Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter has an elongated catheter shaft and a distal assembly with a flex circuit and a support member on which the flex circuit is supported in a generally cylindrical form. The support member has a post extending longitudinally through the cylindrical form of the flex circuit which delivers irrigation fluid into the cylindrical form. The post can be configured to define multiple irrigation chambers within the distal assembly. One or more flow directors movable in the post selectively direct irrigation fluid within the distal assembly. Apertures in the flex circuit allow the irrigation fluid to exit to outside the distal assembly.

Abstract: A method includes receiving position signals that are indicative of positions of multiple electrodes disposed on an expandable balloon that is fitted at a distal end of a shaft for engaging a lumen of an organ to occlude the lumen. Based on the received position signals, a change is calculated in one or more dimensions of the balloon between (i) a first configuration in which the balloon is inflated but not engaged in the lumen, and (ii) a second configuration in which the balloon is inflated and engaged in the lumen. Using the calculated change, a degree is estimated to which the balloon occludes the lumen. The estimated degree of occlusion is presented to a user.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for determining the composition of tissue via an ultrasonic surgical instrument are disclosed. A control circuit can be configured to monitor the change in resonant frequency of an ultrasonic electromechanical system of the ultrasonic surgical instrument as the ultrasonic blade oscillates against a tissue and determine the composition of the tissue accordingly. In some aspects, the control circuit can be configured to modify the operation of the ultrasonic electromechanical system or other operational parameters of the ultrasonic surgical instrument according to the detected tissue composition.

Abstract: In an energy control device, a processor detects, based on a detection result of an electric characteristic value in relation to an electric energy which is output from an energy output source to an ultrasonic transducer, a gradual decrease start time at which the electric characteristic value starts a gradual decrease after a gradual increase. The processor executes, based on a fact that a time rate of change of the electric characteristic value become greater than a predetermined threshold after the gradual decrease start time, at least one of causing the energy output source to stop or reduce the output of the electric energy to the ultrasonic transducer, and notifying that the time rate of change become greater than the predetermined threshold.

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: Methods for creating and maintaining an anastomosis between two adjacent blood vessels using percutaneous techniques, for use in hemodialysis procedures are disclosed and described.

Abstract: An electrosurgical apparatus and method for performing thermal treatment in the gastrointestinal tract, e.g. to ablate duodenal mucosal tissue. The apparatus comprises an instrument having a flexible cable and an applicator suitable for use with a gastroscope, which can be deployed within a patient to delivery energy in a targeted or otherwise controllable manner. The applicator can deliver microwave energy by radiation. The direct and depth-limited nature of microwave energy can be make it more effective than treatments that rely on thermal conduction. The applicator may include a radially extendable portion arranged to move an microwave energy delivery structure into contact with duodenal mucosal tissue at the treatment region. The applicator may comprise any of a balloon, bipolar radiator, movable paddle, and rotatable roller element.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for selectively controlling the activation of an ultrasonic surgical instrument according to the presence of tissue within an end effector are disclosed. A control circuit can be configured to determine whether tissue is present within the end effector and permit activation of the ultrasonic transducer at a power level according to whether tissue is present within the end effector. In some aspects, the control circuit can be configured to automatically activate the ultrasonic transducer in response to tissue being detected within the end effector.

Abstract: A method for determining a change of temperature of an object. The method may include heating an object and measuring scattering parameters (S-parameters) of scattered microwave electric fields from the object. A distorted Born iterative method may be used to determine a change of a dielectric property of the object based on the measured S-parameters. A change of temperature of the object may be determined based on the change of the dielectric property of the object.

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: A structure of a surgical instrument configured for thermally cutting tissue. The structure includes a frame and a thermal cutting element. The frame includes a proximal flange portion and a distal body portion. The distal body portion includes a proximal section extending from the proximal flange portion, a distal section, and a center section extending between the proximal and distal sections. The distal body portion includes first and second distal body portion segments. The distal body portion segments are disposed a first distance apart from one another at the proximal section, a second distance apart from one another at the distal section, and a third distance apart from one another at the center section. The third distance is greater than the first and second distances. The thermal cutting element is disposed within the distal body portion of the frame and extends from the proximal section, through the center section, to the distal section.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides electroporation systems and methods of energizing a catheter for delivering electroporation. A catheter for delivering electroporation includes a distal section and an electrode assembly. The distal section is configured to be positioned in a vein within a body. The vein defines a central axis. The electrode assembly is coupled to the distal section and includes a structure and a plurality of electrodes distributed thereabout. The structure is configured to at least partially contact the vein. Each of the electrodes is configured to be selectively energized to form a circumferential ring of energized electrodes that is concentric with the central axis of the vein.

Abstract: Various aspects of a generator, ultrasonic device, and method for estimating a state of an end effector of an ultrasonic device are disclosed. The ultrasonic device includes an electromechanical ultrasonic system defined by a predetermined resonant frequency, including an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. A control circuit measures a complex impedance of an ultrasonic transducer, wherein the complex impedance is defined as Z g ? ( t ) = V g ? ( t ) I g ? ( t ) . The control circuit receives a complex impedance measurement data point and compares the complex impedance measurement data point to a data point in a reference complex impedance characteristic pattern. The control circuit then classifies the complex impedance measurement data point based on a result of the comparison analysis and assigns a state or condition of the end effector based on the result of the comparison analysis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating diabetes, a diabetes-associated condition or disorder, or symptoms thereof suffered by a subject such as a mammal (e.g. a human patient or a pet), comprising (1) placing multiple electrodes within at least one renal artery of the subject and against blood vessel wall of the at least one renal artery; (2) adhering a surface electrode on an external surface such as skin of the subject; and (3) releasing a therapeutically effective amount of radiofrequency energy through at least one of the multiple electrodes to nearby tissues, so as to increase the temperature of the nearby tissues and induce a thermal alteration of the nearby tissues.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to devices and methods for full thickness tissue resection of an organ (e.g., intestine). In some embodiments, a device includes a conduit, and a plurality of arms rotatably coupled to the conduit. Each of the plurality of arms is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, wherein the plurality of arms extends radially outward from the conduit in the expanded position. The device may further include an electrocautery wire coupled to each of the plurality of arms, the electrocautery wire positioned directly adjacent an exterior tissue wall when the plurality of arms is in the expanded position. The device may be advanced back in towards a lumen of the organ until a targeted section of tissue is cut by the electrocautery wire and removed.

Abstract: A method of body tissue ablation includes generating an ablation signal and providing the ablation signal to an ablation probe that is in contact with tissue. Irrigation fluid is delivered to the ablation probe, for applying the irrigation fluid in a vicinity of the tissue while the ablation signal is applied to the tissue. Signals are received from the ablation probe, which are indicative of an estimated instantaneous contact force that is exerted by the ablation probe against the tissue. A flow rate of the irrigation fluid is adapted responsively to the estimated instantaneous contact force.

Abstract: A tissue resecting or other medical device includes a handle coupled to an elongated shaft. A radiofrequency (RF) electrode is carried at a distal end of the elongated shaft, and the electrode is moveable across a window in a sleeve or other component of the shaft. The shaft has an interior channel connectable to a negative pressure source to remove debris from the channel. A motor is carried by the handle and operatively coupled to the electrode for moving the electrode relative to the window. An electronic image sensor and lens are disposed at a distal end of the shaft, and a plurality of conductors may extend through the shaft to the image sensor. The image sensor, lens and sensor conductors are disposed within a first tubular member, and an LED or other light source is also positioned at a distal end of the shaft with LED conductors or leads extending through a second tubular member of the shaft to the LED.

Abstract: A cooling device includes an insulated cooler for holding cold fluid and ice. The device has a chamber, a cover, and a fill and drain valve. A tube connects the valve to a pump. The pump provides cold fluid to a bladder configured to fit a chair. The bladder can include a back portion, a seat portion and an internal manifold arranged in a closed loop for optimized cooling. The bladder can be reconfigured to cool a targeted portion of a user's body such as a leg, arm, neck, or torso.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedure with a cooled RF probe includes measuring one or more local perfusion characteristics at an ablation site within a patient. The method also includes determining a heat transfer due to local perfusion at the ablation site based on the one or more local perfusion characteristics. Further, the method includes determining an operating threshold for the cooled RF probe based, at least in part, on the heat transfer. Moreover, the method includes controlling the cooled RF probe based on the operating threshold to create a lesion at the ablation site within the patient.

Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus for performing cardiac ablation by electroporation comprising: an applicator comprising a plurality of electrodes (16) each operable in use to supply an electrical potential across cells within an area of tissue (12); and a means to control the waveform of the electrical potential supplied by the plurality of electrodes, configured to provide a biphasic, truncated waveform with leading and trailing edges of differing magnitude.