Abstract: Various embodiments provide a torque transfer unit for rotating a flexible shaft. The torque transfer unit comprises an elongate track defining a track passage, and a key attachable to the flexible shaft and movable along the track passage. The key and the elongate track are configured to engage each other to inhibit relative rotation of the key and the track passage. The torque transfer unit is actuatable to selectively adjust an axial position of the key relative to the track passage. Some other embodiments provide a kit of parts.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for applying radiofrequency or microwave frequency energy to biological tissue. The instrument includes a tip with a planar body separating two conductive elements on opposite surfaces. It also includes a coaxial feed cable with an inner and outer conductor, separated by a dielectric material, for conveying a working signal. The inner conductor connects to the first conductive element, and the outer to the second, enabling the tip to receive the signal. The first conductive element has a pattern to set its electrical length greater than a reference instrument tip. The reference tip has a planar body of the same shape and dimensions, separating two conductive elements covering opposite surfaces.

Abstract: An electrosurgical apparatus for treating fluid-filled biological growths by replacing the fluid within the growth with a substance that assists in delivering treatment energy. The treatment energy may be microwave energy or may be thermal energy derived from microwave energy. The apparatus comprises an instrument having a radiating tip portion, and a fluid delivery mechanism for transporting fluid to and from a treatment zone located around the radiating tip portion. The fluid delivery mechanism comprises a rigid insertion element arranged to extend into the treatment zone, whereby fluid can be aspirated from the treatment zone, and a substance injected into the treatment zone to replace the aspirated fluid. The injected substance has dielectric properties selected to facilitate uniform delivery of treatment energy to biological tissue in the treatment zone.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an electrosurgical generator comprising: an electromagnetic signal supply unit for generating electromagnetic, EM, energy to be conveyed along each of a plurality of channels. Each of the plurality of channels is arranged to convey electromagnetic energy at a different frequency. The electrosurgical generator further comprises an output port selectively connectable to each of the plurality of channels. The output port is connectable to an electrosurgical instrument for delivering the electromagnetic energy to biological tissue. The electrosurgical generator further comprises a tissue identification unit comprising a controller configured to: detect a signal indicative of a load impedance at the output port; determine a set of complex impedance values from the detected signals; identify a tissue type from the set of complex impedance values; and generate an output for communicating the identified tissue type to a user.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for delivering pressurised fluid to a biological tissue, and for delivering radiofrequency electromagnetic energy and/or microwave frequency EM energy to the biological tissue. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a flexible shaft with an instrument tip connected to its distal end. The instrument tip comprises a planar body made of a first dielectric material separating a first conductive element from a second conductive element, for delivering EM energy to the biological tissue. The instrument tip has a nozzle for delivering the pressurised fluid directly to the biological tissue. An outer sleeve extends over the flexible shaft and a proximal section of the instrument tip to reinforce the flexible shaft and a junction between the flexible shaft and instrument tip.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a handheld applicator for treating skin by means of microwave radiation. The applicator comprises an applicator housing, a microwave emitter configured to emit microwave radiation for treating tissue in a target area, and an actuator assembly configured to move the microwave emitter relative to the applicator housing whilst emitting microwave radiation for increasing uniformity of tissue treatment in the target area. Other embodiments relate to an applicator pad for a handheld applicator, a skin treatment kit, a waveguide section for directing microwave radiation toward skin, and a skin treatment apparatus for treating skin by means of microwave radiation.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument having a radiating tip portion capable performing tissue ablation using microwave energy and electroporation (e.g. non-thermal irreversible electroporation) in a minimally invasive manner. The electrosurgical instrument may be used to perform microwave ablation and electroporation separately (e.g. sequentially) or simultaneously. The radiating tip portion may be dimensioned to be suitable for insertion into a pancreas via a surgical scoping device, to provide a rapid and accurate alternative to known RF ablation techniques. By enabling tumours within the pancreas to be treated using a minimally invasive procedure, it may be a viable option to use ablation and/or electroporation treatment for both curative as well as palliative reasons.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an apparatus for a robot-assisted surgical system. The apparatus comprises a robotic surgical tool comprising an articulated robot arm for supporting an electrosurgical instrument. The apparatus also comprises a cooling assembly for removing heat from an electrosurgical generator unit mounted to the robotic surgical tool, the electrosurgical generator unit for generating an electrosurgical signal for use by the electrosurgical instrument.

Abstract: An electrode structure for a distal tip of an electrosurgical instrument that enables efficient delivery of radiofrequency (RF) energy in a forward (distal) direction and uniform delivery of microwave energy for ablation in a region surrounding the distal tip. The instrument comprises a tip body having a first electrode and a second electrode, where the second electrode is spaced from the first electrode exposed dielectric material. The first electrode is connected through the tip body to an inner conductor of a coaxial feed. The second electrode is electrically connected to the outer conductor of the coaxial feed by a field-shaping conductive structure formed in or on the tip body. The field-shaping conductive structure is configured to shape a radiation profile of microwave energy emitted from the tip body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular electrosurgical system for using electromagnetic (EM) radiation, such as radio frequency (RF) or microwave EM radiation, to treat biological tissue. In one example, control of the modules is centralised in a remote computing device which can communicate wirelessly with the modules of the system. In one example, different optional modules may be combined together with core modules to provide the system with different electrosurgical capabilities.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for delivering pressurised fluid to a biological tissue, and for delivering radiofrequency electromagnetic energy and/or microwave frequency EM energy to the biological tissue. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a flexible shaft with an instrument tip connected to its distal end. The instrument tip comprises a planar body made of a first dielectric material separating a first conductive element from a second conductive element, for delivering EM energy to the biological tissue. The instrument tip has a nozzle for delivering the pressurised fluid directly to the biological tissue. An outer sleeve extends over the flexible shaft and a proximal section of the instrument tip to reinforce the flexible shaft and a junction between the flexible shaft and instrument tip.

Abstract: An energy conveying structure for invasive electrosurgery that provide for combined delivery of (i) RF or microwave electromagnetic energy for tissue treatment (e.g. ablation, coagulation or cutting), and (ii) optical radiation within a common structure that may form an instrument cable of a surgical scoping device. The structure resembles a hollow coaxial transmission line with an optical channel formed within it. The optical channel can lie within a passage that is formed within the inner conductive layer or within other layers of the coaxial transmission. The structure may be used to form an electrosurgical device capable of delivering RF/microwave EM energy, optical radiation and ultrasonic signals to a treatment site along an instrument cable of a surgical scoping device.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a Raman spectroscopy probe. The probe comprises an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end. The probe comprises an optical transmission line within the elongate body for guiding light for inducing Raman scattering in a tissue between the proximal end and the distal end in a distal direction and for guiding Raman scattered light between the distal end and the proximal end in a proximal direction. The probe comprises a magnification layer arranged at or on the distal end. The magnification layer has an exposed surface for contacting the tissue, wherein the magnification layer is positioned such that the light for inducing Raman scattering impinges on the magnification layer. The magnification layer is for inducing surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) at the exposed surface.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a power transfer assembly. The assembly includes a transmitter comprising a coaxial cable having an inner conductor and an outer conductor separated by a dielectric material. The coaxial cable is configured to generate a magnetic field outside of the outer conductor when a first electromagnetic (EM) signal is conveyed by the coaxial cable. The assembly also includes a receiver for receiving power from the transmitter by inductive coupling using the magnetic field. Some other embodiments provide an electrosurgical instrument for delivering electromagnetic (EM) energy to biological tissue for tissue treatment. The instrument includes a feed structure, an applicator and the power transfer assembly.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for use in minimally invasive surgical techniques that provides a small scale localized microwave field capable of precisely ablating tissue, e.g. in the lungs, through suitable selection of geometry and material for a radiating distal tip thereof. The instrument may be used with a bronchoscope having a power delivery structure formed within the instrument cord thereof. A vision system may be incorporated into the energy delivery structure. The instrument includes a coaxial cable for conveying microwave energy to a radiating tip portion that comprises a dielectric tip and a distal conductive portion that extends longitudinally therein. The dielectric tip has a dielectric constant greater than a dielectric material within the coaxial cable. The distal end of the device is designed to facilitate efficient microwave energy delivery into lung tumour tissue to achieve a localized volume of ablation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an interface joint for interconnecting an electrosurgical generator and an electrosurgical instrument. In particular, the invention relates to an interface joint comprising a coaxial cable assembly for connecting the interface joint to an electrosurgical instrument. The interface joint comprises a housing made of electrically insulating material, the housing having: an inlet for receiving radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) energy and/or microwave frequency EM energy from the electrosurgical generator, and an outlet; and a coaxial cable assembly for connecting the outlet to the electrosurgical instrument, the coaxial cable assembly comprising a first cable section and a second cable section, wherein the first cable section has a lower loss per unit length than the second cable section.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument which is capable of simultaneously ablating an area of tissue with microwave energy and performing resection with RF energy. The instrument comprises a structure for conveying both RF and microwave energy to an instrument tip that is configured to emit the microwave energy in a manner suitable for ablation (e.g. as a substantially spherical field) and to emit the RF energy in a more focussed manner to enable accurate and controllable resection to be performed. The energy conveying structure comprises a coaxial transmission line for conveying microwave energy. The coaxial transmission line has a hollow inner conductor that defines a passage that supports a second transmission line for conveying radiofrequency energy.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for delivering electromagnetic energy to biological tissue, the instrument comprising an active tip having an electrically conductive protective hull mounted on an underside thereof. The hull has a smoothly contoured convex undersurface, and is formed as a shaped piece of electrically conductive bio-compatible material having a low coefficient of friction with biological tissue (e.g. stainless steel) which has the dual function of (i) physically protecting tissue that lies underneath the active tip, and (ii) providing an electrical connection between a coaxial feed line and the active tip.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an electrosurgical generator comprising: an electromagnetic signal supply unit for generating electromagnetic, EM, energy to be conveyed along each of a plurality of channels. Each of the plurality of channels is arranged to convey electromagnetic energy at a different frequency. The electrosurgical generator further comprises an output port selectively connectable to each of the plurality of channels. The output port is connectable to an electrosurgical instrument for delivering the electromagnetic energy to biological tissue. The electrosurgical generator further comprises a tissue identification unit comprising a controller configured to: detect a signal indicative of a load impedance at the output port; determine a set of complex impedance values from the detected signals; identify a tissue type from the set of complex impedance values; and generate an output for communicating the identified tissue type to a user.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for delivering both microwave and radiofrequency (RF) energy in which a pair of longitudinally spaced electrodes are combined with an intermediate tuning element to enable both effective bipolar RF ablation and/or coagulation and microwave ablation with a field shape that is constrained around the instrument tip. The instrument comprises a radiating tip disposed at a distal end of a coaxial cable. The tip has a distal electrode and a proximal electrode disposed on a surface of a dielectric body and physically separated by an intermediate portion of the dielectric body. A tuning element is mounted in the intermediate portion.