Abstract: An electrode assembly for an electrosurgical pencil includes an insulative housing. A locking plate is supported at a distal end of the insulative housing about a pivot, the locking plate including a series of locking holes defined therein. A tip assembly is coupled to a distal end of the locking plate and is configured to treat tissue. A connection is coupled to a proximal end of the insulative housing and is electrically coupled to the tip assembly. One or more locking fingers is operably disposed within the housing and is movable between a first position allowing rotation of the locking plate and the tip assembly about the pivot and a second position preventing rotation of the locking plate and the tip assembly. The finger(s) is configured to engage a corresponding one of the series of locking holes to prevent rotation of the locking plate and the tip assembly.

Abstract: A cryosurgical instrument includes a feed line for conveying fluid into an expansion chamber. The feed line has a capillary line section that terminates in the expansion chamber and forms an aperture for the fluid to undergo the Joule-Thomson effect. The flow cross-section of the feed line decreases in at least one transition section of the feed line in the form of a funnel. Following each transition section there preferably follows a step section, in which latter section the flow cross-section is preferably largely constant. The last step section is preferably formed by the capillary line section. Due to the acceleration of the fluid in the transition sections and the abating of pressure fluctuations in the capillary tube section and, optionally in the additional step sections, the expansion range in the expansion chamber is increased, without impeding the backflow of the expanded gas out of the expansion chamber.

Abstract: A generator, ultrasonic device, and method of determining a temperature of an ultrasonic blade are disclosed. A control circuit coupled to a memory determines an actual resonant frequency of an ultrasonic electromechanical system comprising an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade by an ultrasonic waveguide. The actual resonant frequency is correlated to an actual temperature of the ultrasonic blade. The control circuit retrieves from the memory a reference resonant frequency of the ultrasonic electromechanical system. The reference resonant frequency is correlated to a reference temperature of the ultrasonic blade. The control circuit then infers the temperature of the ultrasonic blade based on the difference between the actual resonant frequency and the reference resonant frequency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (1) for stimulating renal nerves of a renal artery of a subject (3). The system comprises a stimulation device (12, 17, 28) for stimulating the renal nerves, a measuring unit (20) for measuring the blood pressure and/or the heart rate of the subject at at least two times, wherein at least one of these times is during or after the stimulation of the renal nerves, and a subject suitability determination unit (14) for determining whether the subject is suitable for a renal sympathetic denervation procedure based on the measured blood pressure and/or the measured heart rate. The invention allows therefore for a preselection of subjects which are suitable for a renal sympathetic denervation procedure.

Abstract: An endosurgical device is provided. The endosurgical device comprises a flexible tube having at least two lengthwise extending channels, an end effector comprising two opposite jaws having opposite cutting edges, an effector sleeve that surrounds the tube at least at the distal tube end, and means for reciprocating the end effector axially in relation to the effector sleeve to close the jaws when the effector sleeve is moved forward and backwards to close and open the jaws, respectively. The exterior face of the opposite jaws is electrically insulated, and an electrical cord for providing current to the end effector extends inside one of the lengthwise extending channels of the tube. The endosurgical device may allow the surgeon to take several tissue specimens from an organ and to perform several functionalities when the device is inside the organ.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument (1) includes a first shaft member (110) pivotably coupled to a second shaft member (120), and a trigger (184) disposed on the second shaft member (120). The first and second shaft members (110,120) respectively include first and second handle members (130,140), and first and second jaw members (150,160). The first and second shaft members (110,120) define a longitudinal axis extending through a pivot, and first and second pivot axes that are substantially orthogonal to each other and the longitudinal axis. At least one of the first or second handle members (130,140) is pivotable about the first pivot axis to move the first and second jaw members (150,160) to an open position, a grasping position, or a sealing position. The trigger (184) is movable to pivot at least one of the first or second shaft members (110,120) about the second pivot axis to laterally displace the first and second jaw members (150,160) relative to each other to a cutting position.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for treating an area of tissue and evaluating lesion formation and quality. The system may include a medical device having a plurality of mapping electrodes on a treatment element, the plurality of mapping electrodes being configured to record from the area of tissue at least one of unipolar impedance measurements, bipolar impedance measurements, local electrical activity, and pace threshold measurements before, during, and after circulation of the cryogenic fluid within the treatment element. These measurements may be transmitted to a control unit having processing circuitry configured to compare pre-treatment measurements, in-treatment measurements, and/or post-treatment measurements to each other and/or to threshold values to determine occlusion and/or lesion quality, such as lesion transmurality.

Abstract: A high frequency treatment instrument can be opened and closed between a first grasping jaw and a second grasping jaw. A lumen is formed inside the first grasping jaw. The first grasping jaw includes an electrode disposed on a side toward which the first gasping jaw is closed, with respect to the lumen. The electrode has an electrode surface arranged opposite the second grasping jaw and extending from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion of the first grasping jaw. The first grasping jaw has a distal end wall disposed opposing from a distal end side of the first grasping jaw toward a distal end edge of the electrode surface, and a clearance between the distal end edge of the electrode surface and the distal end wall communicates to the lumen and opens toward the side toward which the first grasping jaw is closed.

Abstract: A self-limiting electrosurgical return electrode for use with electrosurgical procedures is disclosed. The return electrode includes a conductive element and pads disposed on opposing sides of the conductive element. The conductive element, optionally in combination with the pads, is configured to limit the density of electrical current that passes from a patient to the return electrode. The conductive element and the pads can cooperate to define two separate working surfaces on opposing sides of the return electrode. The return electrode can also be safely used with patients of substantially any size and without requiring adjustments to the power settings of an electrosurgical generator.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods, and devices for electroporation-based therapies (EBTs). Embodiments provide patient-specific treatment protocols derived by the numerical modeling of 3D reconstructions of target tissue from images taken of the tissue, and optionally accounting for one or more of physical constraints or dynamic tissue properties. The present invention further relates to systems, methods, and devices for delivering bipolar electric pulses for irreversible electroporation exhibiting reduced or no damage to tissue typically associated with an EBT-induced excessive charge delivered to the tissue.

Abstract: An instrument including a first arm and a second arm. The first arm includes a first jaw including a first distal end. The second arm includes a second jaw including a second distal end. One of the first jaw and the second jaw includes a first protrusion. When the instrument is moved into a closed configuration, the first distal end and the second distal end make contact, which occurs after the first protrusion and the opposing jaw make contact.

Abstract: A cryoprobe is used during surgery in a human body to remove unwanted tissue. The cryoprobe includes a first gas supply line and a second gas supply line for delivering a supply of cryogenic gas from at least adjacent a proximal end to at least adjacent a distal end of the cryoprobe. The cryoprobe further includes a first gas return line and a second gas return line for returning the supply of cryogenic gas from at least adjacent the distal end to at least adjacent the proximal end of the cryoprobe. At least a portion of the first gas supply line is received in the first gas return line. A transition portion having at least one internal cavity and an aperture from the at least one internal cavity to an exterior portion of the transition portion is also included in the cryoprobe.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) current sensor for remotely activating a smoke evacuation device in an electrosurgical system includes a sensor body with a cable interfacing sidewall and a retaining member. The cable interfacing sidewall and the retaining member define a retention pocket for receiving a cable communicating RF current. The RF current sensor additionally includes a sensor element for detecting RF current in the cable and a sensor cable in electrical communication with the sensor element. The RF current sensor can operate in at least two modes, depending on whether the cable communicates RF current to a monopolar or bipolar electrosurgical instrument, but regardless of the operation mode, the sensor cable can communicate an activation signal and a current signal derived from the detected RF current to the smoke evacuation device, which activates or adjusts the period of time and/or the smoke evacuation flow rate of a vacuum source.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods of determining orientation of a distal end of a medical instrument (e.g., electrode-tissue orientation of an RF ablation catheter) are described herein. One or more processors may be configured to receive temperature measurements from each of a plurality of temperature-measurement devices distributed along a length of the distal end of the medical instrument and determine the orientation from a group of two or more possible orientation options based on whether temperature measurement values or characteristics of temperature response determined from the temperature measurement values satisfy one or more orientation criteria.

Abstract: A target-treating system treats a target disposed within a bone of a patient. The system comprises a probe configured to be inserted into the bone and navigated therethrough toward the target. The probe comprises a shaft that includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a main body extending between and interconnecting the proximal end and the distal end. The distal end is configured to engage the target such that, upon activation of the probe, the target is treated.

Abstract: A jaw assembly that includes a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw includes a first outer jaw member having an effecting surface; a first inner jaw member having an effecting surface; and an element connecting the first outer jaw member and the first inner jaw member. The first inner jaw member is moveable relative to the first outer jaw member. The effecting surface of the first outer jaw member is proud of the effecting surface of the first inner jaw member in a direction of the second jaw.

Abstract: A medical device system may include a structure including a first elongate member, a line including a plurality of flexible members, and an actuator coupled to the line to selectively transmit force to at least the first elongate member. The structure may include a delivery configuration in which at least a portion of the structure is arranged to be percutaneously delivered to a bodily cavity. Respective portions of the flexible members may be intertwined together to form a braided portion of the line, and the line may include an unbraided portion secured at least to the first elongate member. The braided portion of the line may be located between the actuator and the first elongate member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, energizable member, first activation switch, cable assembly, and second activation switch. The housing is operatively associated with the energizable member. The first activation switch is coupled to the energizable member and is selectively transitionable from an open condition to a closed condition. The cable assembly is coupled to the housing at a first end and includes a plug at a second, opposite end, the plug housing a second activation switch selectively transitionable from an open condition to a closed condition. The plug is adapted to connect to the source of electrosurgical energy, wherein transitioning of the first activation switch from the open condition to the closed condition transitions the second activation switch from the open condition to the closed condition such that the second activation switch communicates with the source of electrosurgical energy to initiate the supply of energy to the energizable member.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods, and devices for electroporation-based therapies (EBTs). Embodiments provide patient-specific treatment protocols derived by the numerical modeling of 3D reconstructions of target tissue from images taken of the tissue, and optionally accounting for one or more of physical constraints or dynamic tissue properties. The present invention further relates to systems, methods, and devices for delivering bipolar electric pulses for irreversible electroporation exhibiting reduced or no damage to tissue typically associated with an EBT-induced excessive charge delivered to the tissue.

Abstract: An arthroscopic or other surgical system includes a handpiece and a probe. The handpiece carries a motor drive, and the probe has a proximal hub and an elongate shaft which extends about a longitudinal axis to a working end of the probe. The hub is configured for detachably coupling to the handpiece, and the motor drive is configured to couple to a rotating drive coupling in the hub when the hub is coupled to the handpiece. A first magnetic component is carried by the hub, and a second magnetic component is coupled to rotate with the rotating drive coupling.