Abstract: A manipulator includes: an elongated body portion that can be inserted into a body; and an energy treatment mechanism provided at a distal end of the body portion. The energy treatment mechanism is provided with gripping pieces that can grip body tissue and an energy applying part configured to apply energy to the body tissue gripped by the gripping pieces. The body portion is provided with an energy transfer part configured to transfer energy to the energy applying part and a force amplifying mechanism configured to amplify gripping force of the gripping pieces.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatuses are disclosed for providing tissue ablation through electrolysis, electroporation, or a combination thereof. A way to deliver the combination through a pulse that has an element of gradual decay and can thereby reduce both muscle contraction and electric breakdown discharge at the electrodes is disclosed. The apparatus disclosed may include an electrode, a power supply, and a controller. The controller may control a charge applied to the electrode to induce a direct current through a treatment site to produce electrolysis products and a voltage to produce electroporation. The duration and magnitude of the charge applied may determine the dose of the products and the degree of the permeabilization of cells in the treatment site.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for delivering electromagnetic energy to a patient's tissue with a reduction in the pain experienced by the patient. Electromagnetic energy is delivered from a treatment electrode through the skin surface to the tissue at a plurality of power levels over a treatment time. During the energy delivery, a portion of the treatment electrode is in a contacting relationship with the skin surface. A tip frame may be disposed between the treatment electrode and the skin surface when the electromagnetic energy is delivered.

Abstract: Electrosurgical forceps in which one or more pairs of non-resonant unbalanced lossy transmission line structures are arranged on the inner surfaces of the jaws of the forceps provide both (i) active and return electrodes for a radiofrequency (RF) signal, and (ii) lossy structures for delivering a microwave signal into biological tissue in conjunction with a mechanical gripping arrangement for applying pressure to material held within the jaws. The location of the pairs of transmission lines on the jaws of the forceps and the selection of the material of the jaws is arranged to ensure that any biological tissue gripped by the jaws become the propagation medium for the RF signal and the medium into which the microwave signal is lost.

Abstract: An electrosurgical snare, e.g. suitably sized for insertion down the instrument channel of an endoscope, arranged to radiate microwave frequency energy (e.g. having a frequency greater than 1 GHz) from an elongate conductive element within an area encircled by a retractable loop. The elongate conductive element and retractable loop may be independently slidable relative to a snare base at a distal end of a sleeve to provide an appropriate device configuration. By controlling the shape of the emitted microwave field, the risk of collateral thermal damage can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a devices and methods for intravascular denervation and assessment thereof and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to devices and methods for renal denervation. Some embodiments of the invention relate to an intravascular catheter configured for ultrasonic ablation of the tissue, comprising a plurality of piezoelectric transceivers. In some embodiments, an intravascular distancing device is provided, the device adapted for obtaining at least a minimal distance between an ultrasound emitting element and a tissue, such as the blood vessel wall. Some embodiments of the invention relate to assessment of renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) treatment effectiveness. Some embodiments of the invention relate to processing echo of signals, such as processing of signals to characterize physical and/or mechanical properties of the blood vessel.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft extending distally from the housing, an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft and configured to supply energy to tissue to treat tissue, a knife slidably disposed within the shaft and movable relative to the end effector assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, and a trigger operably coupled to the housing. The trigger is selectively activatable from a neutral position to a laterally pivoted position to supply energy to the end effector assembly and is selectively actuatable from a distal position to a proximally pivoted position to deploy the knife from the retracted position to the extended position. In the laterally pivoted position of the trigger, actuation of the trigger is inhibited. In the proximally pivoted position of the trigger, activation of the trigger is inhibited.

Abstract: A forceps includes a first jaw member, a second jaw member, a drive rod assembly and a moveable handle attached to a fixed handle. The first jaw member and the second jaw member are in opposing relation relative to one another, and at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member is relatively movable from a first open position to a second clamping position when the first jaw member and the second jaw member cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. Moving the moveable handle relative to the fixed handle moves the drive rod assembly for imparting movement of at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member from the first position and the second position. The moveable handle has an actuator with a lost motion connection between the first and second jaw members and the actuator.

Abstract: A cryoablation device is provided herein which, in an embodiment, includes a catheter shaft; a cryogen return line disposed within the catheter shaft; and a cryogen supply line disposed within the cryogen return line, such that the cryogen supply line, the cryogen return line, and the catheter shaft are all substantially coaxial. A needle tip probe is disposed at a distal end of the cryogen return line. The cryogen supply line extends in a distal direction beyond a distal end of the cryogen return line and into the needle tip probe, and the catheter shaft is axially movable relative to the needle tip probe and the cryogen return line, and the catheter shaft is configured such that the catheter shaft is distally extended over the needle tip probe in an extended position.

Abstract: A medical device is described having a handle, a shaft coupled to the handle and an end effector coupled to the shaft. In one embodiment, the device includes an ultrasonic transducer and is arranged so that ultrasonic or electrical energy can be delivered to a vessel or tissue to be treated. Various novel sensing circuits are described to allow a measure of the drive signal to be measured and fed back to a controller. An active fuse circuit is also described for protecting one or more batteries of the device from an over-current situation.

Abstract: A method for treating tissue includes applying an energy modality to tissue at an amplitude, measuring tissue impedance of the tissue, modulating application of the energy modality based on the measured tissue impedance, and ceasing application of the energy modality when a termination parameter is met.

Abstract: Provided is a bipolar electrode probe, which includes a conductive needle, an insulation layer, a conductive sleeve, and an insulation sleeve. The conductive needle has a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The insulation layer covers the conductive needle and has a first opening. The conductive sleeve covers the insulation layer and has a second opening. The insulation sleeve covers the conductive sleeve. When the bipolar electrode probe is turned on, a longitudinal electric field is formed from a front end of the conductive needle to the conductive sleeve along the longitudinal direction. A transverse electric field is formed from the conductive needle to the conductive sleeve via the first opening and the second opening along the transverse direction.

Abstract: A first subassembly includes a body and an ultrasonic blade. A second subassembly is configured to removably couple with the first subassembly and includes a first clamp arm and a first clamp arm actuator. The first clamp arm is configured to be located on a first side of the longitudinal axis of the body, and the first clamp arm actuator is configured to be located on a second side of the longitudinal axis, when the second subassembly is coupled with the first subassembly. The third subassembly is similar to the second subassembly except that the second clamp arm of the third subassembly is configured to be located on the second side of the longitudinal axis of the body when the third subassembly is coupled with the first subassembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating or manipulating biological tissues are provided. In the systems and methods, a biological tissue is placed in contact with an array of electrodes. Electrical pulses are then applied between a bias voltage bus and a reference voltage bus of a distributor having switching elements associated with each of the electrodes. The switching elements provide a first contact position for coupling electrodes to bias voltage bus, a second contact position for coupling electrodes to the reference voltage bus, and a third contact position for isolating electrodes from the high and reference voltage buses. The switching elements are operated over various time intervals to provide the first contact position for first electrodes, a second contact position for second electrodes adjacent to the first electrodes, and a third contact position for a remainder of the electrodes adjacent to the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: A treatment device is disclosed, which includes a dissecting section main body which is configured to dissect tissue in a living body when inserted into the living body along a blood vessel, and which has a slit permitting a branch vessel branched from the blood vessel to enter into the slit, a stanching section which is disposed at the slit and which presses and cauterizes the branch vessel introduced into the slit, and a cutting section which is disposed at the slit and which cuts the cauterized branch vessel.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating tissue with microwave energy used in applications such as destroying a soft tissue by microwave ablation and/or creating point, line, area or volumetric lesions. Various embodiments of flexible, low-profile devices are also disclosed where such device can be inserted non-invasively or minimally invasively near or into the target tissue such as cardiac tissue. The devices disclosed herein comprise antennas wherein the field profile generated by an antenna is tailored and optimized for a particular clinical application. The antennas use unique properties of microwaves such as interaction of a microwave field with one or more conductive or non-conductive shaping elements to shape or redistribute the microwave field.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating skin and subcutaneous tissue with energy such as ultrasound energy are disclosed. In various embodiments, ultrasound energy is applied at a region of interest to affect tissue by cutting, ablating, micro-ablating, coagulating, or otherwise affecting the subcutaneous tissue to conduct numerous procedures that are traditionally done invasively in a non-invasive manner. Lifting sagging tissue on a face, neck, and/or body are described. Treatment with heat is provided in several embodiments.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to methods for use with a surgical device to harvest energy from a surgical generator. The surgical device in use in conjunction with the surgical generator may comprise an energy storage device in electrical communication with a surgical generator to provide energy to charge the energy storage device. The method may comprise the steps of receiving a drive signal from the generator. The method may also comprise directing at least a portion of the drive signal to the energy storage device in a first mode. The method may further comprise directing at least a portion of the drive signal to at least one energy element in a second mode.

Abstract: A boot for an electrosurgical instrument has a conductive boot shield substantially enclosed by one or more insulating layers. The boot shield has a flexible conductive medium. The flexible conductive medium has a plurality of conductive components suspended in at least one of a first liquid or a first gel, whereby the boot is configured to bend with a bend radius of about 10 millimeters or less without a loss in conductivity of the boot shield. A related method and system are also provided.

Abstract: An electroporation apparatus and the method of using same are provided. The apparatus allows for the ablation of an area of tissue of arbitrary volume. The apparatus includes a plurality of conductive electrodes attached to a base plate and electrically connected to a pulse generator to allow individual electrical actuation of the electrodes. In use, the electrodes are inserted into an area of tissue to be ablated, such that the electrodes are in a first position. Predetermined ones of the electrodes are then activated to ablate tissue surrounding the activated electrodes, while leaving other ones of the electrodes un-activated. The electrodes are then moved to a second position which is different than the first position, and predetermined ones of the electrodes are then activated to ablate tissue surrounding the activated electrodes, while leaving other ones of the electrodes un-activated.