Abstract: A surgical instrument configured to deliver electrical energy to the tissue of a patient is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a frame, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a guard movable between a first position and a second position. The surgical instrument further comprises a spring positioned intermediate the guard and the frame. The spring is configured to bias the guard into the first position. When the guard is in the first position, a distal end of the guard is positioned at least flush with distal ends of the first electrode and the second electrode, which prevents current from arcing between the first electrode and the second electrode. When the guard is in the second position, the distal end of the guard is in contact with the tissue, which prevents current from arcing between the first electrode and the second electrode without passing through the tissue.

Abstract: A microwave device for the ablation of biological tissues including a coaxial antenna, including an internal conductor, surrounded by a layer of dielectric material, an external conductor coaxial to the dielectric metal tip electrically connected to the internal conductor, and a quarter wave impedance transformer including a sleeve made of dielectric material having a proximal end covered with a layer of metal, the metal extending over nearly a quarter wavelength of electromagnetic field in the dielectric at the operating frequency of the device or of odd multiples of the quarter wavelength, the layer of metal material being connected electrically to the external conductor.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for delivering radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) energy and microwave frequency EM energy from a coaxial feed cable through an instrument tip into tissue. The instrument tip comprises a dielectric body separating first and second conductive elements, which act as active and return electrodes to convey the RF EM radiation by conduction, and as an antenna to radiate the microwave EM radiation. The instrument also has a fluid feed incorporated into its tip, e.g. in an additional dielectric element mounted on the underside of the tip, for delivering fluid. The delivered fluid may be a gas plasma to assist treatment or a liquid to plump up a tissue region before treatment. The instrument may fit in an endoscope.

Abstract: A heat treatment device with a handle portion, a tip portion, a power source, and a heating element. The tip portion is heatable to a desired temperature and can be positioned against an affected area for therapeutic treatment. The device can also have control circuitry that can adjust a current flowing to the heating element to regulate the treatment temperature.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical device includes a handle and an elongated end effector coupled to the handle. The end effector includes an elongated, insulating body having first and second electrodes disposed thereon. The first and second electrodes are separated at the distal end of the insulating body, and a cavity formed in the distal end of the effector is positioned between the first and second electrodes. A fluid-delivery tube is positioned on the body to deliver a conductive fluid to the distal end, adjacent the cavity. During use of the electrosurgical device, delivery of the conductive fluid facilitates formation of an electrical coupling between the electrodes via the tissue being treated.

Abstract: An endoscopic forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom. An end effector assembly is operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of pivotably coupled first and second jaw members. The jaw members are movable relative to one another. A drive mechanism includes a driving structure. A link assembly includes two or more links that are operably coupled to each other and the drive structure. The two or more links are operably coupled to respective ones of the first and second jaw members.

Abstract: A catheter assembly for assessing contact between the catheter assembly and tissue is disclosed. The assembly includes a catheter shaft and a pressure sensitive conductive composite member whose electrical resistance varies with pressure applied to the catheter assembly. The assembly also includes at least one measurement terminal to permit the measurement of changes in the electrical characteristics of the pressure sensitive conductive composite member. The assembly may optionally include a measurement device to measure resistance, impedance and/or other electrical characteristics. The assembly may utilize a reference electrode secured to the patient's tissue, which permits the measurement device to measure changes between the reference electrode and the at least one measurement terminal. Optionally, the assembly may include a conductive outer layer.

Abstract: An elongated electrode includes a proximal conductor, a tubular member, and a treatment portion. The tubular member defines a channel therethrough and has proximal and distal end portions. The proximal end portion receives the proximal conductor within a portion of the channel and defines a hole through an inner and outer surface of the tubular member in fluid communication with the channel. The treatment portion is coupled to the distal end portion of the tubular member and includes a base and an arm extending distally from the base. The base defines a port in fluid communication with the channel of the tubular member. The arm is in electrical communication with the proximal conductor and is configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue.

Abstract: A microwave ablation system and method is disclosed comprising a balloon catheter apparatus and a control system. The balloon catheter apparatus comprises a catheter configured to house a coaxial cable and one or more coolant channels, an inflatable balloon located at the distal end of the catheter, and an antenna positioned in the inflatable balloon and in communication with the coaxial cable. The control system comprises a fluid pump configured to introduce fluid into a proximal end of the catheter, a power amplifier capable of generating microwave energy for delivery to the target tissue zone for at least one energy application cycle ranging from 60 seconds to 600 seconds at a frequency ranging from 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz, and a computer system configured to monitor and/or regulate the delivery of microwave energy to the target tissue, the fluid pump, at least one sensor, and antenna reflected power.

Abstract: A medical imaging and therapy device is provided that may include any of a number of features. The device may include a Histotripsy transducer, a generator and controller configured to deliver Histotripsy energy from the transducer to target tissue, and an imaging system. In some embodiments, a method of treating tissue with Histotripsy energy comprises positioning a focus of a histotripsy transducer on a target tissue, delivering histotripsy energy from the histotripsy transducer through a bone aberrator, forming a histotripsy bubble cloud on the focus, and preventing the formation of secondary histotripsy bubble clouds without implementing an aberration correction algorithm.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method of treating a subject having diabetes or symptoms associated with diabetes is provided. The method includes delivering a neuromodulation catheter within a vessel (e.g., hepatic artery) having surrounding nerves that innervate the liver (e.g., sympathetic nerves of the hepatic plexus). The method may also include modulating (e.g., disrupting, ablating, stimulating) the nerves by mechanical compression, energy delivery, or fluid delivery.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a medical device for providing treatment to diseased tissue and cells. The medical device is configured to ablate a target tissue surface, optionally within a resection cavity, and further deliver a therapeutic that targets diseased (e.g., cancer) cells via a marker whose expression is upregulated by the ablation. The ablation directly kills diseased cells associated with the tissue surface. While some diseased cells evade direct ablation, those cells nevertheless upregulate certain cell surface markers in response to the ablation, even while other, healthy or normal cells do not upregulate expression of the marker in response to the ablation. Devices and methods disclosed herein are used to deliver a therapeutic that uses the upregulated cell surface marker to cause the death of those diseased cells.

Abstract: A method of implanting a lead in the left heart cavity includes introducing the lead into the right heart cavity. The lead includes a lead body having a deformable sheath, a proximal end having an electrical connector, a distal end including a projecting helical screw electrode, and a conductor extending along the sheath, electrically connecting the electrical connector and the helical screw. The method further includes positioning the distal end of the lead to abut a septum wall between the right and left heart cavity. The electrical connector is connected to an RF puncture generator and RF energy is applied to the screw while providing rotational movement to the screw for advancement through the septum wall. The method further includes positioning the screw at a target stimulation site in the left heart cavity and providing rotational movement to the screw to anchor the lead at the target site.

Abstract: A microwave providing device is provided, which is capable of effectively extending the coagulation range of a treatment target tissue by setting the conditions for intermittently providing microwaves. An output controller controls a microwave generator based on a first efficiency of dielectric heating by microwaves with respect to a cumulative radiation period of microwaves radiated intermittently to a treatment target tissue S and a second efficiency of dielectric heating by microwaves with respect to a cumulative radiation period of microwaves radiated continuously to the treatment target tissue so that microwaves are intermittently radiated at least after a reference cumulative radiation period that is set in advance as a cumulative radiation period at which the first efficiency becomes larger than the second efficiency.

Abstract: A steerable stylet assembly includes a tubular member defining a passage, the tubular member defining a first bend enhancing region. At least one further bend enhancing region is arranged intermediate the first bend enhancing region and a distal end of the tubular member. A first actuator is received in the passage of the tubular member, a distal end of the first actuator being fast with the tubular member at a first termination so that relative axial movement between the tubular member and the first actuator causes deflection at the first enhancing region. A second actuator is received in the passage of the tubular member, a distal end of the second actuator being fast with the tubular member at a second termination so that relative axial movement between the tubular member and the second actuator causes the distal part of the tubular member to be formed into a desired shape. The assembly includes a control mechanism to control relative axial movement between the tubular member and each of the actuators.

Abstract: A cryotreatment catheter for treating tissue. The catheter may include an outer elongate body, a balloon treatment element coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body with a plurality of balloon lobes radially arranged around the outer elongate body, an inner elongate body rotatably movable within the lumen of the outer elongate body, and a fluid delivery lumen located within the lumen of the outer elongate body and at least partially within the lumen of the inner elongate body. The fluid delivery lumen may be branched at a distal portion into a plurality of linear segments, each linear segment being in fluid communication with one of the plurality of balloon lobes. Each of the balloon lobes may be inflated independently of each other by the linear segments of the fluid delivery lumen.

Abstract: A treatment instrument includes a treatment body that includes a treatment surface provided in the first clamp surface, the treatment surface protruding toward the second clamp surface in response to the supply of heat energy and increasing pressure on the living tissue to treat the living tissue in cooperation with the action of the heat energy.

Abstract: An RF ablation system includes an electrode element of elongate form and a cathode pad. A control unit includes a processing unit, a power unit and, optionally, a temperature sensor and/or an impedance sensor. The control unit in one embodiment carries out RF ablation in at least two phases, the first phase at a higher energy level and a second phase, after at least partial retraction of the anode element, at a second lower phase in order to close any remaining lumen within a blood clot formed within the vessel during the first phase. Other embodiments provide for sensing retraction of the anode terminal and effecting RF ablation during and/or after the retraction process in order to create a more effective occlusion barrier.

Abstract: An electrosurgical method and device for simultaneously cutting and coagulating tissue with an electrosurgical device having an electrode and a channel wherein said channel has a port near a proximal end of said electrode, wherein the method comprises the steps of causing an inert gas to flow through said channel and exit said port, applying high-frequency energy to said electrode while said inert gas flows through said channel, wherein said high-frequency energy applied to said electrode continuously plasmatizes inert gas exiting said port, initiating an electrical discharge from said electrode through said continuously plasmatized inert gas to said tissue, cutting tissue with said electrode, maintaining said electrical discharge from said electrode through said plasmatized inert gas while cutting tissue with said electrode to cause coagulation of said tissue simultaneously with said cutting.

Abstract: A tissue ablation system comprises an ablation source, such as an RF ablation source, configured for generating a common power signal, and a power multiplexor configured for splitting the power signal into first and second power signals, substantially attenuating the second power signal relative to the first power signal to create nominal and attenuated power signals, and sequentially delivering the nominal power signal to each tissue ablation probe, while delivering the attenuated power signal to the remaining ablation probes to which the nominal power signal is currently not delivered.