Abstract: A probe for treating shoulders and other joints has a working end which includes a first element for cutting soft tissue, a second element for applying RF energy to tissue, and a third element for cutting or burring bone. The probe is introduced to a working space in a patient's joint, such as the patient's subacromial space, typically under endoscopic viewing. Soft tissue is cut with the first element. Radiofrequency energy is applied with the second element to ablate or cauterize tissue, while bone may be burred with the third element. Successive treatments steps are performed by reorienting the treatment device in situ with removal or withdrawal of the working end.

Abstract: Instrument and systems for applying ablative energy to epicardial tissue via a subxiphoid access surgical approach. The instrument has a head assembly sized and shaped for a subxiphoid surgical approach to a patient's heart and defines a contact face. The head assembly includes a paddle body, a first ablation electrode, and a second ablation electrode. The ablation electrodes are coupled to the paddle body in a spaced apart, spatially-fixed fashion. The ablation electrodes are exteriorly exposed at the contact face. A tubular member extends from the head assembly and maintains wiring connected to the ablation electrodes. The instrument is manipulable to locate the contact face on epicardial tissue of a patient's heart via a subxiphoid surgical approach, such as between the left and right pulmonary vein junctions of the posterior left atrium.

Abstract: An ablation probe (100; 200) suitable for insertion through the working channel of an intraluminal delivery device comprises an applicator (102; 202) arranged to apply radiation to heat surrounding tissue. The probe also comprises a feeding cable (104; 204) arranged to supply electromagnetic energy to the applicator (102; 202). The probe further comprises a first coolant flow path (106). There is also a deformable member (110; 210) arranged to move between an insertion configuration in which insertion of the probe is facilitated and a deployed configuration. A second coolant path (108), via which coolant is able to flow, is provided by the deformable member (110; 210) when in the deployed configuration. The probe further comprises a tube arranged to house a distal portion of the feeding cable, and the deformable member surrounds at least part of the tube, and the tube is formed from an elastic material.

Abstract: A cryoablation device is provide herein which, in an embodiment, includes a catheter shaft and a cryogen return line disposed within the catheter shaft. A cryogen supply line is 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 and the cryogen supply line extends in a distal direction beyond a distal end of the cryogen return line and into the needle tip probe. An insulating tube is disposed circumferentially around the cryogen return line and within the catheter shaft. An insulating lumen is circumferentially disposed around the return line, between an inner diameter of the catheter shaft and an outer diameter of the insulating tube. A position of the insulating tube is fixed relative to the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A surgical instrument having vessel/tissue sealer and/or cutter jaws are described designed with variety of shapes and more safer jaws. Optional ceramic insert, partial DLC coating on the substantially back portion and TiN coating is a combination in the jaw assembly which increases its safety, performance and reusability compared to other existing jaws.

Abstract: A surgical instrument having a jaw lock includes first jaw and second jaws that are moveable from an open position to a closed position. At least one of the jaws includes a jaw slot having a jaw closing portion and a jaw locking portion. A pin positioned within the jaw slot is advanced by a blade. The blade includes a cutting edge and a notch defining a first edge configured to advance the pin to move the jaws to, and secure the jaws in, the closed position.

Abstract: A flexible assembly for use within an articulated component of a motor driven surgical system is disclosed comprising a flexible shaft circuit strip comprising a plurality of wires, a knife bar comprising a first laminated plate disposed along a first side of the flexible shaft circuit strip and a second laminated plate disposed along a second side of the flexible shaft circuit strip, and a leaf spring disposed between the first side of the flexible shaft circuit strip and the first laminated plate. The knife bar is configured to reciprocate along a longitudinal axis of the flexible shaft circuit strip.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to battery packs for use with surgical instruments. The battery packs may comprise a plurality of cells and at least a portion of the plurality of cells may not be electrically connected to one another. The battery packs may comprise a switch or other mechanism for interconnecting the plurality of cells and may also comprise, or be used in conjunction with, a discharge switch or plug configured to electrically connect an anode of the battery pack to a cathode of the battery pack, for example, via a resistive element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing forward fluid delivery through an electrosurgical device, while avoiding coring when energy is delivered to the electrosurgical device. The device has a distal face defining an opening, with the distal face including at least one cutting portion and at least one non-cutting portion. An embodiment of the electrosurgical device for puncturing tissue includes an elongate member defining a lumen for fluid; a distal portion including an electrode and the distal face which defines at least one aperture. The portion of the at least one cutting portion defines a leading portion partially surrounding a circumference of the at least one aperture wherein the outer diameter of the at least one of the distal portion of the electrosurgical device or the electrode decreases towards a distal tip of the electrosurgical device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses medical systems and methods adapted for the delivery of various medical components such as microwave antennas within or on a body for performing one or more medical procedures. Several embodiments herein disclose medical systems comprising a combination of one or more medical components and one or more elongate steerable or non-steerable arms that are adapted to mechanically manipulate the one or more medical components. Several embodiments of microwave antennas are disclosed that comprise an additional diagnostic or therapeutic modality located on or in the vicinity of the microwave antennas.

Abstract: A medical system for monitoring pressure may comprise a medical device with an expandable element, at least one pressure sensor in communication with the expandable element and a control unit. The control unit may include a fluid source in fluid communication with the expandable element and circulation of the fluid within the expandable element may inflate the expandable element. A processing circuitry may be configured to monitor a pressure within the expandable element based on signals received from the at least one pressure sensor for a first period of time and circulation of the fluid within the expandable element for a second period of time.

Abstract: A thermal control unit for delivering temperature-controlled fluid to one or more patient therapy devices (e.g. pads, blankets, etc.) that are in contact with a patient is disclosed. The thermal control unit allows multiple patient therapy devices to be fluidly coupled thereto and to individually monitor the temperatures, flow rates, and/or connections/disconnections of the patient therapy devices. A user interface enables a user to designate outlet ports to the therapy devices as active or inactive, and the control unit provides notifications to the user if any of the active ports experience an undesired condition, or if a patient therapy device is connected to an inactive port. The user interface further allows the user to designate one of multiple patient temperature probes as a primary probe. The primary probe is used to control the temperature of the fluid circulating through the control unit.

Abstract: A force sensing device is provided for use with a surgical instrument shaft having a two degree-of-freedom wrist mounted end effector portion having a working surface; a housing defines an annular collar sized to snugly fit about the two degree-of-freedom wrist and defines a cap sized to snugly fit about the end effector portion; an optical fiber including a segment is embedded within the annular collar and including a segment embedded within the cap; a first fiber Bragg grating (FBG) formed in the segment of the optical fiber embedded within the cap.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing and an elongated shaft operably coupled to an actuating mechanism moveable between an actuated position and an unactuated position. An end effector includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members. One or more drive surfaces are disposed on the actuating mechanism and configured to compress a spring upon movement of the actuating mechanism to the actuated position. The spring imparts a spring force in a distal direction to bias the actuating mechanism to the unactuated position. An electrically conductive tissue sealing surface extends along a length of one or both of the jaw members and is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for quantifying applied pressure by a device against an area of tissue. In particular, the present technology is related to medical devices including an optical element with a fiber Bragg grating, systems including the medical devices, and methods of quantifying applied pressure by the medical device. In one embodiment, a medical device comprises an elongate body including a distal portion and a proximal portion opposite the distal portion, and an optical element located at the distal portion of the elongate body. In one embodiment, the optical element include an optical fiber with a fiber Bragg grating. In one embodiment, the medical device is part of a medical system comprising a control unit in communication with the medical device, the control unit including an optical interrogator in communication with the optical element and processing circuitry configured to receive data from the optical interrogator.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and compositions are provided for implanting an implantable device into a biological tissue (e.g., muscle, brain). A subject implantable device includes: (i) a biocompatible substrate, (ii) a conduit (e.g., an electrode, a waveguide) that is disposed on the biocompatible substrate, and (iii) an engagement feature (e.g., a loop) for reversible engagement with an insertion needle. The biocompatible substrate can be flexible (e.g., can include polyimide). The implantable device is implanted using an insertion needle that includes an engagement feature corresponding to the engagement feature of the implantable device. To implant, an implantable device is reversibly engaged with an insertion needle, the device-loaded insertion needle is inserted into a biological tissue (e.g., to a desired depth), and the insertion needle is retracted, thereby disengaging the implantable device from the insertion needle and allowing the implantable device to remain implanted in the biological tissue.

Abstract: Conventional vasectomy techniques suffer from a number of disadvantages and potential complications, including, for example, a substantial risk for the development of hematomas, swelling, and post-surgical pain, a potential for spontaneous regeneration and undesired resumption of fertility, a need for a highly skilled surgical professional, as well as a long recovery period, accompanied by severe limitations on post-surgical activity. The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art by providing vasectomy instruments, kits, and methods that allow for a rapid, reliable, less invasive male sterilization procedure that may be readily, reliably and successfully performed by minimally skilled personnel around the world in a variety of medical settings.

Abstract: A medical instrument can include a wrist, an end effector, pull wires that extend through the wrist toward for controlling a motion of the end effector, and a conductive cable that extends through the wrist to the end effector. The wrist can have proximal and distal clevises and proximal and distal pulleys through which the conductive cable passes. The conductive cable can extend over one or more redirect surfaces of the distal and/or proximal clevises.

Abstract: The present application relates to computer-based preoperative planning technology, and discloses a preoperative planning method for multimodal ablation treatment and apparatus thereof, which can automatically provide objective, scientific, and quantitative multimodal ablation planning information. In this method, acquiring parameters of an volume to be ablated; calculating property changes of the tissue caused by performing freezing on the volume according to the parameters of the volume to be ablated, and acquiring a first planning data required for the property changes of the tissue to satisfy a first predetermined condition; further calculating property changes of the tissue caused by performing heating on the volume to acquire a second planning data required for the property changes of the tissue to satisfy a second predetermined condition based on the properties satisfying the first predetermined condition; outputting the first planning data and the second planning data.

Abstract: A tool assembly for use with an electrosurgical device for cutting tissue includes a base portion, an electrical insulator extending distally from the base portion, a return lead adapted to be electrically coupled to a return terminal, and an active lead adapted to be electrically coupled to an active terminal. The return lead is movably supported on the electrical insulator. The active lead is fixed to the electrical insulator. The return lead is rotatable about a pivot and translatable along a longitudinal axis relative to the electrical insulator and the active lead. Upon activation, electrosurgical energy is transmitted from the active lead through tissue to the return lead to cut tissue in contact with the active lead.