Abstract: Embodiments of a guide and flexible sleeve for use with catheters for ablation or other medical procedures are disclosed. An exemplary catheter comprises a guide element having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end configurable in a desired shape. A flexible sleeve is conformable to the guide element so that the flexible sleeve slides over the guide element, the flexible sleeve has a proximal end and a distal end. A controller couples to the flexible sleeve. The controller operates to move the flexible sleeve at least part way between the distal end of the guide element and the proximal end of the guide element. At least one ablation element disposed at the distal end of the flexible sleeve operates to form a substantially continuous ablative lesion when the flexible sleeve is in contact with a contiguous volume of target tissue.

Abstract: An energy generator includes a connector port configured to couple to an electrosurgical instrument including an electrode having a polymeric dielectric coating; a power converter configured to generate energy; and a sensor coupled to the power converter and configured to sense a parameter of the energy. The energy generator also includes a controller coupled to the sensor and the power converter. The controller is configured to: control the power converter to output energy to modify an electrical property of the polymeric dielectric coating; and determine whether the electrical property of the polymeric dielectric coating has been sufficiently modified by the energy.

Abstract: A catheter is disclosed comprising a catheter shaft including a proximal end and a distal end. A flexible framework can be connected to the distal end of the catheter shaft, wherein the flexible framework includes a plurality of heating electrodes and a temperature sensor. The plurality of heating electrodes can be configured to be heated to a first temperature, the first temperature being lower than which radio frequency ablation is performed. The plurality of heating electrodes can be configured to be heated to a second temperature, the second temperature being a temperature at which radio frequency ablation is performed.

Abstract: This invention provides a device for mapping and ablating the renal nerves distributed on renal artery, having a guide catheter, a mapping-ablation catheter, a handle and a connector. The guide catheter has at least one lumen and a distal end with adjustable curvature. The mapping-ablation catheter is housed in one of the lumens of the guide catheter and its distal end has one or more electrodes and one or more detecting devices. The distal end of the mapping-ablation catheter is curved, rotatable, and can be extended out of or retracted into the guide catheter. The handle connects the guide catheter and mapping-ablation catheter, and has one or more controlling components for controlling the movement of the guide catheter and mapping-ablation catheter. The connector is designed to supply energy to the electrodes.

Abstract: A method is provided, including inserting a catheter into a right atrium of a heart of the subject. A distal portion of the catheter is advanced toward a fossa ovalis of the heart. A flexible longitudinal member is deployed from the catheter, such that a deployed portion of the flexible longitudinal member is loop-shaped. The fossa ovalis is contacted with the deployed portion of the flexible longitudinal member. A needle is deployed from the catheter. A distal end of the needle is brought in contact with a site on a surface of an interatrial septum of the heart outside the fossa ovalis. A hole is formed through the interatrial septum at the site with the needle. The deployed portion of the flexible longitudinal member is withdrawn toward the catheter.

Abstract: A flexible probe has an assembly in its distal end that includes a transmitter and a receiver that receives signals from the transmitter for sensing a position of the receiver relative to the transmitter. A resilient element disposed between the transmitter and the receiver is configured to deform in response to pressure exerted on the distal tip when the distal tip engages a wall of a body cavity.

Abstract: A processor of an electric power source device exercises control over a power output before a control switching time point based on a value related to initial impedance, and determines the control switching time point upon detecting that a value related to impedance of a living tissue is at a minimum. The processor sets a set electric-power value of the power output based on a parameter related to controlling the power output before the control switching time point, and performs constant-electric-power control by controlling the power output using the electric-power value at and after the control switching time point.

Abstract: A microwave applicator for insertion into living body tissue for use in microwave coagulation and ablation treatments includes a microwave transmission line extending between an attachment end of the applicator and an antenna toward an insertion end of the applicator with an outer conductive sleeve forming an enclosed cooling fluid space around the transmission line. Circulation of cooling fluid is guided in the cooling fluid space by a guide sleeve. A fluid circulation system provides a plurality of fluid supply connectors and fluid return connectors which can be connected and used with any number of applicators between one and the number of the fluid supply connectors provided by the system. A portion of the applicator inserted into the tissue can stick to the tissue to stabilize the applicator during treatment. A warning marking on the applicator can be used during track ablation to prevent ablation of the patient skin tissue.

Abstract: A monopolar telescopic electrosurgery pencil with argon beam capabilities which includes telescoping members contained within the pencil and a monopolar electrosurgery blade assembly with a non-conductive tube member for an inert gas.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a switch base, a power bus coupled to the switch base, an electrical lead coupled to the power bus, an actuator operatively engaged with the power bus, an actuator operatively engaged with the power bus, a membrane, and a housing. The switch base has top, bottom, and side surfaces. The membrane is disposed over the top surface of the switch base and over the power bus to seal the top surface of the switch base. The housing defines proximal and distal ends and a switch base cavity between the proximal and distal ends. The housing includes bulkheads that form a plurality of fluid impermeable seals that are disposed adjacent one of the proximal and distal ends. The fluid impermeable seals are configured to deter fluid from penetrating a proximal portion of the switch base cavity within which the electrical lead is coupled to the power bus.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity. A method comprises introducing transcervically a probe into a patient's uterine cavity, providing a flow of a fluid (e.g., CO2) through the probe into the uterine cavity and monitoring the rate of the flow to characterize the uterine cavity as perforated or non-perforated based on a change in the flow rate.

Abstract: A balloon ablation catheter includes a catheter shaft containing a reinforcement wire in a thick section; a balloon provided at an end of the catheter shaft; and a high-frequency electric current electrode arranged in the balloon; which balloon ablation catheter satisfies L>t, wherein L represents the shortest distance from the surface of the reinforcement wire to the surface of the catheter shaft, and t represents the wall thickness of the thinnest portion of the balloon.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an energy source adapted to supply energy to tissue. The energy source includes a microprocessor configured to execute a tissue treatment algorithm configured to control the supply of electrosurgical energy to tissue and process a configuration file including at least one parameter of the tissue treatment algorithm. The at least one parameter is adjustable to effect a tissue seal result. The microprocessor generates a target impedance trajectory based on at least one parameter of the tissue treatment algorithm and is further configured to drive tissue impedance along the target impedance trajectory by adjusting the supply of energy to tissue to substantially match tissue impedance to a corresponding target impedance value. The system also includes an electrosurgical instrument including at least one active electrode adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue.

Abstract: A surgical controller for controlling a treatment instrument, the surgical controller including one or more processors configured to: detect whether a switch is actuated; control a first surgical energy source to actuate the treatment instrument to perform a first treatment based on a first surgical energy in response to detecting that the switch is actuated; detect whether a parameter reaches a predetermined value during actuation of the treatment instrument to perform the first treatment; and control the second surgical energy source to actuate the treatment instrument to perform a second treatment based on a second surgical energy different from the first surgical energy in response to detecting that the parameter reached the predetermined value.

Abstract: A surgical operation system includes a US signal output section, an HV signal output section, a probe having a treatment section which has an HV signal applied thereto and vibrates by ultrasound, an HV signal main controller that performs feedback control of the HV signal output section based on the HV signal, a US signal main controller that performs feedback control of the US signal output section based on a US signal, and an HV signal auxiliary controller that controls the HV signal output section based on the US signal, and has a response time shorter than that of the HV signal main controller.

Abstract: RF tissue ablation devices are provided. Aspects of the RF tissue ablation devices include an elongated member having a proximal and distal end, first and second jaws at the distal end, wherein the first and second jaws are configured to apply intra and inter RF energy to tissue disposed between the jaws during use, and a connector at the proximal end for operatively connecting to a RF energy source. Also provided are systems that include an RF tissue ablation device operatively coupled to a RF energy source, as well as kits that include the devices and methods of using the devices in RF tissue ablation applications, including cardiac applications.

Abstract: A medical device includes: a housing; a switch provided on the housing; and a converter provided in the housing. The switch is configured to allow switching between a plurality of states and is configured to output a first signal in response to one of the states to which the switching is performed. The converter is configured to convert the first signal into a second signal of a different system when the converter receives the output of the first signal, and is configured to output the second signal to an outside configured to detect the second signal.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft having a proximal structural member and a proximal drive member that is selectively movable with respect to the proximal structural member. A modular end effector is removably coupled to the elongated shaft, and has a distal structural member and a distal drive member that is operatively coupled to a pair of jaw members. A separable joint is defined between the elongated shaft and the end effector. The separable joint includes laterally prominent and laterally indented portions of each of the proximal and distal structural members and of each of the proximal and distal drive members. The structural members are interlocked to resist longitudinal separation and permit lateral separation. The drive members are movable relative to structural members to move the separable joint to a locked configuration wherein the drive members prohibit lateral separation of the structural members.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system for tissue cauterization may include a user interface, a front panel display, an electrosurgical generator, a power supply of the electrosurgical generator, a system control of the electrosurgical generator, an RF system of the electrosurgical generator, and a bipolar forceps assembly. The electrosurgical system may be configured to cauterize a tissue. A tissue cauterization may include system activation, tissue impedance analysis, establishment of tissue cauterization parameters, monitoring and adjustment of tissue cauterization, and system deactivation. The establishment of tissue cauterization parameters may include establishing a tissue cauterization curve configured to minimize an amount of time required to cauterize a tissue.

Abstract: A control system for use with an electrosurgical generator which delivers electrosurgical energy to tissue has a control module. The module includes a processor executing an algorithm. The algorithm has the steps of determining a sensed voltage value corresponding to a sensed voltage signal output by the electrosurgical generator and determining a sensed current value corresponding to a sensed current signal output by the electrosurgical generator. The algorithm has the steps of determining phase information corresponding to a phase shift between the voltage signal and the current signal and determining a characteristic related to the electrosurgical energy delivered to the tissue using the phase information, the sensed voltage value and the sensed current value.