Abstract: An end-effector and a surgical instrument including the end-effector are disclosed. The end-effector includes a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade configured to acoustically couple to an ultrasonic transducer and to electrically couple to a pole of an electrical generator. The clamp arm includes a clamp jaw, a cantilever electrode configured to electrically couple to an opposite pole of the electrical generator. The cantilever electrode is fixed to the clamp jaw at a proximal end and free to deflect at a distal end. The clamp arm includes control features to adjust a tissue path relative to the clamp arm to create a predefined location of contact.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods, systems, and devices for increasing heat shock protein expression and treating conditions for which increased heat shock protein expression is expected to be beneficial using thermal ablation.

Abstract: Lysing surgical instruments and related systems and methods. In some embodiments, the instrument may comprise a lysing tip comprising at least one bead. The at least one bead may comprise an at least substantially electrically non-conductive surface and at least one lysing member defining at least one lysing segment extending within a recess defined, at least in part, by the at least one bead. The at least one bead may also protrude both distally and proximally relative to the at least one lysing member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating lesions in a tissue comprising a puncturing member and a probe. The puncturing member comprises a body with a proximal portion comprising a hub, a distal portion comprising a conductive tip, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal portion. The probe comprises a handle at the proximal end and a probe body, wherein the probe body is dimensioned to extend through the lumen of the puncturing member, and wherein the probe body comprises at least one displacement portion that is biased to contact the inner wall of the puncturing member when the probe is inserted into the puncturing member, whereby when the probe body contacts the inner wall, energy is delivered from the probe to the conductive tip of the puncturing member.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for mapping and treating tissue during a medical procedure. In some cases, a device includes a mesh of wires with sensors coupled thereto. The device can be coupled to an expandable treatment element. The expandable treatment element can include multiple segments. The sensors can be used to map a tissue area and monitor the tissue during a medical procedure.

Abstract: The instant disclosure relates to electrophysiology catheter for tissue ablation. In particular, the instant disclosure relates to a system controller for facilitating an ablation therapy at a cryogenic ablation balloon. In an embodiment, an ablation an ablation catheter system comprising a catheter shaft including proximal and distal ends, a catheter handle coupled to a proximal end of the catheter shaft, a cryogenic ablation ballon coupled to the distal end of the catheter shaft, the ablation ballon configured and arranged to deliver a cryogenic ablation therapy to target tissue, an ablation system controller coupled to the catheter handle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of generating electrical signal waveforms by a generator. The generator includes a processor and a memory in communication with the processor. The memory defines a first and second table. The processor retrieves information from the first table defined in the memory, where the information is associated with a first wave shape of a first electrical signal waveform for performing a surgical procedure. The processor retrieves information from the second table defined in the memory, where the information is associated with a second wave shape of a second electrical signal waveform for performing a surgical procedure. The processor combines the first and second wave shapes to create a combined wave shape of an electrical signal waveform for performing a surgical procedure and the combined wave shape electrical signal waveform for performing a surgical procedure is delivered to a surgical instrument.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a needle for gaining access to the pericardial cavity of a heart. The needle includes an elongate member (e.g. a main shaft) defining a lumen and a side-port in fluid communication with the lumen; a blunt atraumatic tip for delivering energy for puncturing tissue; and a guiding surface (e.g. a ramp) for directing a device (e.g. a guidewire) through the side-port. The method includes using the needle for tenting a pericardium and delivering energy for puncturing the pericardium, and advancing a guidewire or other device through the needle and into the pericardial cavity.

Abstract: Methods for using a surgical device integrating a suction mechanism with a coagulation mechanism for improving lesion creation capabilities. The device comprises an elongate member having an insulative covering attached about means for coagulating soft tissue with at least one diagnostic element coupled to an energy transfer element of the device. Openings through the covering expose regions of the coagulation-causing elements and are coupled to lumens in the elongate member which are routed to a vacuum source and a fluid source to passively transport fluid along the contacted soft tissue surface in order to push the maximum temperature deeper into tissue.

Abstract: Systems and methods for forming a lesion on an endocardial tissue of a patient's heart involve placing an ablation assembly inside of the heart and adjacent to the endocardial tissue, and placing a guiding assembly outside of the heart. An ablation assembly includes an ablation element and a first attraction element, and a guiding assembly includes a second attraction element. First and second attraction elements can be attracted via magnetism. Techniques involve forming an ablation on the cardiac tissue of a patient's heart with an ablation element of the ablation assembly. Optionally, techniques may include moving the second attraction element of the guiding assembly relative to the patient's heart, so as to effect a corresponding movement of the ablation element of the ablation assembly.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument may comprise a pair of jaw members configured to move between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the pair of jaw members may be configured to exert a gripping force on material placed between working surfaces of the pair of jaw members. A first jaw member of the pair of jaw members may comprise a first electrode, and a second jaw member of the pair of jaw members may comprise a second electrode and a third electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a medical handpiece having a high frequency heating function. The medical handpiece includes: a needle unit including a needle holder installed outside a distal portion of a handpiece body portion and needles configured to protrude forward from the needle holder; a high-frequency generator configured to apply a high-frequency current to the needle to generate heat when the distal end of the needle is inserted into the epidermal layer; a drug delivery unit installed to deliver a drug to the needle; and a skin expansion member including a guide main body installed to protrude outward of the handpiece body portion and a pair of rotational expansion plates configured to expand a skin in both directions while rotating about a hinge shaft on both sides of a distal portion of the guide main body.

Abstract: A self-contained, battery powered transseptal crossing system is disclosed. An elongate, flexible electrically conductive needle body has a proximal end and a distal end. An insulation layer surrounds the sidewall and leaves exposed a distal electrode tip. A generator is configured to deliver RF energy to the electrode tip, and includes a processor configured to take impedance measurements at the tip to confirm contact with the intra atrial septum and/or confirm entry into the left atrium.

Abstract: The invention provides a cartridge assembly to couple a tissue treatment device with an electrosurgical unit, with the cartridge assembly operable with a power delivery apparatus and a fluid delivery apparatus of the electrosurgical unit. The invention also provides an electrosurgical unit comprising a power delivery apparatus and a fluid delivery apparatus operable with the cartridge assembly and a system thereof.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing ablation are disclosed. An example system for performing ablation on a tissue includes a catheter having at least one lumen in which a first optical fiber configured to carry a first light beam is disposed and a second optical fiber configured to carry a second light beam is disposed, and a processor being configured to measure a volume of blood within the target site of the tissue using a blood perfusion sensor, determine that the volume of blood within the target site is below a predetermined threshold based on one or more characteristics detected by the blood perfusion sensor, each characteristic being associated with at least one of the first light beam and the second light beam, and perform the ablation on the target site of the tissue when the volume of blood within the target site is below the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A device positionable in a cavity of a bodily organ (e.g., a heart) may discriminate between fluid (e.g., blood) and non-fluid tissue (e.g., wall of heart) to provide information or a mapping indicative of a position and/or orientation of the device in the cavity. Discrimination may be based on flow, or some other characteristic, for example electrical permittivity or force. The device may selectively ablate portions of the non-fluid tissue based on the information or mapping. The device may detect characteristics (e.g., electrical potentials) indicative of whether ablation was successful. The device may include a plurality of transducers, intravascularly guided in an unexpanded configuration and positioned proximate the non-fluid tissue in an expanded configuration. Expansion mechanism may include helical member(s) or inflatable member(s).

Abstract: An electrosurgical device for puncturing tissue comprises an electrically conductive elongate member which is capable of force transmission from a distal portion of the electrosurgical device to a proximal portion of the electrosurgical device to thereby provide tactile feedback to a user. The proximal portion comprises a connector system for connecting a source of energy and a source of fluid to an electrosurgical device. The connector system includes a hub which includes an electrically conductive lengthwise member having a lengthwise member distal region and a lengthwise member proximal region. The lengthwise member defines a hub lumen therebetween and is configured to be operatively coupled to an electrosurgical device.

Abstract: Methods for treating tissue with irreversible electroporation and immunotherapy are described. The methods include placing a probe in tissue within a human body, wherein the probe has at least a first electrode, applying a plurality of electrical pulses through the first electrode and a second electrode, causing irreversible electroporation (IRE) of the tissue within a target ablation zone, and administering one or more exogenous agents into the tissue within the target ablation zone or to the human, thereby stimulating or otherwise modulating an immune system response within the body.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are cryoablation devices and methods of using the same, including to ablate gallbladders. In certain implementations, the device is a catheter that has an expandable cryogen balloon for expansion within a gallbladder and at least one suction opening for applying suction within the gallbladder. According to other implementations, the device has a cryogen probe and a suction catheter slidably positioned on the probe.

Abstract: A modular surgical system for use in a surgical procedure is disclosed. The modular surgical system includes a control module, a first surgical module arrangeable in a stack configuration with the control module, and a second surgical module arrangeable in a stack configuration with the control module and the first surgical module. The first surgical module includes a first counter module, a first stop-counter module configured to receive a sequence signal that causes the first stop-counter module to disable the first counter module from incrementing at a first final count, and a first delay module. The second surgical module includes a second counter module and a second stop-counter module configured to receive the sequence signal from the first surgical module after a predetermined delay. The sequence signal causes the second stop-counter module to disable the second counter module from incrementing at a second final count.