Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a movable handle, a trigger, a drive assembly operably coupled between the movable handle and an end effector assembly such that movement of the movable handle from an initial position to a compressed position manipulates the end effector assembly, and a linkage operably coupled between the trigger and a knife such that movement of the trigger from an un-actuated position to an actuated position rotates the linkage to deploy the knife relative to the end effector assembly. A drive housing of the drive assembly inhibits rotation of the linkage when the movable handle is disposed in the initial position and the trigger is disposed in the un-actuated position. The drive housing cams along a surface of the linkage to urge the linkage to rotate when the movable handle is returned towards the initial position, thereby returning the trigger towards the un-actuated position.

Abstract: An end effector is disclosed. The end effector includes a first jaw and a second jaw configured to move from a first position to a second position. The second jaw includes a channel and a cartridge removably coupled to the channel. A first electrode is configured to apply electrosurgical energy to a tissue and a second electrode is configured to apply electrosurgical energy to the tissue. In the second position a distance between the first electrode and the first jaw is greater than a distance between the second electrode and the first jaw. The first electrode is configured to apply electrosurgical energy to the tissue when the first and second jaws are moving from the first position to the second position, and the second electrode is configured to apply electrosurgical energy to the tissue in the second position.

Abstract: In an electrode assembly for a catheter system, a plurality of struts extends from a proximal end to a distal end of the electrode assembly. Each strut has a longitudinally extending proximal leg, a longitudinally extending distal leg, and a center segment extending between and interconnecting the proximal leg and the distal leg. A hinge interconnects the proximal leg and the center segment, and another hinge interconnects the distal leg and the center segment. The center segment of each of the struts has a corresponding electrode thereon. The electrode assembly is configurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, with the electrodes being transversely spaced from the longitudinal axis of the electrode assembly a greater distance in the expanded configuration than in the collapsed configuration.

Abstract: An antenna assembly for microwave ablation can include a radiator for emitting a microwave for ablation; a coaxial cable for transmitting the microwave for ablation generated by a microwave generator to the radiator; an annular composite structure is provided around the coaxial cable for inhibiting an electromagnetic wave from propagating backwards along the coaxial cable. In some embodiment, the annular composite structure comprises an annular nonmetallic layer and an annular metallic layer located outside the annular nonmetallic layer. In some embodiments, the annular metallic layer is electrically insulated from the coaxial cable. In some embodiments, the antenna assembly can be used with a microwave ablation needle. The annular composite structure can inhibit the backward propagation of the microwave along the coaxial cable exterior wall. In some embodiments, circulation water enters the radiation zone, to avoid high temperatures of the head the ablation needle.

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.

Abstract: A method in which a location is determined on the skin that is proximate to a sensory nerve that is associated with a painful condition. At least one needle of a cryogenic device is inserted into the location on the skin such that the needle is proximate to the sensory nerve. The device is activated such that the at least one needle creates a cooling zone about the sensory nerve, thereby eliminating or reducing severity of the painful condition.

Abstract: A vapor delivery device is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the vapor delivery device is that it can apply condensable vapor energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, denaturate tissues of the prostate. The vapor delivery device can include a handle portion and a cartridge portion. The cartridge portion can be configured to be inserted into a lumen of the handle portion to align and position a vapor coil of the cartridge portion within a RF coil of the handle portion. Methods associated with use of the energy delivery probe are also covered.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector and an actuator coupled to the end effector such that actuation of the actuator along a portion of an actuation path manipulates the end effector. A first activation button is electrically coupled to the end effector and is in-line with the actuation path. A first latch component is in-line with the actuation path; a selector is operably coupled to the actuator and movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a portion of the selector is positioned to activate the first activation button upon movement of the actuator along a portion of the actuation path to thereby supply energy to the end effector. In the second position, a second latch component of the selector is positioned to engage the first latch component to latch the actuator upon movement of the actuator along a portion of the actuation path.

Abstract: A surgical instrument has an end-effector located on the end of a rotatable shaft, the shaft projecting from a handle. A thumbwheel is provided at the proximal end of the handle, which controls the rotation of the shaft, and hence the rotational orientation of the end-effector. The end-effector is capable of grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a switch located on the upper surface of the proximal end of the handle. The switch is oriented on the handle to be generally above the thumbwheel, in a relative position to the thumbwheel so that both the thumbwheel and the switch may be activated by the user's thumb, without the user having to alter his grip on the handle. In one embodiment of the invention the switch is therefore vertically oriented above the thumbwheel.

Abstract: This document discloses EEG headset designs that address shortcomings in prior art headsets and also provides headset solutions for new and useful applications utilizing EEG headsets. One such application is brain computer interface (BCI) applications, and more specifically, a BCI application for stroke therapy in which the headset is utilized to obtain ipsilateral brain signals. This document also discloses BCI devices and methods utilizing EEG headsets.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device is provided and includes a handset having a shaft extending therefrom. The electrosurgical device includes a pair of electrodes disposed at a distal end of the shaft. One or more sensors are in operable communication with the pair of electrodes to detect a pressure applied thereto. The amount of electrosurgical energy that is transmitted to the pair of electrodes is proportional to the amount of pressure that is applied to the pair of electrodes and detected by the sensor.

Abstract: An irrigated needle electrode ablation catheter has a distal tip section with a tip electrode, a needle electrode assembly longitudinal movable relative to the catheter, and a needle centering insert in a channel in the tip electrode. The assembly has a proximal tubing and a distal needle electrode, and the insert supports the needle electrode in the channel at a predetermined separation distance from the tip electrode while enabling irrigation to flow circumferentially around the needle electrode through the channel and exit at the distal end of the tip electrode. The catheter also provides a first dedicated fluid pathway through the assembly and exits at the distal end of the needle electrode, and a second dedicated fluid pathway to supply fluid to the channel in the tip electrode, wherein the second pathway is defined by a guide tube and directed by a plunger member.

Abstract: Described herein are various implementations of systems and methods for accessing and modulating tissue (for example, systems and methods for accessing and ablating nerves or other tissue within or surrounding a vertebral body to treat chronic lower back pain). Assessment of vertebral endplate degeneration or defects (e.g., pre-Modic changes) to facilitate identification of treatment sites and protocols are also provided in several embodiments. Several embodiments comprise the use of biomarkers to confirm or otherwise assess ablation, pain relief, efficacy of treatment, etc. Some embodiments include robotic elements for, as an example, facilitating robotically controlled access, navigation, imaging, and/or treatment.

Abstract: Described here are devices and methods for treating hypertension by forming a fistula between two blood vessels to reduce blood pressure of a patient. The fistula may be formed using a catheter having an electrode that is placed in a first blood vessel. In some instances, a desired amount of blood pressure is determined. In other instances, the hypertension is drug resistant hypertension.

Abstract: A non-invasive electrodynamic radiative electroporation system and method for safe in vivo delivery of specific radiant energy to physiologically inaccessible sites for selective destruction of biomolecular function of virions, particularly Covid-19 and its variants. The system and method applies a computer or like controller to generate, modulate, direct and deliver applied external electric fields from plural antennas to target tissues in the full respiratory tract, including lung microstructures, cardiovascular tissues and neuron networks. Electric fields exceeding a critical threshold-value interact with the virus lipid bilayer membranes, intra-membrane organelles, mRNA, and biomolecular scaffold assemblies, to destroy virion function through irreversible electroporation and electropermeabilization.

Abstract: A plasma generator is described comprising an elongate member having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending therethrough, the proximal end configured to be connectable to a source of an inert gas, a plasma generation tip disposed at the distal end of the elongate member, the plasma generation tip configured to be in electrical communication with a power source, and an activation switch configured to control generation of plasma at the plasma generation tip, wherein the plasma generator is configured to be operably connectable to a medical device.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes a rigid portion, a flexible central portion, and a radiating portion. The rigid portion is configured to couple to a source of electrosurgical energy and to prevent fluid ingress towards the source of electrosurgical energy. The flexible central portion extends from the rigid portion and includes an inner conductor, a dielectric disposed about the inner conductor, and a conductive braid disposed about the dielectric. The radiating portion extends from the central portion and is configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue.

Abstract: A shaft assembly for a microwave ablation applicator which includes a shaft assembly and an antenna assembly located within the shaft assembly is disclosed. The shaft assembly comprises an elongate shaft which extends from a first end to a second end thereof, and which defines therein a hollow inner volume and a longitudinal axis of the antenna assembly, and an applicator tip mounted on the second end of the elongate shaft. The shaft assembly further includes a coolant delivery tube having a side wall which defines an elongate hollow interior.

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: An end effector for a surgical tool includes a distal clevis, first and second jaws rotatably mounted to the distal clevis at a first axle, and a proximal clevis rotatably coupled to the distal clevis at a second axle. An electrical conductor extends through the proximal clevis and terminates at the distal clevis to supply electrical energy to one or both of the first and second jaws.