Abstract: A lumen-apposing access system may include a catheter and a cauterization tip. The cauterization tip may include a biasing member and a cautery element. The cauterization tip may move relative to the catheter between a first position in which the cautery element is electrically inactive, and a second position in which the cautery element is electrically active. The biasing member biases the cautery element in the first position.

Abstract: The grasping treatment instrument includes a jaw including first and second rims and a recess with a bottom surface, and a grasping member with a ridge. When the grasping member is positioned at a first position, a component of the ridge between a second rotary axis and a distal end of the ridge protrudes to the opposite side from the bottom surface of the recess with respect to the first and second rims. When the grasping member is positioned at a second position, a component of the ridge between the second rotary axis and a proximal end of the ridge protrudes to the opposite side from the bottom surface of the recess with respect to the first and second rims.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongate shaft having a proximal shaft portion and a malleable distal shaft portion. The elongate shaft is configured to be secured to a supporting surgical instrument. An ablation head is coupled to the malleable distal shaft portion and includes at least one electrode operable to deliver RF energy to tissue for ablating the tissue. The ablation head is sized to fit within the nasal cavity of a patient with a distal end of the supporting surgical instrument. The proximal shaft portion is configured to operatively couple with an RF energy source operable to energize the at least one electrode with RF energy. The malleable distal shaft portion is configured to bend relative to a longitudinal shaft axis defined by the proximal shaft portion for selectively orienting the ablation head relative to the longitudinal shaft axis.

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: 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: A forceps includes an instrument housing, an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the instrument housing, and a rotation knob assembly. The rotation knob assembly is supported in the instrument housing and includes a rotation knob and an inner housing. The rotation knob is coupled to the shaft assembly and positioned to rotate about the inner housing to rotate the elongated shaft assembly relative to the instrument housing. The inner housing is coupled to the instrument housing and supports electrical contacts configured to transmit electrical energy through the rotation knob assembly.

Abstract: Provided is a medical device comprising an inner tubular member, an outer tubular member having a distal end and an open window disposed at the distal end, a first electrode and/or a second electrode disposed at the distal end of the outer tubular member, and a cannulated plunger or armature or shaft configured to drive the inner tubular member to cut tissue in cooperation with the open window of the outer tubular member. The first electrode and the second electrode may be configured to provide RF energy needed for a surgical operation and may be configured to be substantially symmetrical or asymmetrical along a longitudinal axis of the outer tubular member.

Abstract: A treatment instrument includes a rotating body and a housing. The rotating body includes a connecting portion including: a supported portion having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface, and an engaged portion that is adjacent to the supported surface. The housing includes a supporting portion that is configured to support the supported portion of the rotating body, the supporting portion being rotatable around a predetermined rotation axis; and an engaging portion that is configured to generate a frictional force larger than a frictional force between the supporting portion and the supported portion by coming into contact with the engaged portion.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device includes an elongated shaft, an active electrode, and a return electrode. The elongated shaft has an end effector that is operably engaged with a distal portion thereof and a channel defined therethrough. The distal portion of the elongated shaft includes a distal tip that is configured to provide suction from a suction surface to the distal tip through the channel. The end effector may include a flare a proximal end thereof. The active electrode is positioned adjacent the distal tip of the elongated shaft and is configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue. The return electrode is positioned on an outer surface of the end effector proximal of the active electrode. The return electrode is configured to provide a return path for the electrosurgical energy.

Abstract: A vapor delivery device includes an induction coil system. The induction coil system can include a coiled fluid tube, a coiled wire, a capsule between the coiled fluid tube and the wire, and a cooling fluid supply configured to force a cooling fluid through the capsule across the coiled wire. The induction coil system can include a closed loop ferrite core, a wire coiled around a first portion of the ferrite core, and a fluid tube coiled around a second portion of the ferrite core. A wire coil can be contained in a cartridge system removably coupleable to a disposable vapor delivery device. The system can include a fluid flow controller and induction power regulation to maintain a specific operating pressure range for vapor within a uterus or other bodily cavity, tract, or duct.

Abstract: The disclosed technology is directed to a treatment tool having a blade. The blade includes a treatment surface configured to engage with a treatment target. A heater is configured to be coupled to the blade. The heater includes respective first and second heat generating surfaces each of which extending in a direction transverse to the treatment surface. Respective first and second thermally conductive members each of which is interposed between the respective first and second heat generating surfaces and the blade so as to thermally engage the respective first and second heat generating surfaces and the blade to one another. The respective first and second thermally conductive members includes respective first and second thermal conductivity anisotropies each of which being higher in longitudinal directions of the blade and each of which being lower in widthwise directions of the blade that are transverse to the longitudinal directions.

Abstract: An in vivo potential measurement device includes an insulating member and an amplifier. The insulating member has an electrode. The insulating member is inserted into an organ of a living body such that an outer peripheral face of the insulating member contacts with an inner wall face of the organ at a contact site. The electrode senses electric potential at the contact site. The amplifier amplifies the electric potential to obtain output voltage. The amplifier has input capacitance Cin and input resistance Rin that satisfy Cin/Ce>0.1 and 1/(2?fCeRin)>0.1, where Ce represents capacitance of the insulating member at the contact site, and f represents frequency of the electric potential at the contact site on the inner wall face. A contact state between the outer peripheral face and the inner wall face is evaluated using the output voltage.

Abstract: A dermal conditioning device for creating at feast one fissure, in a stratum corneum layer of an area of skirt, comprising: a non-invasive fissuring generator; a controller coupled to the non-invasive skin fissuring generator, a power supply coupled to the non-invasive skin fissuring generator and the controller; and a housing encasing the non-invasive skin fissuring generator and the controller, wherein the controller controls the non-invasive skin fissuring generator to: generate at least one signal, and apply the at least one signal to dehydrate the area of skin, and stress the external surface of the stratum corneum layer of the area of skin, the stress calibrated to produce a strain on the stratum corneum layer causing a formation of at least one fissure in the stratum corneum layer when the area of skin is dehydrated, while maintaining a pre-fissure immune status of the area of skin.

Abstract: An electrode loop assembly for a catheter includes a form wire shaped as a loop, an activation wire coupled to the form wire, and a support tube defining a lumen and enclosing the form wire and the activation wire therein. The activation wire is operable to selectively vary a diameter of the loop, and is routed along a radial inner side of the form wire. The support tube extends along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, and has an oblong cross-section having a major axis. The support tube is twisted about the longitudinal axis such that an orientation of the major axis changes along a length of the support tube.

Abstract: The disclosed technology is directed to a treatment tool having a blade configured to engage with a treatment target. A heater is configured to be spaced apart from the blade. A first thermally conductive member is sandwiched between the blade and the heater so as to transmit heat to the blade. The first thermally conductive member includes respective first and second portions each of which is disposed on respective distal-end and proximal-end sides in longitudinal directions of the blade for thermally conducting a different prescribed quantity of heat per unit time from each of the respective first and second portions to the blade via the heater. The first thermally conductive member includes a first thermal conductivity anisotropy that is higher in longitudinal directions of the blade and is lower in widthwise directions transverse to the longitudinal directions.

Abstract: Endolumenal devices and methods can be used for the treatment of health conditions including obesity and diabetes. In some embodiments, the methods and systems provided herein can cause weight loss or control diabetes by reducing the caloric absorption of an individual. For example, this document provides several devices and methods for treating obesity and diabetes by using electroporation to modulate the duodenal mucosa. In addition, this document provides devices and methods for bypassing portions of the gastrointestinal tract to reduce nutritional uptake.

Abstract: A fluid supply instrument for a treatment instrument that is mounted on a grasping section of the treatment instrument capable of grasping a living tissue includes a port configured to receive a fluid, and a cover continuous to the port and configured to be covering a back surface on an opposite side of a grasping surface of the grasping section that is capable of grasping a living tissue. The cover forms a fluid channel continuous from the port in cooperation with the grasping section, and allows the fluid received from the port to flow out from between a cover edge adjacent to the grasping surface and an edge portion of the grasping surface.

Abstract: A treatment system includes an energy source apparatus and a thermal treatment tool configured to receive electrical energy from the energy source apparatus. The thermal treatment tool includes a thermally conductive member having opposed respective treatment and installation surfaces. A board being disposed on the installation surface and having respective longitudinal and widthwise directions. The board includes an electrically conductive wire having a conductive portion and a heat generating portion for generating heat when supplied with electric energy. The board is folded back at a folded point and is disposed on the thermally conductive member such that the heat generating portion of the electrically conductive wire facing the installation surface.

Abstract: An endoscopic bipolar forceps includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom with an end effector disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes a first and second jaw members having cam slots defined therein with distal and proximal sections at different angles relative to a longitudinal axis. Upon initial actuation of a handle, a cam pin engages the distal cam section of the first jaw member causing it to move relative to the second jaw member while the second jaw member remains stationary. Upon continued actuation of the handle, the cam pin engages the proximal cam section of the first jaw member causing the first jaw member to remain stationary while the second jaw member cams relative to the first jaw member to close against tissue disposed between the first and second jaw members.