Abstract: Thermal cautery and thermal ligating devices improved by the addition of a thermally conductive plate proximate the resistive heating element used in those devices.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting coagulum formation on an ablation electrode make use of an ablation electrode that is connected to a radio-frequency (RF) generator capable of applying a small amount of RF energy that is not cell destructive. The temperature at the ablation electrode can be precisely measured using a thermosensor incorporated within the ablation electrode. Before and after actual ablation, a low, non-cell destructing (non-ablating) amount of RF energy is generated at the ablation electrode. If no coagulum has formed during actual ablation, the temperature increase during this test application will be similar before and after the ablation attempt. If coagulum has formed during the actual ablation, however, the temperature increase during the test application after ablation will be significantly higher.

Abstract: The present invention provides robotic surgical instruments and systems that include electrosurgical cutting/shearing tools and methods of performing a robotic surgical procedure. The surgical instruments can advantageously be used in robotically controlled minimally invasive surgical operations. A surgical instrument generally comprises an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. An end effector, for performing a surgical operation such as cutting, shearing, grasping, engaging, or contacting tissue adjacent a surgical site, is coupleable to a distal end of the shaft. Preferably, the end effector comprises a pair of scissor-like blades for cooperatively shearing the tissue. A conductor electrically communicating with at least one blade delivers electrical energy to tissue engaged by the blades. An interface coupled to the proximal end of the shaft and removably connectable to the robotic surgical system is also included.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing the number of temperature measurement wires in multiple temperature sensor ablation systems are described. In a preferred embodiment, temperature sensors capable of measuring the temperature of body tissue and transmitting the temperature data digitally are incorporated in a catheter or probe ablation system that also includes electrodes in operative contact with the sensors. The sensors are connected in parallel to a common electrical bus, thereby allowing the system to operate using a reduced number of electrical paths as compared to conventional ablation systems. The present invention is also directed to ablation systems that incorporate analog sensors rather than digital sensors. In this embodiment, the system utilizes digital switching, filtering circuits, or oscillators to reduce the number of wires required to operate the sensors.

Abstract: A device is described that can be used by surgeons to provide quick and accurate face-lifting maneuvers that minimize the amount of tissue that has to be removed. The device is comprised of a shaft with a relatively planar but possibly lenticulate and even slightly curved tip that can divide and energize various tissue planes causing contraction especially via the fibrous tissues. Various forms of energy can be delivered down the shaft to heat and cause desirable tissue contraction. The device can also include a temperature sensor that can be used to control power output.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method for detecting and treating a tumor using tissue localized volumetric impedance measurement. The method includes providing an impedance measurement apparatus having a plurality of resilient members deployable with curvature and configured to sample tissue impedance through a plurality of conductive pathways. The apparatus is configured to be coupled to at least one of an energy delivery device, a power supply, a switching device or logic resources. The apparatus is then positioned at a selected tissue site and the impedance array deployed to define a sample volume. The impedance array is then utilized to make impedance measurements through a plurality of conductive pathways. Information from the impedance measurements is then utilized to determine a tissue condition of the sample volume. Energy is then delivered from the energy delivery device to ablate or necrose at least a portion of the tumor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument with a handle on which at least one gripping part, in particular a finger ring, is secured by a connecting clamp in a removable manner and is mounted in rotatable fashion on one handle part, and the connecting clamp consists of a shaft configured on one of the components that are to be connected to one another and of a sheath configured on the other component and where the outer diameter of the shaft, forming an undercut in the area of the free end of the shaft, exceeds the core diameter of the shaft and the inner diameter of the sheath correspondingly has an area forming an undercut and serving to receive the free end of the shaft, with a larger inner diameter, and an area extending in the direction of the sheath opening with a lesser inner diameter.

Abstract: A cardiac ablation catheter includes a coil-like ablating element that is deployable from an elongate, flexible sheath. The ablating element, while in the deployed position, has a shape with at least one revolution oriented in a plane that is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the sheath. The catheter system is well-suited to ablate a circumferential region of tissue about a pulmonary vein or the posterior wall of the left atrium proximate the pulmonary vein os. The treated tissue region electrically isolates the atria from the pulmonary vein.

Abstract: A medical device is provided and includes a thermal ablation catheter and a deployable cage assembly for use in thermal ablation therapy. The deployable cage assembly includes a plurality of arms, each of which has a pair of opposed ends attached to the thermal ablation catheter. Each of the arms is movable from a relaxed configuration to a deployed configuration. When relaxed, the arms are substantially proximate to the thermal ablation catheter. When deployed, the arms cooperate with each other to form an open structure which extends radially outward from the thermal ablation catheter. The thermal ablation device also includes a distensible bladder that serves as an endocervical seal.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and kits detect and/or treat vulnerable plaque of a blood vessel. A temperature differential can be sensed along a lumen surface with temperature sensors on a balloon filled with warm gas. Treatment methods include controlled and safe cryogenic cooling of vulnerable plaque to inhibit release of retained fluid within the vulnerable plaque so as to inhibit acute coronary syndrome and to help maintain patency of a body lumen.

Abstract: A cryocatheter for treating cardiac arrhythmias comprises a miniature refrigeration system powered by electromagnetic radiation. The miniature refrigeration system is disposed at the tip of the catheter and electromagnetic radiation is delivered to the refrigeration system by a waveguide. The miniature refrigeration system includes an engine that converts the electromagnetic radiation into mechanical work. The engine compresses refrigerant for circulation through microchannels in the refrigeration system. Such compression is achieved by using the electromagnetic radiation to superheat a portion of a liquid mass. The superheating causes explosive boiling in the liquid to propel the mass and compress the refrigerant. While particularly advantageous in a miniature refrigeration system, the engine may also be applied to other types of devices.

Abstract: Surgical methods and apparatus for positioning diagnostic an therapeutic elements on the epicardium or other organ surface. The apparatus includes a tissue cooling apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to accurately treat sites on an eye's retina employing computer based image generation, processing and central control means in conjunction with diode laser sources and optical fibers. The system and method accurately determine geometry of a treatment zone of a specific eye's fundus and adjust a treatment beam to irradiate the treatment zone with minimal coverage of adjacent well tissue. The treatment zone or zone is accurately determined with digital processing of angiographic data and slit lamp image data. This information is integrated with information on the treatment beam characteristics to better match treatment beam coverage with minimal overlap with healthy areas of the fundus. Additionally preferred embodiments also have the ability to automatically track eye movement and switch the beam source depending on eye movement, adjusting the beam spot area in real time.

Abstract: DC input energy is converted into DC output voltage by the use of a switched current mode high-voltage power supply. Pulses of input current are switched through a conversion transformer and the energy content of each pulse is converted into the DC output voltage. The time widths of the input current pulses are regulated relative to the DC input and output voltages, the magnitude of the current within each input current pulse, and in relation to maintaining a plurality of different selected operational conditions. The rate at which the input current pulses are converted is changed relative to the level of the DC output voltage.

Abstract: Surgical methods and apparatus for coagulating tissue including an energy transmission device cooling apparatus.

Abstract: This invention provides surgical tools or instruments for use in minimally invasive telesurgical applications. The instruments typically include a base whereby the instrument is removably mountable on a robotically controlled articulated arm. An elongate shaft extends from the base. A working end of the shaft is disposed at an end of the shaft remote from the base. A wrist member is pivotally mounted on the working end. At least one end effector element mounting formation is pivotally mounted on an opposed end of the wrist member. A plurality of elongate elements, e.g., cables, extend from the end effector element mounting formation and the wrist member to cause selective angular displacement of the wrist member and end effector mounting formation in response to selective pulling of the elongate elements.

Abstract: A coagulation clamp (1) has clamp jaws (4) and two projections (2b or 2c, 2d) that impinge on these jaws directly or indirectly and that can be pivoted relative to one another on a common joint (2) with the aid of hand grips (3). The projections are insulated in the area of the joint and each connected directly or indirectly with a high-frequency terminal (HF). Here, the joint openings (6) are coated with an insulation that surrounds the joint axle (7) in the position of use, this insulation usefully being formed by a respective insulating sleeve (8). The joint axle (7) is made up of a sleeve (71) and an insert (72) that can be placed therein in telescoping fashion and that has a press-fit seating and that, on the side of sleeve (71) facing away from the insertion side, extends up to or into an opening (9a) of a termination (9) of this sleeve (71) and is fixedly connected with this sleeve termination (9), preferably being welded thereto. This results in a stable joint (2) that can absorb large forces.

Abstract: An electrode instrument is provided and includes an electrode head and a pair of electrodes for emitting RF energy for use in thermal ablation therapy. The electrodes are movable between a collapsed configuration and deployed configuration. When collapsed, the electrodes are proximate to each other, and when deployed, the electrodes are spaced apart from each other. The electrode instrument includes linkage mechanisms that are used to maintain the electrodes in their deployed configuration.

Abstract: Ablation device for creating a lesion within tissue includes an angle indexing apparatus. The angle indexing apparatus includes an index-key and an indexer. The index-key is secured to the ablation device. The indexer is secured in a position relative to which the index-key can move. The index-key is adapted to mate with the indexer in a plurality of positions, thereby allowing operation of the ablation device in a plurality of orientations.

Abstract: A laser eye surgery system and method include a laser for producing a laser beam capable of making refractive corrections, an optical system for shaping and conditioning the laser beam, a digital micromirror device (DMD) for reflecting the shaped and conditioned beam toward the eye, and a computer system for controlling the mirrors of the DMD. The computer system and methodology utilize a higher order polynomial equation to generate a smooth refraction correction profile and determines the coefficients for the higher order polynomial equation from preferably first-, second-, or third-order curves based on the correlation between the coefficients and the desired diopter correction.