Abstract: A method for treating a sinus cavity is provided. The method includes the steps of inserting a plasma applicator into a sinus cavity defined in a bone mass, positioning the plasma applicator adjacent a tissue formation, generating a selectively reactive plasma effluent at the plasma applicator and directing the selectively reactive plasma effluent at the tissue formation. The selective nature of the reactive plasma enables treatment of specific targets inside the sinus while minimizing the effect on other tissues. Such treatment includes, but not limited to, sterilization of bacterial colonies, vaporization of unwanted tissues or foreign masses, stimulation of tissues by enriching the content of reactive oxygen and nitrous oxide pathways, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A desiccation device for operation on a target tissue includes a handle, a shaft extending distally from the handle, and a head. The shaft defines a lumen therethrough, and the head has a loop configuration supported on a distal end of the shaft. The head is hollow and defines a lumen therethrough. The lumen of the head is in fluid communication with the lumen of the shaft. At least a portion of the head is electrically connected to a source of electrosurgical energy. A fluid is circulatable through the lumens of the shaft and the head.

Abstract: Provided in accordance with the present disclosure are systems for identifying a position of target tissue relative to surgical tools using a structured light detector. An exemplary system includes antennas configured to interact with a marker placed proximate target tissue inside a patient's body, a structured light pattern source, a structured light detector, a display device, and a computing device configured to receive data from the antennas indicating interacting with the marker, determine a distance between the antennas and the marker, cause the structured light pattern source to project and detect a pattern onto the antennas. The instructions may further cause the computing device to determine, a pose of the antennas, determine, based on the determined distance between the antennas and the marker, and the determined pose of the antennas, a position of the marker relative to the antennas, and display the position of the marker relative to the antennas.

Abstract: An example method of controlling notifications to a user of an electronic messaging system comprises controlling communication of a notification associated with a thread of the electronic messaging system to the user based on a determined level of interest of the user in a topic of the thread and at least one of: the obtained timing information relating to the timing of the most recent notification associated with the thread; and an obtained measure of similarity between the topic of the thread and a second topic associated with the most recent notification associated with the thread.

Abstract: An example method of controlling notifications to a user of an electronic messaging system comprises controlling communication of a notification associated with a thread of the electronic messaging system to the user based on a determined level of interest of the user in a topic of the thread and at least one of: the obtained timing information relating to the timing of the most recent notification associated with the thread; and an obtained measure of similarity between the topic of the thread and a second topic associated with the most recent notification associated with the thread.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The electrosurgical instrument includes a handle having a shaft that extends therefrom, an end effector disposed at a distal end of the shaft, at least one electrode operably coupled to the end effector and adapted to couple to a source of electrosurgical energy, a chromium nitride coating covering at least a portion of the electrode, and a hexamethyldisiloxane plasma coating covering at least a portion of the chromium nitride coating.

Abstract: A method of reducing retro-repulsion of a stone during a laser lithotripsy procedure involves the use of a spacer tip or standoff sleeve to create a passage between the tip of a fiber and a stone, and to prevent collapse of a bubble formed by vaporization of and/or gas pressure on liquid present in the passage. The laser radiation may consist of continuous or quasi-continuous wave radiation that is relatively low in power compared to the therapeutic pulses, or may consist of the therapeutic pulses if the pulse frequency is high enough to prevent collapse of the bubble between pulses. The spacer tip or standoff sleeve further prevents collapse of the bubble and ingress of liquid into the laser path. The spacer tip or standoff sleeve may be a generally-cylindrical protective cap that is fitted to an end of the optical fiber and that extends beyond the fiber tip to provide a predetermined spacing or standoff between the fiber tip and the stone when the protective cap is in contact with the stone.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The electrosurgical instrument includes a handle having a shaft that extends therefrom, an end effector disposed at a distal end of the shaft, at least one electrode operably coupled to the end effector and adapted to couple to a source of electrosurgical energy, a titanium nitride coating covering at least a portion of the electrode, a chromium nitride coating covering at least a portion of the electrode and/or titanium nitride coating, and a hexamethyldisiloxane plasma coating covering at least a portion of the chromium nitride coating.

Abstract: A surface ablation system includes an electrosurgical generator, and elongated shaft, a plug, and a circuit assembly. The elongated shaft includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The plug is supported on the distal end portion of the elongated shaft. The circuit assembly is supported on the plug and in electrical communication with the electrosurgical generator. The circuit assembly includes spaced-apart traces positioned in arrays about the plug. Each of the traces is configured to emit electrosurgical energy along the arrays to treat tissue positioned adjacent to the traces.

Abstract: A method for controlling notifications to a user of messages comprises analyzing text from each of one or more electronic messages in a thread to identify one or more topics in the thread; monitoring interactions of the user with the one or more electronic messages associated with the identified one or more topics; comparing the monitored interactions with one or more respective reference interactions to determine a respective level of interest of the user in the one or more identified topics; receiving a new electronic message in the thread; analyzing the new electronic message to determine a topic of the new electronic message; and controlling communication of a notification to the user regarding receipt of the new electronic message based on a determined level of interest of the user in the topic of the new electronic message.

Abstract: A surgical assembly for marking a tumor includes a surgical instrument and an elongated tissue marker. The surgical instrument includes an ultrasonic probe and a needle configured to move in a distal direction through a channel of the ultrasonic probe from a retracted position to a deployed position. The tissue marker is disposed within the needle and deployable therefrom. The tissue marker includes a distal portion and a plurality of fixation elements coupled to the distal portion. Upon deployment of the tissue marker from the needle, the plurality of fixations elements are configured to move from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration to anchor in a tumor.

Abstract: A method of marking a tumor includes positioning a surgical instrument adjacent breast tissue, generating an image of a tumor in the breast tissue on a display using an ultrasonic probe of the surgical instrument, aligning a needle of the surgical instrument with the tumor using the image of the tumor generated on the display, deploying the needle from the ultrasound probe into the breast tissue, and deploying an elongated tissue marker from the needle into the tumor, thereby fixing a distal portion of the tissue marker in the tumor.

Abstract: Provided in accordance with the present disclosure are systems for identifying a position of target tissue relative to surgical tools using a structured light detector. An exemplary system includes antennas configured to interact with a marker placed proximate target tissue inside a patient's body, a structured light pattern source, a structured light detector, a display device, and a computing device configured to receive data from the antennas indicating interacting with the marker, determine a distance between the antennas and the marker, cause the structured light pattern source to project and detect a pattern onto the antennas. The instructions may further cause the computing device to determine, a pose of the antennas, determine, based on the determined distance between the antennas and the marker, and the determined pose of the antennas, a position of the marker relative to the antennas, and display the position of the marker relative to the antennas.

Abstract: A resectoscope includes a fixed electrode adapted to connect to a first electrical potential, a movable electrode adapted to connect to a second electrical potential and biased transversely towards the fixed electrode, and a spacer coupled to the movable electrode. The movable electrode and the spacer are longitudinally movable relative to the fixed electrode between a first position, wherein the spacer is disposed between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode so as to maintain a spacing between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode against the bias of the movable electrode, and a second position, wherein the spacer is disposed distally of the fixed electrode, allowing the movable electrode to move transversely towards the fixed electrode under the bias of the movable electrode.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The electrosurgical instrument includes a handle having a shaft that extends therefrom, an end effector disposed at a distal end of the shaft, at least one electrode operably coupled to the end effector and adapted to couple to a source of electrosurgical energy, a chromium nitride coating covering at least a portion of the electrode, and a hexamethyldisiloxane plasma coating covering at least a portion of the chromium nitride coating.

Abstract: A resectoscope includes a handle portion, a flow sheath, and an electrode. The flow handle portion includes a trigger, the flow sheath extends from the handle portion and has a hub and a shaft extending from the hub including a rigid inner tube and a semi-rigid outer tube, the rigid inner tube extending through the semi-rigid outer tube to define a channel therebetween, wherein the rigid inner tube may include a fiber-reinforced material, the semi-rigid outer tube may include a polymeric material. The retractor tool is slidably disposed in the flow sheath and includes a linkage and a traction member pivotably coupled to the linkage. The electrode is slidably disposed in the flow sheath and may be made at least in part of sheet metal.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes a housing, an elongated shaft, and an end-effector assembly. The proximal end of the shaft is operably associated with the housing. The end-effector assembly is operably coupled to the distal end of the shaft and includes first and second jaw members. Each of the first and second jaw members includes a sealing plate and a bipolar electrode. Either one or both of the first and second jaw members is movable from a position in spaced relation relative to the other jaw member to at least one subsequent position wherein the sealing plates cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. The electrosurgical instrument includes a semiconductor switch operably coupled to at least one of the sealing plates and at least one of the bipolar electrodes. The semiconductor switch is configured to enable user selection between energizing the at least one sealing plate or the at least one bipolar electrode.

Abstract: A method of reducing retro-repulsion of a kidney stone during a laser lithotripsy procedure utilizes a protective cap or sleeve fitted onto an end of the laser delivery fiber and extending a predetermined distance beyond a tip of the fiber to prevent contact between the tip of the fiber and a stone to limit retro-repulsion by maintaining contact between the protective cap and the stone, thereby limiting the amount of water in the path of the laser between the fiber tip and the stone. The method may further include the step of firing the laser only when contact between the protective cap and the stone is detected, implemented manually or by a contact detection system. The fiber tip may be outwardly tapered to collimate the laser beam and allow an increased spacing between the fiber tip and the distal end of the protective cap.

Abstract: An energy-based surgical device includes an elongated outer tube having a distal overhang, a proximal hub, a distal cutting member, and a flat spring. The distal cutting member has a U-shaped cutting edge and defines a mouth with the distal overhang extending therethrough. The flat spring includes a first portion extending distally along an exterior surface of the elongated outer tube and the distal overhang, a second portion extending from the first portion and bent over a free distal end of the distal overhang, and a third portion extending from the second portion proximally through the mouth of the distal cutting member and into the lumen of the elongated outer tube and traverses a majority of a diameter thereof. The distal cutting member and flat spring are adapted to connect to a source for electrosurgical energy for conducting bipolar energy through tissue disposed therebetween to cut tissue.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a plasma catheter including a tubular member; a conductive cylindrical member; a first electrode; and a second electrode. The tubular member defines a longitudinal lumen therethrough and has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The conductive cylindrical member is disposed at the distal portion of the tubular member. The first electrode is embedded in a first side of the tubular member and coupled to the conductive cylindrical member. The second electrode is embedded in a second side of the tubular member diametrically opposed to the first side. The second electrode is offset from the tubular member and aligned with a center axis defined by the conductive cylindrical member.