Abstract: An elongate electrode is configured to flex and generate plasma to incise tissue. An electrical energy source operatively coupled to the electrode is configured to provide electrical energy to the electrode to generate the plasma. A tensioning element is operatively coupled to the elongate electrode. The tensioning element can be configured to provide tension to the elongate electrode to allow the elongate electrode to flex in response to the elongate electrode engaging the tissue and generating the plasma. The tensioning element operatively coupled to the flexible elongate electrode may allow for the use of a small diameter electrode, such as a 5 ?m to 20 ?m diameter electrode, which can allow narrow incisions to be formed with decreased tissue damage. In some embodiments, the tensioning of the electrode allows the electrode to more accurately incise tissue by decreasing variations in the position of the electrode along the incision path.

Abstract: A method for remote control of an electrosurgical device over a network is provided. The method including transmitting an activation request from a remote device to an electrosurgical device over a network, activating the electrosurgical device to output electrosurgical energy in response to receiving the activation request, starting a timer in response to receiving the activation request, and deactivating the electrosurgical device in response to at least one of the timer exceeding a predetermined time value or receiving a deactivation request from the remote device.

Abstract: A subcutaneously implantable device includes a housing, a clip attached to the housing, and an electrode. The clip is configured to move between an open position and a closed position to increase or decrease an opening between the housing and the clip to anchor the device to a muscle, a bone, and/or a first tissue. The electrode is configured to contact an organ, a nerve, the first tissue, and/or a second tissue. Circuitry in the housing is in electrical communication with the electrode and is configured to provide monitoring, therapeutic, and/or diagnostic capabilities with respect to the organ, the nerve, the first tissue, and/or the second tissue.

Abstract: A system for distributed heat flux sensing of body tissue includes a distributed sensor, a thermal energy source, and one or more processors. The distributed sensor provides a plurality of temperature measurements corresponding to a plurality of points in a measurement range. The thermal energy source applies thermal energy to the body tissue along the measurement range. The one or more processors are configured to receive the plurality of temperature measurements from the distributed sensor, determine an amount of thermal energy applied by the thermal energy source at each of the plurality of points, and determine heat flux at each of the plurality of points based on the plurality of temperature measurements and the amount of thermal energy applied by the thermal energy source. The plurality of temperature measurements correspond to the plurality of points.

Abstract: An arc-detection system for detecting an arc during an electrocautery surgical procedure may comprise a camera portion and an image processing controller portion. The camera portion may be sized for minimally invasive penetration into a patient's body. The camera portion may comprise a wide-angle lens having a field of view wider than 45 degrees and wider than a field of view of a conventional endoscopic camera system. The image processing controller portion may be configured to monitor images captured by the camera portion and configured to detect thermal changes to tissue at the surgical site.

Abstract: A method for controlling an output of an energy module of a modular energy system. The energy module can comprise a plurality of amplifiers configured to generate a drive signal at a frequency range and a plurality of ports coupled to the plurality of amplifiers. The method includes determining to which port of the plurality of ports the surgical instrument is connected, selectively coupling an amplifier of the plurality of amplifiers to the port of the plurality of ports to which the surgical instrument is connected, and controlling the amplifier to deliver the drive signal for driving the energy modality to the surgical instrument through the port.

Abstract: A basket-type EP catheter is described. The EP catheter comprises a catheter proximal end that is electrically connected to a controller by an electrical cable having a single voltage-out (Vout) conductor and a catheter distal end supporting a distal connector that is detachably connectable to a basket-shaped configuration of a plurality of splines. Each spline supports an array of electrodes. By sampling the voltage signal on each of the plurality of electrodes sequentially or consecutively, only one Vout conductor is needed to transmit the voltage sample to the controller. In comparison to conventional EP catheters, this greatly reduces the number of conductors extending along the catheter shaft. The use of a Vout conductor is implemented by connecting a polling circuit or a “one-shot” circuit and a signal pass-transistor or transmission gate to each electrode.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to controlling electrical power of an electrotherapeutic signal that is provided to a biological tissue engaged by an electrosurgical instrument during a medical procedure. Electrical power—a product of a voltage difference across and an electrical current conducted by the engaged biological tissue—is controlled according to a therapeutic schedule. The electrotherapeutic schedule can be reduced or terminated in response to a termination criterion being met. In some examples, the termination criterion is a current characteristic, such as, for example, a decrease in current conducted by the engaged biological tissue. In some examples, the termination criterion is a biological tissue resistance characteristic, such as, for example, an increase in the biological tissue resistance that exceeds a predetermined delta resistance value.

Abstract: A medical device for diagnosis or treatment of tissue in a body is provided. The device includes an elongate, tubular shaft configured to be received within the body. The shaft has a proximal portion and a distal portion configured for movement relative to the proximal portion. A flexible member having a predetermined stiffness is disposed between the proximal and distal portions. A plurality of coils are disposed within the shaft with one or more of the coils configured for movement with the distal portion. Electromagnetic fields generated from within or outside of the medical device induce currents in the coils from which movement of the distal portion in response to contact of the distal portion with the tissue may be determined. In one embodiment, several of the coils are connected in series to reduce the space required in the device for conductors.

Abstract: An exemplary microwave ablation system is provided. The system may use a switching antenna for both microwave heating of target tissue and microwave radiometry to monitor the temperature of the heated tissue to ensure that the desired temperatures are delivered to adequately treat the target tissue and achieve therapeutic goals. The system may integrate switching components into the switching antenna, which eliminates error from heating of the reference termination and heating of the electrical cables.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to controlling electrical power of an electrotherapeutic signal that is provided to a biological tissue engaged by an electrosurgical instrument during a medical procedure. Electrical power—a product of a voltage difference across and an electrical current conducted by the engaged biological tissue—is controlled according to a therapeutic schedule. The electrotherapeutic schedule can be reduced or terminated in response to a termination criterion being met. In some examples, the termination criterion is a current characteristic, such as, for example, a decrease in current conducted by the engaged biological tissue. In some examples, the termination criterion is a biological tissue resistance characteristic, such as, for example, an increase in the biological tissue resistance that exceeds a predetermined delta resistance value.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided to concentrate energy delivery in non-superficial target tissue within a trigone region of a human bladder wall to modulate bladder function.

Abstract: A method of automatically assigning foot pedals of a robotic surgical system to surgical instruments of a surgical robot of the robotic surgical system includes: receiving a signal that a first electrosurgical pedal is actuated; determining a number of electrosurgical instruments connected to the surgical robot in response to actuation of the first electrosurgical foot pedal; assigning the first electrosurgical foot pedal to a first electrosurgical instrument connected to the surgical robot after the first electrosurgical foot pedal is actuated; and delivering electrosurgical energy to the first electrosurgical instrument in response to actuation of the first electrosurgical foot pedal after assigning the first electrosurgical foot pedal to the first electrosurgical instrument.

Abstract: A subcutaneously implantable device includes a housing, a clip attached to the housing, and an electrode. The clip is configured to move between an open position and a closed position to increase or decrease an opening between the housing and the clip to anchor the device to a muscle, a bone, and/or a first tissue. The electrode is configured to contact an organ, a nerve, the first tissue, and/or a second tissue. Circuitry in the housing is in electrical communication with the electrode and is configured to provide monitoring, therapeutic, and/or diagnostic capabilities with respect to the organ, the nerve, the first tissue, and/or the second tissue.

Abstract: Thermal therapy systems, devices, and methods of using the same disclosed. A localized hypothermia of the pancreas with a delivery and placement procedure in the stomach of a patient comprising a cooling balloon system is disclosed that can be used for the treatment of pancreatitis in a patient. The cooling balloon system can have mechanisms for affecting the pancreas without impacting or inducing hypothermia in the patient in a systemic fashion. The localized hypothermia system can have a simplified delivery system and can be intended to reduce patient discomfort while reducing the metabolic activity of the inflamed pancreas of the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly. A sliding electrical coupling provides electrical continuity between components of the shaft while permitting movement of a second shaft component relative to a first shaft component at the joint. An end effector is positioned at a distal end of the shaft assembly and is operable to engage tissue of a patient. A sensor is positioned adjacent to the joint and is configured to measure a joint parameter indicating a state of the sliding electrical coupling. The sensor transmits a first signal indicative of the measured joint parameter to a control module. The control module determines whether the measured joint parameter exceeds a maximum deviation from a predetermined value. When the measured joint parameter exceeds a maximum deviation from a predetermined value, the control module initiates a responsive action.

Abstract: Surgical systems are disclosed. Surgical systems can include evacuation systems for evacuating smoke, fluid, and/or particulates from a surgical site. A surgical evacuation system can be intelligent and may include one or more sensors for detecting one or more properties of the surgical system, evacuation system, surgical procedure, surgical site, and/or patient tissue, for example.

Abstract: Systems and methods for manipulating the temperature of a surface are described. Described embodiments include thermal adjustment devices that may include a heatsink and that are operated in two or more modes of operation to apply a desired temperature to a user. In one operating mode the thermal adjustment device may apply a first temperature to an underlying surface while generating heat at a rate faster than the heatsink's heat dissipation rate. The thermal adjustment device may then apply a second temperature to reduce the rate of heat generation to be less than the heatsink's heat dissipation rate. These modes of operation may be applied cyclically to permit continuous operation of the thermal adjustment device. In some embodiments, the temperature profile applied when changing between the modes of operation may be selected such that the user experiences either a reduced, or substantially, neutral thermal sensation.

Abstract: A sub-microsecond pulsed electric field generator is disclosed. The field generator includes a controller, which generates a power supply control signal and generates a pulse generator control signal, and a power supply, which receives the power supply control signal and generates one or more power voltages based on the received power supply control signal. The field generator also includes a pulse generator which receives the power voltages and the pulse generator control signal, and generates one or more pulses based on the power voltages and based on the pulse generator control signal. In some embodiments, the controller receives feedback signals representing a value of a characteristic of or a result of the pulses and generates at least one of the power supply control signal and the pulse generator control signal based on the received feedback signals.

Abstract: An improved system described herein equipped with one or more Pulsed Field Electroporation (PFE) electrodes configured to cause localized and targeted PFE output at the targeted tissue, for example, in an ear, nose, or throat.