Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for providing energy to treat large areas of tissue. Several embodiments of the devices control resistance or other parameters to provide substantially uniform current density along a length of tissue with reduced edge effects.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering energy to passageways in a patient, such as airways in the lung of a patient for treating asthma. One embodiment of a method for delivering energy to a passageway comprises positioning an access device in a lung airway of a patient and advancing an elongated body of a treatment device along the access device until an energy delivery unit at a distal portion of the elongated body projects from the access device. The method can further include expanding the energy delivery unit such that energy delivery elements contact a sidewall of the airway and activating an energy supply coupled to the treatment device such that energy is delivered to the sidewall of the airway. A single person physically operates both the access device and the treatment device while expanding the energy delivery unit and activating the energy supply.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for securely communicating a print job to a printer, the systems and methods pausing the print job in a print queue on a client computer, obtaining first authentication information regarding a user at the client computer, obtaining second authentication information regarding a user at a release station adjacent the printer, communicating the second authentication information from the release station to the client computer, and releasing the print job from the print queue if the second authentication information matches the first authentication information.

Abstract: A medical probe for use with tissue includes an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, an operative element carried at the distal end of the elongate member, and a stabilizer configured for applying a vacuum force to secure the operative element relative to the tissue. A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient includes introducing a medical probe having an operative element within the patient, the operative element being adjacent a target tissue, applying a vacuum force between the medical probe and the target tissue to secure the operative element relative to the target tissue, and operating the operative element to perform the medical procedure on the target tissue while the operative element is secured relative to the target tissue.

Abstract: A probe that may be used to create circumferential lesions in body tissue and, in some implementations, may also be used to perform mapping functions.

Abstract: This relates to methods and devices for achieving contact between the wall of a cavity or passageway and a medical device when used in tortuous anatomy.

Abstract: An ablation system includes an ablation source, an ablation probe having an ablation element coupled to a power terminal of the generator, and a ground probe coupled to a return terminal of the generator, the ground probe configured to be inserted within a body during use. One of the ablation probe and the ground probe is configured for being intravascularly introduced to an interior of an organ, and another of the ablation probe and the ground probe is configured for being extravascularly placed in contact with an exterior of the organ. A method of ablating tissue having a thickness includes placing one of an ablative element and a ground element in a first location adjacent the tissue, placing another of the ablative element and the ground element in a second location adjacent the tissue, and delivering ablation energy through the thickness of the tissue between the ablative and ground elements.

Abstract: A clamp including first and second clamp members, at least one of which can be pivoted between an open orientation and a closed orientation.

Abstract: A hybrid lesion formation apparatus including a surgical probe component and clamp component that share a common electrical connector.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a clamp including a base member configured to be secured to the clamp and at least one energy transmission device carried by the base member. An apparatus for use with a clamp and a probe that carries at least one energy transmission device including a base member configured to be secured to the clamp and an engagement device associated with the base member and configured to engage the probe. A clamp including first and second clamp members, at least one of which is malleable, and a movement apparatus that moves at least one of the first and second clamp members relative to the other. A surgical system including a clamp with first and second clamp members and a device that removably mounts at least one electrode on at least one of the first and second clamp members.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for maintaining contact between tissue and cooled probes.

Abstract: A probe that may be used to create circumferential lesions in body tissue and, in some implementations, may also be used to perform mapping functions. The probe includes a collapsible/expandable structure that supports electrodes or other operative elements against the body tissue.

Abstract: An ablation device for creating a lesion within a body is provided. The ablation device includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein at least a portion of the shaft is bendable to form a desired configuration. A clamp assembly is secured to the distal end of the shaft. The clamp assembly has a first jaw and a second jaw, the second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw to open or close the clamp assembly. The ablation device also includes a first electrode secured to the first jaw of the clamp assembly, a second electrode secured to the second jaw of the clamp assembly, and a handle connected to the proximal end of the shaft.

Abstract: A medical probe for use with tissue includes an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, an operative element carried at the distal end of the elongate member, and a stabilizer configured for applying a vacuum force to secure the operative element relative to the tissue. A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient includes introducing a medical probe having an operative element within the patient, the operative element being adjacent a target tissue, applying a vacuum force between the medical probe and the target tissue to secure the operative element relative to the target tissue, and operating the operative element to perform the medical procedure on the target tissue while the operative element is secured relative to the target tissue.

Abstract: An ablation system includes an ablation source, an ablation probe having an ablation element coupled to a power terminal of the generator, and a ground probe coupled to a return terminal of the generator, the ground probe configured to be inserted within a body during use. One of the ablation probe and the ground probe is configured for being intravascularly introduced to an interior of an organ, and another of the ablation probe and the ground probe is configured for being extravascularly placed in contact with an exterior of the organ. A method of ablating tissue having a thickness includes placing one of an ablative element and a ground element in a first location adjacent the tissue, placing another of the ablative element and the ground element in a second location adjacent the tissue, and delivering ablation energy through the thickness of the tissue between the ablative and ground elements.

Abstract: A cannula configured for providing an instrument access to an internal organ or tissue is provided. The cannula includes a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the lumen configured for slidably housing the instrument. The cannula also includes an imaging window mounted on the distal end of the shaft and/or an imaging cable coupled to the imaging window, the imaging cable fixedly secured to the shaft.

Abstract: A medical probe includes an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, an ablative element mounted to the distal end of the elongate member, and a cage assembly mounted to the distal end of the elongate member, the cage assembly at least partially covers the ablative element. A method of treating tissue in a body includes inserting an ablative element in the body, placing the ablative element adjacent the tissue, and maintaining a distance between the ablative element and the tissue using a protective catheter element that circumscribes at least a portion of the ablative element.

Abstract: An electrode assembly adapted to transmit electrical energy for ablating body tissue includes an expandable and collapsible non-compliant body made of a durable material and defining an interior adapted to receive a medium containing ions. The body includes a porous region, an electrode adapted to transmit electrical energy located in the interior of the body, a microporous membrane located on the porous region of the non-compliant body, and the microporous membrane is sized to pass ions contained in the medium without substantial medium perfusion therethrough, to thereby enable ionic transport of electrical energy from the ion-containing medium to the exterior of the electrode assembly to ablate body tissue.

Abstract: An embedded system includes a microprocessor and performance measuring logic coupled to the microprocessor and configured to record selected performance metrics. In the given routine. In general, a counter is configured to record statistics for each of the performance metrics, and the counters may be controlled using a programmable mask, which is included in a memory coupled to the microprocessor. Based on these metrics, designers may fine-tune software for the embedded system.

Abstract: An intervertebral disc device is provided comprising a distal sheath sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the sheath being predisposed to adopting a bent configuration when extended from the introducer; a probe adapted to be extended from a distal end of the sheath, the bent section of the sheath causing the probe to adopt a same bent configuration; and a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc.