Abstract: A system for monitoring ablation size is provided and includes a power source including a microprocessor for executing at least one control algorithm. A microwave antenna is configured to deliver microwave energy from the power source to tissue to form an ablation zone. A radiation detection device is operably disposed on the microwave antenna. The radiation detection device is configured to generate a voltage corresponding to a radius of the ablation zone, wherein the radiation detection device is in operative communication with at least one module associated with the power source. The at least one module triggers a signal when a predetermined threshold voltage is measured corresponding to the radius of the ablation zone.

Abstract: Cardiac ablation is carried out by placing two ablation electrodes on opposite sides of a wall of the heart to generally oppose one another. The effective current transmission area of one of the electrodes is then varied according to the distance between the two electrodes or the thickness of the wall. Sufficient electrical current is transmitted between the two electrodes to achieve transmural ablation.

Abstract: The high-frequency treatment tool includes a flexible tube inserted into a body cavity; an operating wire inserted through the flexible tube to be movable back and forth; a treatment part arranged on a distal end of the operating wire and treats biological tissue by applying a high-frequency current; a main body that fixes a base end of the flexible tube; a slider-fixing part that fixes a base end of the operating wire guided from the base end of the flexible tube and slides the operating wire in an axis direction with respect to the main body; and a slider-zipping part provided to encircle at least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the slider-fixing part and slides the slider-fixing part by the operation of a user. The slider-fixing part is unrotatably coupled to the main body and the slider-gripping part is rotatably coupled to the slider-fixing part.

Abstract: Tissue is treated using a radiofrequency power supply connected to an applicator having a chamber filled with an electrically non-conductive gas surrounded by a thin dielectric wall. A radiofrequency voltage is applied at a level sufficient to ionize the gas into a plasma and to capacitively couple the ionized plasma with the tissue to deliver radiofrequency current to ablate or otherwise treat the tissue.

Abstract: A surgical device and procedure for accessing tissue to perform microsurgery, including a capsulotomy of a lens capsule of an eye. The device includes a handpiece with a tip for insertion into an incision. A sliding element is disposed within the handpiece and a suction cup is mounted to the sliding element. The sliding element can be translated to move the suction cup into and out of the handpiece. A compression mechanism associated with the suction cup and the handpiece compresses the suction cup for deployment through the tip of the handpiece. The suction cup can expand inside the anterior chamber into a cutting position. A cutting element mounted to the suction cup is used to cut a portion and to remove the portion. The cutting element may be mounted to a cutting element support structure in a way that prevents heating of the device.

Abstract: A device for use in performing minimally invasive surgery. A system for performing minimally invasive surgery comprising the device according to the present invention. A method for performing minimally invasive surgery.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument, in particular for argon plasma coagulation, includes a handpiece 10, an electrode (11) connected to the handpiece (10), a shaft (12) which surrounds the electrode (11) and is held in the handpiece (10), and an operating mechanism (13), which comprises at least one rotary knob (14) arranged on the handpiece (10). The shaft (12) is axially movable relative to the electrode (11) and a shear force can be applied to it by operating the rotary knob (14). The handpiece (10) has a brake device which exerts a braking force on the shaft (12), and the operating mechanism (13) forms a transmission gear (15) which is connected to the shaft (12) for transferring the shear force.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus related to ablation catheter systems with wireless temperature sensing. The present subject matter provides an ablation catheter system including an ablation catheter configured to ablate a target zone of tissue and at least one temperature sensitive resonator coupled to the ablation catheter. The resonator is configured to wirelessly emit a signal indicative of a sensed temperature in response to an interrogation signal. The ablation catheter system also includes an external device configured to provide the interrogation signal and to receive and decode the emitted signal from the resonator. The temperature sensitive resonator is configured to be placed proximate to and in thermal conduction with the target zone of tissue and to resonate at a frequency dependent upon a temperature of the resonator when excited by the interrogation signal, in various embodiments.

Abstract: A system and method for applying energy, particularly high-frequency (HF) energy, such as radiofrequency (RF) electrical energy, to a living body can include a cannula hub.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to surgical systems comprising an end-effector assembly and arm assembly. The end-effector assembly may include a first instrument assembly having a first instrument and first instrument driven portion configurable to be driven to move the first instrument relative to a first axis. The arm assembly may include first and second arm assembly bodies, first arm assembly joint portion for joining the first and second arm assembly bodies, first instrument drive assembly, and first arm assembly drive assembly. The first instrument drive assembly may include a first integrated motor and first instrument drive portion controllable by the first integrated motor to drive the first instrument driven portion. The first arm assembly drive assembly may include a second integrated motor and first arm assembly drive portion controllable by the second integrated motor to drive the first arm assembly body to move relative to the second arm assembly body.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for electroporation ablation therapy are disclosed, with the system including a pulse waveform signal generator for medical ablation therapy, and an endocardial ablation device includes at least one electrode for ablation pulse delivery to tissue. The signal generator may deliver voltage pulses to the ablation device in the form of a pulse waveform. The system may include a cardiac stimulator for generation of pacing signals and for sequenced delivery of pulse waveforms in synchrony with the pacing signal.

Abstract: Example surgical systems include end-effector assembly, arm assembly, and elbow joint assembly. Arm assembly includes proximal and distal ends. Elbow joint assembly secures proximal end of arm assembly to distal end of second arm assembly. Elbow joint assembly includes first and second elbow joint portions. First elbow joint portion includes first end section secured to proximal end of arm assembly, second end section, and first joint joining first and second end sections of first elbow joint portion. Second elbow joint portion includes first end section secured to second end section of first elbow joint portion, second end section secured to distal end of second arm assembly, and second joint joining first and second end sections of second elbow joint portion. First end section of first and second elbow joint portion are pivotable relative to first and second axes, respectively, formed by center line drawn through first and second joints, respectively.

Abstract: A removable electrode assembly for use in combination with a forceps having opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting movement of the end effectors relative to one another. The electrode assembly includes a housing which is removably engageable with the forceps and a pair of electrodes which are attachable to a distal end of the housing. The electrodes are removably engageable with the end effectors of the forceps such that the electrodes reside in opposing relation relative to one another. The electrode assembly also includes a cover plate which is removably attachable to the housing and at least one stop member for controlling the distance between the opposing electrodes. The stop member is selectively engageable with the electrodes.

Abstract: A treatment instrument includes: a first treatment section which includes a first body including a first contact surface and a second body including a second contact surface; a movement mechanism which is configured to switch between a closed position in which the first contact surface and the second contact surface are close to each other, and an opened position in which the first contact surface and the second contact surface are distant from each other; and a second treatment section which is disposed on a distal side along the longitudinal axis with respect to the first treatment section when the first contact surface and the second contact surface are located in the closed position, and which is configured to apply energy to the living tissue to incise or separate the living tissue.

Abstract: Devices and methods for providing access to the pericardial cavity while reducing risk of myocardial damage. One method includes advancing a distal end of a puncture device towards the heart from a subxiphoid region of a patient wherein the distal end of the puncture device is atraumatic and comprises an energy delivery device; positioning the energy delivery device at a target site on a pericardium of the heart using ultrasound for imaging; and delivering energy from the energy delivery device to a tissue of the target site to create a channel to the pericardial cavity. The method may include repeating one or more of the above steps until the energy delivery device is located within the pericardial cavity. Some embodiments of the method include using supplemental means of monitoring, including medical imaging and using contrast fluid.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to surgical devices, systems, and methods. The system may include an end-effector assembly. The end-effector assembly may comprise an instrument assembly and a wrist assembly. The instrument assembly may comprise an instrument for performing a surgical action. The instrument assembly may further comprise an instrument driven portion configurable to be driven in such a way as to move the instrument relative to a first axis. The instrument assembly may further comprise an instrument insulative portion providable between the instrument and the instrument driven portion. The instrument insulative portion may be configurable to electrically isolate the instrument from at least the instrument driven portion when the instrument insulative portion is provided between the instrument and the instrument driven portion. The wrist assembly may include a wrist driven portion configurable to be driven in such a way as to move the instrument relative to a second axis.

Abstract: An aspect of various embodiments of the present invention system and method provide, but not limited thereto, a novel means for epicardial ablation using a double-curve steerable sheath and a double-curve deflectable open irrigated-tip/suction catheter that can be guided around the apex of the heart and adjusted so as to position the distal tip optimally. The catheter can also both deliver fluid to and withdraw fluid from the pericardial space. Access to the epicardial surface of the heart is via a subxiphoid entry. The method and means presented include, but are not limited to, steering, energy delivery, bipolar mapping, placement and use of electrodes, irrigation, suction of irrigation fluid, and other details of the subject invention.

Abstract: A method and system for performing pulmonary vein isolation, mapping, and assessing pulmonary vein occlusion using a single device. The device may generally include an ablation element, such as a cryoballoon, and a sensing component slidably disposed within a lumen of the device and bearing one or more mapping electrodes and one or more pressure sensors. The method may generally include mapping cardiac electrical signals within a heart and/or pulmonary vein, positioning a distal portion of the sensing component within a pulmonary vein, advancing the ablation element until it is in contact with the pulmonary vein ostium, recording blood pressure measurements within the pulmonary vein with the one or more pressure sensors to assess pulmonary vein occlusion, and activating the treatment element when the pulmonary vein is completely occluded. The sensing component may have a straight or hooped configuration, or a configuration therebetween.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating rhinitis are described where the devices are configured to ablate a single nerve branch or multiple nerve branches of the posterior nasal nerves located within the nasal cavity. A surgical probe may be inserted into the sub-mucosal space of a lateral nasal wall and advanced towards a posterior nasal nerve associated with a middle nasal turbinate or an inferior nasal turbinate into a position proximate to the posterior nasal nerve where neuroablation of the posterior nasal nerve may be performed with the surgical probe. The probe device may utilize a visible light beacon that provides trans-illumination of the sub-mucosal tissue or an expandable structure disposed in the vicinity of the distal end of the probe shaft to enable the surgeon to visualize the sub-mucosal position of the distal end of the surgical probe from inside the nasal cavity using, e.g., an endoscope.

Abstract: A method of non-thermally ablating undesirable tissue in the body by application of pulsed, bi-polar, instant charge reversal electrical fields of sufficient energy to cause complete and immediate cell membrane rupture and destruction. Energy is delivered through radio frequency pulses of particular frequencies, wave characteristics, pulse widths and pulse numbers, such that enhanced physical stresses are placed on the cell membrane to cause its immediate and complete destruction thereby spilling the entire cell content and membrane constituents into the extracellular space without denaturing proteins so as to enable an immunological response to destroy and remove the target tissue and similarly marked tissue elsewhere in the subject.