Abstract: A fluid management system is with a fluid source, a fluid receptacle, and a surgical tool having an inlet port for receiving fluid from the fluid source and an outlet port for discharging fluid to the fluid receptacle. The fluid management system includes a pump head assembly and a tubing cassette removably insertable over the pump head assembly. The pump head assembly includes an inlet pump and an outlet pump, where each pump has a rotor, a plurality of rollers, an arcuate roller backing adjacent the rotor to define a tube receiving channel therebetween, and a rotor position sensor. An inlet motor configured to rotate the inlet pump rotor, and an outlet motor configured to rotate the outlet pump rotor. The tubing cassette includes an inlet tubing loop and an outlet tubing loop, where each tubing loop is received about the rollers in the tube receiving channel of the inlet pump when the cassette is placed over the pump head assembly.

Abstract: A tissue-resecting probe includes an elongated outer sleeve extending about an axis to a distal housing having a first window for receiving tissue. An edge of the first window has a dielectric surface. A rotatable inner sleeve has a second window, and at least a portion of an edge of the second window provides a first polarity electrode. Rotation of the inner sleeve within the outer sleeve moves the probe between window-open and window-closed configurations to resect tissue.

Abstract: Tissue may be cut and extracted from an interior location in a patient's body using a probe or tool which both effects cutting and causes vaporization of a liquid or other fluid to propel the cut tissue through an extraction lumen of the cutting device. The cutting may be achieved using an electrosurgical electrode assembly, including a first electrode on a cutting member and a second electrode within a cutting probe or tool.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to bone cement formulations that have an extended working time for use in vertebroplasty procedures and other osteoplasty procedures together with cement injectors that include energy delivery systems for on-demand control of cement viscosity and flow parameters. The bone cement formulations may include a liquid component having at least one monomer and a non-liquid component including polymer particles and benzoyl peroxide (BPO). The non-liquid component may be further configured to allow controlled exposure of the BPO to the liquid monomer so as to enable control of the viscosity of the bone cement composition.

Abstract: Methods and devices that displace bone or other hard tissue to create a cavity in the tissue. Where such methods and devices rely on a driving mechanism for providing moving of the device to form a profile that improves displacement of the tissue. These methods and devices also allow for creating a path or cavity in bone for insertion of bone cement or other filler to treat a fracture or other condition in the bone. The features relating to the methods and devices described herein can be applied in any region of bone or hard tissue where the tissue or bone is displaced to define a bore or cavity instead of being extracted from the body such as during a drilling or ablation procedure.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for endometrial ablation. In accordance with a method, a working end of an RF ablation device is positioned in a patient uterus to contact endometrial tissue, the working end comprising a dielectric wall capable of non-expanded and expanded shapes and for conforming to an asymmetric or symmetric shape of the patient's cervix. An expandable seal is provided for sealing the cervical canal.

Abstract: A tissue resection system includes a introducer sleeve with a hub. An obturator having a shaft with a blunt tip is adapted for insertion through the introducer sleeve, and an electrosurgical resecting device with an elongated extension member is adapted for insertion through the introducer sleeve.

Abstract: Endoscope systems include an endoscope shaft assembly which comprises a shaft having a working channel, an inflow channel configured to be coupled to a fluid source, and an outflow channel configured to be coupled to a negative pressure source. A hub is coupled to a proximal portion of the shaft, and an image sensor is disposed on a distal portion of the shaft. A control unit is configured to adjust both a fluid inflow from the fluid source through the inflow channel to the working space and a fluid outflow to the negative pressure source through the outflow channel from the working space. A handle assembly is detachably connected to the hub of the endoscope shaft assembly, and the handle assembly comprises a control pad having at least one actuator which may be wired or wirelessly linked to the controller for adjusting fluid inflows and outflows through the inflow channel and outflow channel in the shaft.

Abstract: A tissue-resecting probe includes an elongated outer sleeve extending about an axis to a distal housing having a first window for receiving tissue. An edge of the first window has a dielectric surface. A rotatable inner sleeve has a second window, and at least a portion of an edge of the second window provides a first polarity electrode. Rotation of the inner sleeve within the outer sleeve moves the probe between window-open and window-closed configurations to resect tissue.

Abstract: Tissue may be cut and extracted from an interior location in a patient's body using a probe or tool which both effects cutting and causes vaporization of a liquid or other fluid to propel the cut tissue through an extraction lumen of the cutting device. The cutting may be achieved using an electrosurgical electrode assembly, including a first electrode on a cutting member and a second electrode within a cutting probe or tool.

Abstract: Endoscopes include a shaft having a diameter extending about a longitudinal axis to a distal housing. An image sensor is carried by the distal housing, and a channel extends through the shaft and distal housing. A distal portion of the channel is adjustable or curved to accommodate introduction of a tool while maintaining a reduced shaft diameter. In some embodiments, a diagonal dimension of the image sensor when combined with a channel diameter is greater than a shaft diameter. In some embodiments, the distal housing is flexible to accommodate passage of a straight tool through a curved distal portion of a working channel. In some embodiments, a curved distal portion of a working channel may be reoriented to deflect a flexible tool.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device comprises an elongated shaft having an axis with an interior channel extending along the axis to an opening in a distal end of the shaft. The channel is configured to be coupled to a negative pressure source, and an electrode with a conductive, usually hook-shaped, distal portion is coupled to the shaft and moveable between a first position in which a distal tip of the electrode is disposed proximate to a periphery of the opening of and a second position in which the distal electrode tip is exposed and spaced apart from the opening.

Abstract: A surgical fluid management system delivers fluid for distending a uterine cavity to allow cutting and extraction of uterine fibroid tissue, polyps and other abnormal uterine tissue. The system comprises a fluid source, fluid deliver lines, one or more pumps, and a filter for re-circulating the distension fluid between the source and the uterine cavity. A controller can monitor fluid retention by the patient.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity. A method comprises introducing transcervically a probe into a patient's uterine cavity, providing a flow of a fluid (e.g., CO2) through the probe into the uterine cavity and monitoring the rate of the flow to characterize the uterine cavity as perforated or non-perforated based on a change in the flow rate.

Abstract: A disposable cover for use with an endoscope includes an elongated sheath having and having an open proximal end and a closed distal end. A channel extends along a central axis of the sheath from the open proximal end to the closed distal end, and the channel is configured to accommodate insertion of an endoscope. A proximal region of the sheath is formed as a rigid thin-wall sleeve and a distal region of the sheath is formed as a flexible thin-wall sleeve. The flexible thin-wall sleeve is configured to allow deflection of said distal region in cooperation with an articulating distal end of an endoscope.

Abstract: The tissue cutting device comprises an elongated assembly including both an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve. The outer sleeve has a tissue-receiving window, and the inner sleeve has a distal end which cuts tissue as the inner sleeve is advanced past the window. The tissue is received into a lumen of the inner sleeve, and the inner sleeve lumen is typically enlarged in a proximal direction to reduce the tendency of resected tissue to lodge therein. The tissue displacement member is optionally provided at a distal end of the outer sleeve to further aid in dislodging tissue which becomes captured in a distal end of the inner sleeve of the lumen.

Abstract: A fluid management system includes a disposable cassette carrying inflow and outflow tubing sections that are configured for releasably mating with a console including a control unit and a pair of roller pump heads. The console may automatically identify the disposable cassette and weigh the fluid in an inflow source. During operation, the system can monitor pressure in the working space, and provide for inflow and outflow control to maintain any desired operating parameters.

Abstract: A biomedical polymer composite that exhibits ultra-low thermal conductivity properties. In a preferred embodiment, the biomedical polymer composite comprises a base polymer component with a dispersed thermally non-conductive filler component consisting of glass or ceramic nanospheres or microspheres that have a thermal conductivity of less than 5 W/m-K, and preferably less than 2 W/m-K. In one embodiment, the polymer composite has an electrically conductive filler and can be used in a filament for treating arteriovascular malformations. In another embodiment, the polymeric composite can be used as an energy-coupling means to apply energy to tissue.

Abstract: A wall of a uterus is ablated by expanding a structure in the uterus and applying energy across the wall of the structure into the uterine wall. An exterior surface of the structure conforms to an inner wall of the uterus, and the energy may cause vapor to collect between the wall and the structure. The vapor is released by providing a barrier to release which is inflated at a pressure above which the barrier at least partially collapses to allow the vapor to leave the uterus.

Abstract: A system for use in bone cement preparation can include a chamber for intermixing a liquid monomer and solid polymer components, a container, a vacuum channel, and a filter. The mixing chamber can be configured to hold a non-liquid, polymer powder component of a bone cement. The container can be configured to hold a liquid component of the bone cement. The system can have a first interface disposed between the mixing chamber and the container and a second interface disposed between the mixing chamber and the vacuum channel. The second interface can to receive and position the filter between the mixing chamber and the vacuum channel. The vacuum channel can direct a partial vacuum to draw the liquid component from the container into the non-liquid component in the mixing chamber to intermix the components and to thereby provide a settable bone cement.