contact electrodes (122) are divided into pairs each having two contact e

Abstract: A surgical system that illuminates a surgical site using one or more illumination means is powered by radiofrequency energy produced by an electrosurgical generator. Illumination may occur whether or not current is being delivered from an active electrode to target tissue.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector assembly including first and second grasping components each defining a tissue-contacting portion. One or both of the grasping components is movable relative to the other to a closed position wherein the tissue-contacting portions cooperate to define a grasping area therebetween. One or both of the grasping components is configured to apply energy from the tissue-contacting portion thereof to tissue disposed within the grasping area to treat tissue. The tissue-contacting portion of the first grasping component defines a first opening disposed within the grasping area and in communication with a first lumen defined at least partially through the first grasping component. The first lumen is adapted to connect to a source of vacuum to enable aspiration through the first opening.

Abstract: An ablation needle device can maintain flexibility of an injection needle even when the length of an electrode constituted at a distal end portion thereof is increased and can perform cooling with small nonuniformity in the electrode during ablation. The ablation needle device includes: a hollow needle that is composed of a proximal end portion that is insulation-coated and a distal end portion constituting an electrode; a hub that includes a liquid injection port and a discharge port; an electric connector; a thermocouple; and cooling liquid introducing pipes each of which extends in the inside of the hollow needle, each of which has a distal end positioned in the inside of the distal end portion of the hollow needle, and each of which ejects liquid injected from the injection port from a distal end opening thereof.

Abstract: An electrosurgical end effector for a surgical tool to perform teleoperated surgical operations. The electrosurgical end effector comprises a first end effector jaw; a second end effector jaw coupled to the first end effector jaw; and a coupling pin configured to rotatingly couple the first end effector jaw to the second end effector jaw so as to cooperatively rotate open and close about an axis of rotation. The electrosurgical end effector further comprises an actuation mechanism coupled to an end of the first end effector jaw to rotate the first end effector jaw about the coupling pin; an otomy feature coupled to the second end effector jaw; and a first electrical conductor to electrically couple the otomy feature to a generator. In one embodiment, the otomy feature is electrically activated by contact with a cam portion of the first end effector jaw, when opened beyond a predetermined jaw angle.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an outer tube configured to be gripped by a user, and a needle slidably disposed within the outer tube. The needle includes a needle lumen, a distal needle tip configured to pierce tissue, and an electrode disposed at the distal needle tip. The needle lumen opens to the distal needle tip such that the distal needle tip is configured to deliver fluid from the needle lumen to tissue. The electrode is operable to deliver RF energy to tissue for ablating the tissue. The needle is translatable relative to the outer tube between a proximal retracted position in which the distal needle tip is housed coaxially within the outer tube, and a distal extended position in which the distal needle tip is exposed from the outer tube and configured to pierce tissue.

Abstract: Method for ameliorating secondary pulmonary hypertension in a patient including determining a pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) of the patient suffering from secondary pulmonary hypertension; assessing a change in the PVR in response to a selection treatment; and treating the patient with a pulmonary artery manipulation device to provide pulmonary artery denervation if the patient is determined to suffer from fixed PH, thereby ameliorating the secondary pulmonary hypertension of the patient.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions when executed, cause the generator to provide an indicated treatment energy to the instrument, where the indicated treatment energy is set by a user and having a corresponding current limit, receive signals from the instrument over time relating to a load impedance between the active electrode and the return electrode of the instrument, determine based on the signals that the active electrode and the return electrode are currently shorted together, and prior to the short, the instrument was grasping tissue between the active electrode and the return electrode, and based on the determination, reduce a current limit of treatment energy being provided to the instrument to below the corresponding current limit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a medical RF apparatus using an RF pulse, comprising an RF generator, which generates a test pulse for detecting characteristics of tissue; a monitoring unit, which monitors the change in the information on the tissue state while the test pulse is transmitted to the tissue; and a measurement unit, which determines the tissue characteristics of a patient by comparing the values monitored in the monitoring unit with the reference data; and a method for controlling the same.

Abstract: A system and method for use with an electrosurgical system for delivering energy to tissue wherein the system includes a generator having a maximum power, at least two channels, and a plurality of probes. The method includes a control system allocating power proportionally to the plurality of probes whereby the probes reach a predetermined threshold without significant delays.

Abstract: The invention includes a system for generating virtual images of proposed and designated areas on a patient's anatomy that are to be treated in a RFA procedure. The images include a size, shape, and location of lesion/ablation patterns. The virtual images include dynamic (developing) or static (developed) lesions selected for the RFA procedure. The images are provided on at least one user interface that superimposes or overlays the lesion pattern(s) on an image of a patient's anatomy that undergoes the procedure. The images can be used to accurately and efficiently conduct RFA procedures and to record the procedures with enhanced visual data to confirm treated tissue areas. The invention further includes a diagnostic method of generating images in preparation for a RFA procedure, and a method of conducting the RFA procedure in which measured parameters determine the size and shape of the ablated areas achieved in the procedure.

Abstract: A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure at a surgical site on a patient includes continually sensing electrical and physical properties proximate the surgical site that includes acquiring readings of tissue electrical impedance with respect to time at the surgical site; identifying the minima and maxima of the impedance readings with respect to time; and correlating the minima and/or the maxima of the impedance readings with hydration level and/or hydraulic conductivity in the tissue at the surgical site. The method also includes controlling the application of electrosurgical energy to the surgical site to vary energy delivery based on the step of correlating the minima and/or the maxima of the impedance readings with the hydration level/or and the hydraulic conductivity in the tissue at the surgical site. The process may be an ablation process.

Abstract: Tumor ablation devices and related systems and methods are disclosed. Some tumor ablation devices include an RF energy delivery probe with two conductors and one or more thermocouples. The thermocouple measures a temperature at a location on one of the conductors. A generator can produce a current to be conducted between the first conductor and the second conductor via tissue within a desired ablation region. The ablation regions created by the RF energy delivery probe are symmetric about poles of the first conductor and the second conductor. A distal portion of the RF energy delivery probe may articulate, enabling a user to position the RF energy delivery probe in a proper position to ablate the tumor. The thermocouples may be disposed on a flexible or wired thermocouple circuit that is disposed between insulators.

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, a knife, and a knife deployment mechanism. The knife deployment mechanism has one or more safety features that resist an inadvertent deployment of the knife.

Abstract: Methods and devices for treating nasal airways are provided. Such devices and methods may improve airflow through an internal and/or external nasal valve, and comprise the use of mechanical re-shaping, energy application and other treatments to modify the shape, structure, and/or air flow characteristics of an internal nasal valve, an external nasal valve or other nasal airways.

Abstract: A medical imaging system comprising: a microwave antenna array comprising a transmitting antenna and a plurality of receiving antennae, wherein the transmitting antenna is configured to transmit microwave signals so as to illuminate a body part of a patient and the receiving antennae are configured to receive the microwave signals following scattering within the body part; a processor configured to process the scattered microwave signals and generate an output indicative of the internal structure of the body part to identify a target within the body part; and an ablation probe comprising an ablation needle movable relative to the microwave antenna array; wherein the receiving antennae are further configured to receive microwave signals scattered or emitted by the ablation needle and the processor is further configured to monitor a position of the ablation needle and to guide the ablation needle to the identified target within the body part which it can be used to perform an ablation procedure.