Abstract: Components for an endoscopic vessel harvesting system include a vessel dissector and a vessel harvester. In this case, a vessel dissector is provided that is used in conjunction with an endoscope, and comprises: an elongated cannula including a lumen therein for receiving the endoscope; a blunt dissecting tip provided on a distal end of the elongated cannula that permits an operator of the vessel dissector to dissect tissue while viewing internal body structures via an objective lens of the endoscope; and a vessel severing tool extending through at least a portion of the elongated cannula, wherein the vessel severing tool is capable of translating longitudinally relative to the elongated cannula, and wherein the vessel severing tool comprises an electrode-carrying member that is capable of translating circumferentially within an arcuate slot extending through an outer surface of the vessel dissector.

Abstract: A microwave ablation system includes an antenna assembly configured to deliver microwave energy from an energy source to tissue and a coolant source operably coupled to the energy source and configured to selectively provide fluid to the antenna assembly via a fluid path. The system also includes a controller operably coupled to the energy source and a piezoelectric transducer operably coupled to the fluid path to detect a force of fluid flow through the fluid path. The piezoelectric transducer is configured to generate a signal based on the detected force of fluid through the fluid path. The controller is configured to control the energy source output based on the generated signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for noncontact ablation of tissues or materials in/on the body using a luminal catheter and a catheter inserted into the lumen. In one embodiment, the luminal catheter is an ablation catheter and the other catheter is a recording/measurement/positioning catheter. The luminal catheter incorporates a noncontact ablation element such as an ultrasonic transducer. The luminal catheter can be inserted through the skin and into the body (e.g., into the heart) and the recording/measurement/positioning catheter can be inserted into the lumen so that the ablation and recording/measurement/positioning catheters are simultaneously positioned to record/measure the electrical activity of the target tissue and ablate the target tissue without causing the trauma that results from the introduction of additional catheters. Either of the ablation and recording/measurement/positioning catheters can be steerable, and either may incorporate recording/measurement electrodes.

Abstract: In order to provide a temperature sensor or a temperature measuring apparatus having a temperature sensor, which enables direct temperature measurement, in particular even during treatment, in particular even with HF surgical devices, it is proposed that the temperature sensor includes a sensor element with a medium which can be excited to luminescence, in particular fluorescence, and an optical waveguide which is optically connected to the sensor element and is intended to supply light to the medium at an excitation wavelength and/or to pick up and conduct light at a luminescence wavelength of the medium which can be excited to luminescence.

Abstract: Peritoneal heat exchange provides the benefit of extremely rapid cooling of the patient's target organs such as the heart and brain as well as facilitating global patient body temperature reduction to therapeutically effective temperatures. The heat exchange medium of the present invention is a chilled gaseous fluid suspension of frozen ice particles.

Abstract: A system for use in tumor ablation. The tumor ablation system includes a microwave antenna which has a channel along the length thereof. There are two ports proximate the proximal end of the microwave antenna. The first port is an energy port configured to connect the antenna to an energy source. The second port is a fluid port configured to connect the channel to a fluid delivery mechanism. The system also includes an inflatable balloon configured to be attached to a distal end of the antenna. The channel permits fluid access from the fluid port to an interior of the balloon for inflation thereof.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for treating a patient having a sympathetically mediated disease associated at least in part with augmented peripheral chemoreflex or heightened sympathetic activation. The treatments include ablating one or more peripheral chemoreceptors or associated afferent nerves to reduce or remove afferent neural signals from the peripheral chemoreceptor.

Abstract: A method of directing energy to tissue includes the initial step of positioning an energy applicator for delivery of energy to target tissue. The energy applicator is provided with a surface-contact detection device including one or more optical transmitters and one or more optical receivers. The energy applicator is operably associated with an electrosurgical power generating source. The method also includes the steps of determining whether a radiating portion of the energy applicator is disposed in contact with the target tissue based on a determination of whether optical signals generated by the one or more optical transmitters result in reflected optical signals received at the one or more optical receivers, and if it is determined that the radiating portion of the energy applicator is disposed in contact with tissue, transmitting energy from the electrosurgical power generating source through the radiating portion to the target tissue.

Abstract: An electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation having features that support use at high frequencies without insulation breakdown and that provides increased efficiency of smoke evacuation during cutting and/or coagulation. The electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation includes a circuit board contained within a heat shrinkable plastic sleeve that is seated on a planar platform.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing having an elongated shaft that extends therefrom and a handle pivotable relative thereto. An end effector assembly is attached to a distal end of the shaft and includes first and second jaw members. The first jaw member is pivotably attached to a distal end of the shaft and the second jaw member extends along a longitudinal axis defined therethrough and fixed to the distal end of the shaft by a living hinge. The first jaw member, upon actuation of the handle, is movable relative to the second jaw member between spaced-apart position, an approximated position for grasping tissue, and a second position for over-compressing tissue grasped between jaw members. A knife is disposed within a channel defined within the second jaw member and is exposed to cut tissue when the first jaw member over-travels to over-compress the second jaw member.

Abstract: An electrosurgical dissection apparatus is disclosed, and includes a thermally insulating body, a thermally conductive insert, at least one active electrode, and at least one return electrode. The at least one active electrode is disposed on the thermally conductive insert, and the at least one return electrode is spaced from the at least one active electrode by a portion of the thermally insulating body. The thermally conductive insert is configured to cauterize tissue dissected by radiofrequency energy passing from the at least one active electrode to the at least one return electrode.

Abstract: An example of a system may include a depletion block neural stimulator and a depletion block controller. The depletion block neural stimulator may be configured to deliver a depletion block stimulation to a nerve. The depletion block stimulation may include a series of pulses at a pulse frequency within a range between about 100 Hz to about 1000 Hz. The depletion block controller may be configured to communicate with the depletion block neural stimulator and control the depletion block stimulation. The depletion block controller may be configured to receive a start depletion block signal and respond to the received start depletion block signal by initiating the delivery of the depletion block stimulation to the nerve, and the depletion block controller may be configured to receive a stop depletion block signal and respond to the received stop depletion block signal by terminating the delivery of the depletion block stimulation to the nerve.

Abstract: Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect nerve tissue such that reinnervation is inhibited. The treatment systems are capable of delivering energy to nerve tissue in a target region such that at least a portion of the nerve tissue is replaced by scar tissue or otherwise altered to inhibit reinnervation in the target region.

Abstract: Treatment systems, methods, and apparatuses for improving the appearance of skin or other target regions are described as well as for providing for other treatments. Aspects of the technology are directed to improving the appearance of skin by tightening the skin, improving skin tone or texture, eliminating or reducing wrinkles, increasing skin smoothness, or improving the appearance of cellulite. Treatments can include cooling a surface of a patient's skin and detecting at least one freeze event in the cooled skin. The treatment system can continue cooling the patient's skin after the freeze event(s) are detected so to maintain at least a partially frozen state of the tissue for a period of time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing RF ablation while monitoring the procedure using low coherence interferometry (LCI) data are described. A catheter includes a distal section, a proximal section, a multiplexer, and a sheath coupled between the distal section and the proximal section. The distal section includes several interconnected optical ports configured to transmit exposure radiation toward a sample and receive radiation that have been reflected or scattered from the sample. The interconnected optical ports are formed on a substrate having rigid sections and flexible sections arranged around the distal section. A holder maintains the interconnected optical elements in a fixed spatial relationship.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator and an instrument coupled to the electrosurgical generator. The electrosurgical generator includes an output stage configured to generate the electrosurgical energy at a plurality of radio frequencies, a plurality of sensors configured to sense a voltage waveform and a current waveform of the electrosurgical energy, and a controller coupled to the output stage and the plurality of sensors. The instrument supplies the electrosurgical energy to the tissue. The controller of the electrosurgical generator is further configured to calculate at least one parasitic parameter based on the electrosurgical energy at the plurality of frequencies and control the output stage based on the at least one parasitic parameter.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for minimally-invasive selective fat removal from a target area by injecting the area with a solution of photo-absorbing nanoparticles and irradiating the injected area with a beam of near infrared (NIR) light. The NIR emission wavelength excites the nanoparticles to melt fat within the target area so that the liquefied fat can be aspirated from the target area. The nanoparticles may be gold nanorods having aspect ratios selected to produce surface plasmon resonance when irradiated with NIR light around 800 nm.

Abstract: A microwave ablation system includes an antenna assembly configured to deliver microwave energy from a power source to tissue and a coolant source operably coupled to the power source and configured to selectively provide fluid to the antenna assembly via a fluid path. The system also includes a controller operably coupled to the power source and a sensor operably coupled to the fluid path and the controller. The sensor is configured to detect fluid flow through the fluid path and the controller is configured to control the energy source based on the detected fluid flow.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an electrosurgical device comprising: forceps including: a first and a second working arm; a blade; wherein the device is switchable between: (A) a first configuration where the first and second working arms move towards each other to grasp tissue therebetween; (B) a second configuration where the first and second working arms are secured together to prevent movement of the first and second working arm towards each other; and (C) a third configuration where the first and second working arms are secured together and are prevented from moving towards each other, and the blade is substantially flush with or extends beyond a distal end of the first and second working arms; and wherein the device delivers a bipolar current, and prevents current from flowing from the blade when in the first configuration and the second configuration; and delivers current through the blade when in the third configuration.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system including or connected to an output circuitry comprising an electrosurgical device and an electrical cable is modelled during a cable interrogation phase using a transfer matrix in order to determine a leakage capacitance in the electrosurgical system. After the leakage capacitance is assigned or set to a virtual capacitor in the transfer matrix, an output parameter of the electrosurgical system, such as output voltage, output current, output impedance or output electrical power, may be determined by applying an actual input voltage to the output circuitry and measuring a resulting input current, and multiplying the input voltage and measured current by the transfer matrix.