Abstract: Methods and systems for modulating intraosseous nerves (e.g., nerves within bone) are provided. For example, the methods and systems described herein may be used to modulate (e.g., denervate, ablate) basivertebral nerves within vertebrae. The modulation of the basivertebral nerves may facilitate treatment of chronic back pain. The modulation may be performed by a neuromodulation device (e.g., an energy delivery device).

Abstract: An ablation catheter including an elongate shaft, an inflatable balloon positioned at a distal region of the elongate shaft, a first ablation electrode disposed outside of and carried by an outer surface of the inflatable balloon, a first ultrasound transducer disposed outside of the inflatable balloon, and a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit includes a first conductor and a second conductor and is disposed outside of and carried by the outer surface of the inflatable balloon. The first conductor is in electrical communication with the first ablation electrode, and the second conductor in electrical communication with the first ultrasound transducer.

Abstract: At a distal portion of a shaft of a guide portion included in a medical device, a first portion is configured to be capable of coming into contact with an inner wall of a living organ. A second portion is disposed on a proximal side of the shaft with respect to the first portion. The second position is configured to be capable of coming into contact with the inner wall of the living organ at a position different from that of the first portion on a transverse cross section of the inner wall of the living organ. A treatment portion is movable in a lumen of the shaft in a state where at least a part of the first portion and at least a part of the second portion come into contact with the inner wall of the living organ.

Abstract: Developed is a tissue joining device for endoscopic surgery, which can be used in NOTES, or the like. As a result of intensive studies carried out to solve the problem described above, the inventors of the present invention have conceived of two tissue joining device having quite novel structures and completed the present invention.

Abstract: A surgical device for examination and treatment of a target area. The surgical device includes a shaft portion that extends along a longitudinal axis and that is configured to be inserted into a patient's body, a surgical tool provided within the outer sheath and configured to be movable along the longitudinal axis, and an optical assembly provided at a distal end of the inner shaft, the optical assembly including a light source and an imaging sensor.

Abstract: A forceps including a gripping assembly. The gripping assembly includes an upper jaw and a lower jaw. The upper jaw includes a proximal end and a distal end. The upper jaw includes an upper tooth having an upper proximally facing canted tooth surface and an upper distally facing canted tooth surface. The lower jaw includes a proximal end and a distal end. The lower jaw includes a socket having a lower distally facing canted socket surface and a lower proximally facing socket surface. The upper jaw, the lower jaw, or both are moveable so that the gripping assembly moves between an open position and a gripping position. In the gripping position, a gap is defined between the upper distally facing canted tooth surface and the lower proximally facing socket surface.

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: Various systems and methods for determining the composition of tissue via an ultrasonic surgical instrument are disclosed. A control circuit can be configured to monitor the change in resonant frequency of an ultrasonic electromechanical system of the ultrasonic surgical instrument as the ultrasonic blade oscillates against a tissue and determine the composition of the tissue accordingly. In some aspects, the control circuit can be configured to modify the operation of the ultrasonic electromechanical system or other operational parameters of the ultrasonic surgical instrument according to the detected tissue composition.

Abstract: This document relates to devices and methods for the treatment of heart conditions. For example, this document provides devices and methods for treating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, including diastolic heart failure, by performing a pericardial modification procedure. The methods for treating diastolic heart failure of a patient include: creating an opening in a parietal layer, and only in the parietal layer, of a pericardial tissue of the patient. The creation of this opening reduces pressure exerted by the pericardial tissue on a heart of the patient.

Abstract: Retrieval of material from vessel lumens can be improved by electrically enhancing attachment of the material to the thrombectomy system. The system can include a catheter having a distal portion configured to be positioned adjacent to a thrombus in a blood vessel, an electrode disposed at the distal portion of the catheter, and an interventional element configured to be delivered through a lumen of the catheter. The electrode and the interventional element are each configured to be electrically coupled to an extracorporeal current generator. Delivery of current to the interventional element can be gradually ramped up during initialization to improve patient comfort and safety.

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 system for recording or recalling ablation information includes a workstation, and control circuitry. The workstation may include a display, a user input device, and a memory. The workstation may be configured to be in electrical communication with an ablation device. The control circuitry may be in electrical communication with the ablation device and the memory. The control circuitry may be configured to receive input associated with an ablation procedure performed by the ablation device, and associate the input with an anatomical structure of the patient.

Abstract: Methods and systems for modulating intraosseous nerves (e.g., nerves within bone) are provided. For example, the methods and systems described herein may be used to modulate (e.g., denervate, ablate) basivertebral nerves within vertebrae. The modulation of the basivertebral nerves may facilitate treatment of chronic back pain. The modulation may be performed by a neuromodulation device an energy delivery device).

Abstract: A catheter ablation system includes: a catheter probe having distal end including: a temperature sensor; a plurality of irrigation holes; and an ablating electrode; a radiofrequency (RF) heating controller coupled to the catheter probe and configured to supply RF energy to the ablating electrode to control the ablating electrode to emit heat at a target power; an irrigation controller coupled to the catheter probe and configured to supply an irrigation fluid at a continuously adjustable irrigation flow rate through the catheter probe to exit through the irrigation holes; and an operating console having a processor and memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the irrigation controller to set the irrigation flow rate based on the target power and a target average temperature.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of treating affected external or surface tissue comprising the steps of providing a source of affected external or surface tissue; generating a source of microwave energy; transmitting said microwave energy into said affected external or surface tissues; exposing said affected external and surface tissues to said microwave energy to raise the local temperature to thereby ablate, remove, coagulate or otherwise alter said affected external and surface tissues.

Abstract: A cardiac pacing and irreversible electroporation (IRE) apparatus includes a pulse generator and a shaping circuit. The pulse generator is configured to generate IRE pulses of prespecified shape and repetition rate. The shaping circuit is configured to convert some of the IRE pulses into pacing pulses of prespecified frequency and amplitude, to generate an output signal including ones of the IRE pulses interleaved with ones of the pacing pulses, and to output the output signal to a probe in a heart of a patient for applying the output signal to cardiac tissue.

Abstract: The cooling system cools a patient's tissue while applying suction to the skin and applying ultrasound waves to the tissue to reduce fat cells. The cooling applicator simultaneously provides suction, cooling, and ultrasound to the treatment area of the patient. The applicator connects to a suction to draw the tissue longitudinally into a cavity of the applicator. Cooling plates located laterally outward from the cavity cool the tissue during the treatment. A transducer located longitudinally above the cavity transmits ultrasound waves longitudinally downward into the cavity and the tissue. The ultrasound provides non-focused treatment such that the transducer transmits the ultrasound waves oriented horizontally and vertically longitudinally downward at the tissue. A treatment pad placed on the patient's skin directly contacts the patient such that the applicator does not directly contact the patient. The treatment pad is constructed from a fabric storing a glycerin gel, deionized water, and fructose.

Abstract: A system includes a heat exchange catheter line assembly configured to convey working fluid circulating to and from at least one heat exchange element on an intravascular heat exchange catheter. The system also includes a heat exchange system that itself includes a processor and is configured for fluidly communicating with the heat exchange catheter line assembly to exchange heat with the working fluid. A near filed communication (NFC) member associated with the heat exchange system and an NFC element associated with the heat exchange catheter line assembly are also included. The NFC member is configured to provide the processor with a signal representative of whether the NFC member detects the NFC element.

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.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system including or connected to an output circuitry comprising an electrosurgical device and an electrical cable is modeled 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.