Abstract: A high-frequency incision tool for endoscope comprises a sheath inserted through and extracted from a treatment tool guide lumen of an endoscope; an operation unit connected to the rear of the sheath; a pair of electrode blades disposed in parallel and oriented forward at the front position of the sheath, the pair of electrode blades opening forward and closing back through remote manipulation of the operation unit; and a planar portion provided at the tip of at least one of the electrode blades, the planar portion having a projected area, when viewed from the front, larger than the cross sectional areas of the electrode blades at a portion close to their front ends.

Abstract: Low temperature lesion formation apparatus, systems and methods. The apparatus includes a base member and an inflatable element carried by the base member.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply electrosurgical energy to tissue. The electrosurgical generator includes impedance sensing circuitry which measures impedance of tissue, a microprocessor configured to determine whether a tissue reaction has occurred as a function of a minimum impedance value and a predetermined rise in impedance, wherein tissue reaction corresponds to a boiling point of tissue fluid, and an electrosurgical instrument including at least one active electrode adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument including an elongated shaft and a non-conductive handle. The shaft defines a proximal section, a distal section, and an internal lumen extending from the proximal section. The distal section forms an electrically conductive tip and defines at least one passage for distributing fluid. Further, the shaft is adapted to be transitionable from a straight state to a first bent state. The shaft is capable of independently maintaining the distinct shapes associated with the straight state and the first bent state. The handle is rigidly coupled to the proximal section of the shaft. With this in mind, an exterior surface of the shaft distal the handle and proximal the distal section is electrically non-conductive. In one preferred embodiment, the shaft is comprised of an elongated electrode body surrounded by an electrical insulator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and related methods for using those devices in the relieving and/or treating of pain, discomfort, and/or inflammation in the pelvic region using targeted pressure and temperature delivery. The devices and methods for using those devices to deliver targeted pressure and temperature therapy internally to patients through their rectal or vaginal cavities are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for temperature modification of a patient, or selected regions thereof, including an induced state of hypothermia. The temperature modification is accomplished using an in-dwelling heat exchange catheter within which a fluid heat exchange medium circulates. A heat exchange cassette of any one of several disclosed variations is attached to the circulatory flow lines of the catheter, the heat exchange cassette being sized to engage a cavity within one of various described re-usable control units. The control units include a heater/cooler device, a user input device, and a processor connected to receive input from various sensors around the body and the system. The heater/cooler device may be thermoelectric to enable both heating and cooling based on polarity. A temperature control scheme for ramping the body temperature up or down without overshoot is provided.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical instrument has opposable seal surfaces on its jaws for grasping and sealing vessels and vascular tissue. Inner and outer instrument members allow arcuate motion of the seal surfaces. An open lockbox provides a pivot with lateral support to maintain alignment of the lateral surfaces. Ratchets on the instrument members hold a constant closure force on the tissue during the seal process. A shank portion on each member is tuned to provide an appropriate spring force to hold the seal surfaces together. During surgery, the instrument can be used to grasp and clamp vascular tissue and apply bipolar electrosurgical current through the clamped tissue. In one embodiment, the seal surfaces are partially insulated to prevent a short circuit when the instrument jaws are closed together. In another embodiment, the seal surfaces are removably mounted on the jaws.

Abstract: A tissue ablation device assembly ablates a region of tissue in a body of a patient. The tissue ablation device assembly comprises an elongated body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. A tubular porous membrane having a porous wall with an inner surface that defines an inner space is located along the distal end portion of the elongated body. An ablation element is disposed over the porous membrane, with the ablation element having a fixed position with respect to the porous membrane. A fluid passageway extending through the elongated body and communicates with the inner space. The fluid passageway is adapted to be fluidly coupled to a pressurizeable fluid source for delivering a volume of pressurized fluid from the fluid source to the inner space. The porous membrane allows at least a substantial portion of the volume of pressurized fluid to pass through the porous wall for enhancing ablative coupling between the electrode and the region of tissue.

Abstract: A medical, electrically powered thermal cover for fitting predominantly the trunk and head of a person experiencing or potentially experiencing traumatic or cold-exposure hypothermia. The thermal cover encases all of the torso and neck, and portions of other body areas. Heating may be distinctly non-uniform, being applied to the body surface only in special regions where the body's capacity for heat uptake may be relatively high. In sum, the system may monitor deep body core temperature, direct heat to the body core where it may be most needed, and controls therapy over time to restore normothermia.

Abstract: A method of applying ablation energy to achieve transmurality including applying ablation energy at a starting power to a tissue site and monitoring the impedance of the tissue site. The power applied to the tissue site can be increased in response to detection of a power plateau or application of a first power for a minimum time according to some embodiments. A power applied to the tissue site can be reduced in response to an increase in impedance according to some embodiments. Transmurality can be indicated in response to a transmurality plateau following a rise in impedance according to some embodiments.

Abstract: A urological resectoscope (1) includes a tubular, metallic external stem (2) fitted with holes (3) in its distal end zone, a tubular insulating element (7, 27, 37, 47) being affixed distally to the external stem, further comprising a tubular internal stem (8) configured within the external stem and resting against it in sealing manner and an electrode support (13) longitudinally displaceable inside the internal stem and supporting a cutting loop (15) in the region of the insulating element (7, 27, 37, 47), the inside space of the internal stem (8) and the gap (12) between the stems (2, 8) being proximally connected to liquid hookups (10, 11), the insulating element (7, 27, 37, 47) being configured in longitudinally mutually overlapping manner within an affixation zone (6) and the insulating element (7, 27, 37, 47) exhibiting a wall thickness distally from the affixation zone (6) larger than the wall thickness of the external stem (2), wherein the inside diameter of the insulating element (27, 47) is the same

Abstract: Various devices and methods for dissecting and/or coagulating tissue are provided. In one embodiment, a surgical device is provided that includes an elongate member having proximal and distal ends, an energy emitter coupled to the distal end of the elongate member, and an insulating element that is disposed around the energy emitter. The insulating element can have an opening for receiving energy from the energy emitter, and the opening can be shaped to control a direction of energy emitted from the energy emitter.

Abstract: Electrode assemblies and handpieces for energy-based treatment systems that utilize an impedance assembly to facilitate impedance matching between the system and a patient. The electrode assembly and/or handpiece may include one or more circuit elements configured to introduce at least one supplemental impedance into an electrical circuit coupling the electrode assembly and handpiece. The supplemental impedance, which is related to the impedance of the treatment system and patient, is introduced when the electrode assembly is coupled with the handpiece.

Abstract: The use of an intravascular cooling element to induce hypothermia in connection with a medical procedure. According to a first aspect of the present, invention, a coronary bypass procedure is conducted in which a patient's blood is oxygenated with the patient's lungs and in which blood is circulated using the patient's heart or using an intracorporeal pump. The procedure preferably comprises: (a) positioning a heat transfer element in a blood vessel of a patient; (b) cooling the body of the patient to less than 35° C., more preferably 32±2° C., using the heat transfer element; and (c) forming a fluid communicating graft between an arterial blood supply and the coronary artery. The body of the patient is preferably heated to about 37° C. using the heat transfer element subsequent to the step of forming the fluid communicating graft.

Abstract: A method of performing cardiac surgery on a patient's heart, including covering a patient with an inflatable blanket for a forced air convection system, the inflatable blanket having at least one separable seal line within the blanket. The separable seal line may be separated to form a slit. A patient's femoral artery is accessed through the slit, and an elongate medical instrument is passed through the slit, and through the femoral artery toward the patient's heart. Cardiac surgery is performed with the elongate medical instrument, and the elongate medical instrument is withdrawn from the femoral artery through the slit.

Abstract: An extender for use in an electro-mechanical surgical system that includes a surgical attachment that may be detachably coupled to an electro-mechanical driver device via a flexible shaft. The extender is a substantially rigid extender that includes a proximal end that may be detachably coupled to a distal end of the flexible shaft. The extender also includes a distal end that may be detachably coupled to the surgical attachment. The extender also includes at least one rotatable drive shaft configured to engage and be secured with a respective rotatable drive shaft of the flexible shaft such that rotation of the respective rotatable drive shaft of the flexible shaft by the electro-mechanical driver device causes the at least one rotatable drive shaft of the extender to rotate, thereby rotating a complementary connector of the surgical attachment so as to operate the surgical attachment.

Abstract: A method of surgical perforation via the delivery of electrical, radiant or thermal energy comprising the steps of: introducing an apparatus comprising an energy delivery device into a patient's heart via the patient's superior vena cava; positioning the energy delivery device at a first location adjacent material to be perforated; and perforating the material by delivering energy via the energy delivery device; wherein the energy is selected from the group consisting of electrical energy, radiant energy and thermal energy.

Abstract: This relates to methods and devices for achieving contact between the wall of a cavity or passageway and a medical device when used in tortuous anatomy.

Abstract: Methods, computer programming and devices for transferring heat to and/or from a body portion of a mammal are provided. One approach includes directly determining a state of vasoconstriction or vasodilation in a portion of a body, and supplying heat to the portion of the body when vasoconstriction is determined, and removing heat from the portion of the body when vasodilation is determined. The body portion preferably includes specific heat exchange vasculature. In another approach, a transition of the body portion from a state of vasodilation to vasoconstriction is determined and the body portion is then actively kept in a state of vasodilation while removing heat therefrom.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for phototreatment in which replaceable containers comprising one or more adjuvant (consumable or re-useable) substances are employed. The adjuvant substance can be, for example, a topical substance or a coolant. Systems are disclosed for using a topical substance to detect contact of a phototreatment device with a tissue, detect speed of a phototreatment device over the tissue, detect regions of tissue that have been treated by a phototreatment device and/or to provide other benefits to the tissue such as improved skin tone and texture, tanning, etc. Safety systems are also disclosed that ensure that a proper consumable substance and/or container is connected to a phototreatment device and/or directed to a proper target. Additionally, cooling systems and methods that utilize phase change materials for extracting heat from a light generating device are disclosed.