Abstract: A method, consisting of ablating tissue for a time period, measuring a contact force applied during the time period, and measuring a power used during the time period. The method further includes ceasing ablating the tissue when a desired size of a lesion produced in the tissue, as estimated using an integral over the time period of a product of the contact force raised to a first non-unity exponent and the power raised to a second non-unity exponent, is reached.

Abstract: A human body is cooled at an appropriate temperature, and a sufficient usage time is ensured. A cooling tool according to one aspect of the present invention is a cooling tool for cooling a human body, including a freezing material 30a that undergoes a phase change at a particular temperature and a first container containing the freezing material 30a. The first container transfers heat between the human body and the freezing material at a contact surface in contact with the skin of the human body. At least the contact surface has a thermal effusivity within the possible range of thermal effusivity of the skin of the human body. The contact surface may have a thermal effusivity (J/(m2˜S1/2·K)) of 1,000 to 2,000.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a circuit configured to deliver RF energy to a cartridge disposed in an end effector configured to receive the cartridge, a closure mechanism configured to transition the end effector between an open position and a closed position, a display, and a control circuit operably coupled to the display. The control circuit configured to determine an amount of RF energy delivered to a tissue through the cartridge, display the amount of RF energy on the display, determine a position of the closure mechanism, and display the position of the closure mechanism on the display.

Abstract: A blade for a cutting instrument, in particular for medical use, includes a first ceramic layer, a second ceramic layer, and a heating device arranged between the first ceramic layer and the second ceramic layer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for end effector control and calibration are described. The method may include detecting a signal in response to movement of a first tube relative to a second tube, the first tube driving movement of a clamp arm of the end effector. The method may further include determining a clamp arm position of the end effector relative to a ultrasonic blade of the end effector based on the signal. The method may also include adjusting a power output to the ultrasonic blade of the end effector based on the clamp arm position.

Abstract: An ultrasonic horn for an ultrasonic transducer assembly of an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a body and a nose. The body defines a tubular configuration having a hollow interior and a plurality of slots therethrough extending into the hollow interior. The nose extends distally from the body. The body defines a proximal connector configured to enable the body to be secured to a piezoelectric stack and the nose defines a distal connector configured to enable the nose to be engaged with a waveguide for transmission of ultrasonic energy produced by the piezoelectric stack to the waveguide.

Abstract: A surgical system includes a power supply, a power stage coupled to the power supply for converting electric energy to a power signal, an audio output device, a sensor, and a controller coupled to the power supply, the power stage, and the audio output device. The controller is operably coupled to the sensor. The power stage is configured to transmit the power signal to a surgical instrument such as an electrosurgical instrument or a microwave instrument. The sensor may be disposed on the surgical instrument. The controller causes the audio output device to output sensory feedback during operation of the surgical generator based on sensor signals received from the sensor during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: A thermal pad for controlling a patient's temperature includes first and second chambers defined between interior and exterior layers. The first chamber circulates a temperature controlled fluid from a first inlet to a first outlet. The second chamber is in fluid communication with a port and a plurality of holes defined in the interior layer. Pressurized gas supplied to the second chamber is vented onto the patient to control the microclimate between the patient's skin and the thermal pad. An additional third chamber is provided in some embodiments that urges the thermal pad into contact with the patient when subjected to negative gauge pressure. In other embodiments, a negative gauge pressure chamber is allowed to partially inflate in order to urge the thermal pad into contact with the patient.

Abstract: A colpotomy system includes an energy source and a uterine manipulator that is electrically coupled to the energy source. The uterine manipulator supports a colpotomy cup and extends to a conductive distal tip portion. The colpotomy cup includes a conductive surface. One or both of the conductive distal tip portion and the conductive surface of the colpotomy cup are configured to return monopolar energy to the energy source.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring the magnetic fields generated by renal nerves before and/or after neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. One method for measuring the magnetic field of target nerves during a neuromodulation procedure includes positioning a neuromodulation catheter at a target site within a renal blood vessel of a human patient near the target nerves, and detecting a measurement of the magnetic field generated by the target nerves. The method can further include determining, based on the measurement of the magnetic field, a location of the target nerves, a location of ablation at the target nerves, and/or a percentage the target nerves were ablated by delivered neuromodulation energy.

Abstract: An electrosurgical resection instrument for applying to biological tissue radiofrequency electromagnetic energy has a protective hull comprising a shaped piece of dielectric material mounted to cover an underside of an instrument tip of the instrument. The protective hull acts as a shield to protect tissue that may lie under the instrument tip from damage during treatment. The instrument may be particularly useful in procedures performed in a gastrointestinal tract, where bowel perforation is a concern, or in the pancreas, where damage to the portal vein or the pancreatic duct may occur when a tumor or other abnormality is being resected, dissected or removed.

Abstract: Ablation systems and methods of the present disclosure include a catheter including one or more image sensors. The one or more image sensors can facilitate, for example, positioning an ablation electrode at a treatment site of an anatomic structure and, additionally or alternatively, can facilitate controlling delivery of therapeutic energy to a treatment site of an anatomic structure.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer for an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a proximal hub, a piezoelectric rod array including a plurality of piezoelectric rods spaced-apart from one another and disposed in parallel and longitudinally-extending orientation relative to one another, and a distal horn including a distal connector configured to engage a waveguide. The proximal hub and the distal horn are configured to engage one another to retain the piezoelectric rod array therebetween under compression.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an endoscopic implant cutting and/or fragmenting apparatus of the bipolar type, operating on direct current, comprising an endoscope instrument having at least two opposing electrodes at its distal instrument head forming a cutting gap inbetween for receiving an electrically conductive implant or implant section to generate punctiform physical contact with the implant, and a DC-impulse generator connected to a control device adapted to generate a direct current in a pulsed way such that in a first phase of physical contact, the current pulse is adjusted to induce electric energy into the implant material being sufficient to melt the implant material exclusively in the area of the contact portion and in a second phase of physical noncontact, the current pulse is adjusted to generate an electric arc between at least one electrode and the melted implant material being sufficient to cut the melted implant material.

Abstract: A vapor delivery needle is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the energy delivery probe is that it can apply condensable vapor energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, denaturate the prostate. In some embodiments, the vapor delivery needle can be advanced a predetermined distance into the prostate with a solenoid actuation mechanism. Methods associated with use of the energy delivery probe are also covered.

Abstract: A compact ultrasonic transducer for an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a proximal casing defining a hollow interior and a piezoelectric rod array including a plurality of piezoelectric rods radially spaced-apart from one another and arranged in a longitudinally-oriented direction. The piezoelectric rod array is disposed within the hollow interior. The compact ultrasonic transducer further includes a distal horn including a distal connector configured to engage a waveguide. The distal horn is configured to engage the proximal casing to enclose the piezoelectric rod array within the hollow interior. An ultrasonic surgical instrument including the compact ultrasonic transducer is also provided.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device: (a) power cable comprising: (i) a primary lead that connects to a first pole of an AC power source and (ii) one or more auxiliary leads; wherein the power cable includes a dual core having the primary lead on a first side and the one or more auxiliary leads on a second side with a web being located between the first side and the second side.

Abstract: An arthroscopic tissue resecting probe includes an elongated shaft having outer and inner sleeves which are formed from an electrically conductive material extending about an axis to a working end. Outer and inner resecting windows are formed in the sleeves in the working end. The working end includes a ceramic body having a collar portion extending fully around a region of the outer sleeve proximal to outer resecting window. A radiofrequency (RF) electrode is disposed on an outer surface of the ceramic body and is spaced-apart from the outer resecting window.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a hand piece having a fixed branch and a displaceable branch for actuating a first tool and/or second tool, a guide device in which a force transmission device is arranged to be displaceable longitudinally and/or rotationally, the force transmission device coupled, on the proximal side, to the fixed branch and/or displaceable branch and coupled, on the distal side, to the first tool and/or second tool, and a connection device on which the guide device can be coupled to the hand piece in an insertable and detachable manner by a coupling simultaneously providing a holding force for holding the guide device in the connection device, a bipolar electrical contact on the distal side of the hand piece for parts of the instrument requiring energy, and degrees of freedom for longitudinal and/or rotational movement of the guide device and/or force transmission device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a control module. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body and includes an acoustic waveguide. The waveguide is configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm, an electrode, and a sensor. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The clamp arm is operable to compress tissue against the ultrasonic blade. The electrode is operable to apply radiofrequency (RF) electrosurgical energy to tissue. The sensor is operable to sense a condition of tissue contacted by the end effector. The control module is operable to control delivery of ultrasonic power and RF electrosurgical energy through the end effector based on data from the sensor.