Abstract: A noninvasive, brain cooling method and device for cerebral cooling via a patient's nasopharyngeal cavity, is described. Thermal conductive nasal prongs are inserted into a nasal cavity and are cooled by thermoelectric cooling elements. An outward air driving fan inside the device drives a cold air current through the nasal and oral cavities. Heat transfer between the cold air and the surface of the nasal cavity cools the nasal cavity, which in turn, cools a patient's brain. Real-time temperature sensing data provides feedback for closed-loop cooling control.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes a generator, a delivery device, a return device, and a return electrode monitor (REM). The delivery device is in electrical communication with the generator and has a delivery electrode configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue. The return device has a first jaw member including a first return electrode and a second jaw member including a second return electrode. The first and second jaw members are configured to capture tissue between the first and second return electrodes. The REM is disposed within the generator and is in electrical communication with the first and second return electrodes. The REM is configured to determine a size of a return contact area of the first and second return electrodes with tissue to prevent delivery of electrosurgical energy from the generator to tissue when the size of the return contact are is below a threshold size.

Abstract: An adjustable, structure providing an ablation apparatus, having a preformed structure made from compliant material such as rubber like material, foam or gel, with particles made of electromagnetic energy absorbing material. An antenna for radiating emitted microwave energy to generate heat and thus cause cavity ablation is located inside of the conformable adjustable structure. When end effector portion is inserted into the body cavity, the compliant adjustable structure is compliant to conform to a profile of the cavity to be ablated, and microwave energy is received to heat the adjustable structure resulting in heat energy that will ablate the cavity tissue in contact with the compliant end effector. Additionally, the shape of the end-effector compliant structure can be differently formed, depending of shape of tissue cavity to be ablated.

Abstract: An ablation catheter assembly comprises an outer ablation catheter comprising an elongated shaft having a proximal shaft section and a distal shaft section, an inner lumen extending through the proximal shaft section and the distal shaft section, a distal tip port in communication with the inner lumen, and at least one ablative element disposed on the distal shaft section. The ablation catheter assembly further comprises an inner ablation catheter slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the outer ablation catheter. The inner ablation catheter comprises an elongated inner member having a proximal member section and a distal member section, and ablative elements disposed along the distal member section. The distal member section is configured for being deployed from the distal tip port when the inner ablation catheter is distally slid within the inner lumen of the outer ablation catheter, thereby placing the distal member section into an expanded loop geometry.

Abstract: An energy treatment instrument includes a first grasping piece, and a second grasping piece which opens or closes relative to the first grasping piece and which grasps a blood vessel between the first grasping piece and the second grasping piece. In accordance with the kind of blood vessel grasped between the first grasping piece and the second grasping piece, an actuation state of the energy treatment instrument is switched between a first mode to coagulate a blood vessel of a circulatory system, and a second mode to coagulate a blood vessel of a pulmonary circulation in contrast to the first mode.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering energy to a patient's body includes a plurality of probes each having an elongate member with a distal region having an electrically non-conductive outer circumferential portion and a proximal region. Each of the plurality of probes further includes an electrically conductive energy delivery device extending distally from the electrically non-conductive outer circumferential portion for delivering one of electrical and radiofrequency energy to the patient's body. The energy delivery devices further include an electrically conductive outer circumferential surface. The system also includes at least one controller communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of probes. The controller includes a user interface having a control screen. The control screen includes an independent control module and a simultaneous control module that allows a user to select between independent control or simultaneous control of the plurality of probes.

Abstract: The instrument comprises a jaw arrangement with two jaws that have, on their side facing the counter-electrode arrangement, rounded or flat electrode surfaces. The counter-electrode arrangement comprises at least one counter-electrode surface that may be rounded or flat. One of the electrode surfaces has a band edge preferably bordered by an insulator on one side, said band edge being adjacent to the adjacent electrode surface of the jaw arrangement. The counter-electrode surface has a band edge adjacent to the insulator facing the band edge of the one electrode surface. The band edges of the electrode surfaces acting as the coagulation surfaces are close enough such that they form cutting edges that develop a cutting effect with low voltages that are otherwise suitable only for coagulation. Accordingly, it is possible to provide fusion instruments that are extremely delicate, display lower thermal inertia and an excellent fusion and cutting effect.

Abstract: A balloon catheter includes a shaft, a balloon made of an expandable membrane, a flexible substrate, one or more electrodes, and one or more radiopaque flags. The shaft is configured for insertion into a heart of a patient. The balloon is fitted at a distal end of the shaft. The flexible substrate is disposed on the membrane. The one or more electrodes are disposed over the flexible substrate and have a fishbone configuration. The one or more radiopaque flags are coupled to the expandable membrane, wherein the one or more radiopaque flags include a serpentine pattern so that the radiopaque flags fold in conformance with flexible substrate as the expandable membrane is collapsed into a compressed or folded configuration.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for performing a variety of treatment procedures safely with a single treatment device. For example, a system is provided that includes a treatment device with a highly conformable balloon that is inflated at a constant pressure and that remains “soft” during use, which enhances balloon-tissue contact, treatment efficacy, and patient safety. In one embodiment, a system for ablating tissue comprises: a treatment device including a highly conformable balloon; a control unit including a fluid supply reservoir in fluid communication with the highly conformable balloon, the control unit being configured to deliver fluid from the fluid supply reservoir to the highly conformable balloon such that the highly conformable balloon is maintained at a balloon pressure of between 0.2 psig and 3.0 psig.

Abstract: Systems for treating a subject's tissue can include a thermally conductive cup with vacuum features configured to facilitate removal of air located between the cup and the subject's skin. The vacuum features can extend along cup to provide airflow paths to a vacuum port. The applicator can cool and/or heat the retained tissue to affect targeted tissue. After the treat period, the vacuum can be reduced or stop and the applicator can be removed from the subject.

Abstract: A treatment instrument includes a treatment section treating a target of treatment such as a living tissue. The treatment section has an outer surface. A first resin film (first resin coating) covers part of the outer surface of the treatment section. A second resin film (second resin coating) covers at least a boundary between a region covered by the first resin film and a region not covered by the first resin film on the outer surface of the treatment section.

Abstract: A reservoir for supplying a cooling fluid to a medical ablation probe includes a wall defining a chamber therein, an outlet fluid port and an inlet fluid port each in fluid communication with the chamber, cooling fluid disposed within the chamber, and a thermochromic material thermally coupled to the cooling fluid. The thermochromic material is configured to exhibit a first color when the cooling fluid is below a threshold temperature, and a second color when the cooling fluid is above the threshold temperature.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical systems and methods for controlling electrical treatment energy in connection with electrical arcs. A method in accordance with the present disclosure includes providing electrical treatment energy to an instrument based on an indicated electrical energy level, accessing voltage signal values over time relating to voltage of the electrical treatment energy and/or current signal values over time relating to current of the electrical treatment energy, determining whether an arc generated by the instrument is an arc to be maintained or an arc to be extinguished based on a threshold value and at least one of the voltage signal values or the current signal values, and controlling the electrical treatment energy based on determining that the arc is an arc to be extinguished.

Abstract: An active sheath for a recognition probe of a handheld cancer screening device, in which the conductors and circuits are applied on the surface of the sheath such as in the form of a flexible circuit made of a biocompatible material and a flexible conductor or a conductive ink in the surface of the disposable cover's tip without the need to embed the electrodes or other components inside the plastic cover.