Abstract: A tissue marking system includes a tissue marking beacon and a near-infrared (NIR) camera configured to detect emission of pulsatile NIR light from the tissue marking beacon. The tissue marking beacon is suitable for being injected into a tumor to mark a position and depth of the tumor for treatment. NIR light is emitted from a light-emitting diode (LED) positioned on the tissue marking beacon and is detected by the NIR camera. A pulsatile emission of NIR light from the LED is controlled to by synchronized with a data capture rate and/or detector exposure (shutter) of the NIR camera.

Abstract: A vein harvesting device is disclosed. The vein harvesting device includes a handle assembly, at least one elongated portion, first and second end effectors, and a tip. Each end effector is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the at least one elongated portion. Each end effector includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member, and at least one jaw member is movable toward the other jaw member. The tip is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the elongated portion. A distal end of the tip extends distally beyond a distal-most end of the first end effector. The first end effector is movable independently of the tip, and the second end effector is movable independently of the tip.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes an elongated handle body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a needle disposed within the handle body, first and second transducers, and a display. The needle is configured to move between a retracted position and a deployed position. The first and second ultrasound transducers are disposed within the distal end portion of the handle body. The first and second ultrasound transducers are angled relative to one another and define a space therebetween configured for passage of the needle.

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: 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 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: An electrosurgical device is provided that includes a handset having a shaft extending therefrom, a pair of active electrodes at a distal end of the shaft, and a movable, electrically floating electrode selectively positionable between the active electrodes. The floating electrode, when positioned to contact tissue between the active electrodes, modifies the electrosurgical current flows through tissue. The resultant modified current flows enables a surgeon to more effectively to control tissue desiccation by focusing electrosurgical energy toward targeted tissue and by reducing peripheral current flows. Embodiments are provided wherein the active electrodes include cooling provisions. Related electrosurgical systems and method of use are also provided.

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: A sphincter assist device includes a plurality of interconnected and adjacent links which define a ring. Each link includes a body section and a latch cam. The body section includes a first set of side beams and a first set of snap arms. The latch cam includes a post extending from the body section and a cam disposed at an end portion of the post. The cam is engagable with the first set of snap arms of an adjacent link. Translation of the cam displaces the first set of snap arms and the first set of side beams to transition the sphincter assist device between open and closed configurations. The first set of snap arms, in combination with the first set of side beams, exert a positive non-linear force profile on the cam, thus defining a non-linear force profile of the sphincter assist device between the open and closed configurations.

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: 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: Systems and methods of imaging include projecting infrared (IR) light from the endoscope toward the at least one anatomical feature (e.g., the exterior of a liver or lung), capturing the IR light, projecting optical light from the endoscope toward a similar portion of the anatomical feature, and capturing the optical light. Once the IR light and the optical light are captured, both are associated with one another to generate an intra-operative 3D image. This projection and capture of IR and optical light may occur at discrete times during the imaging process, or simultaneously.

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: An electrosurgical device is provided that includes a handset having a shaft extending therefrom, a pair of active electrodes at a distal end of the shaft, and a movable, electrically floating electrode selectively positionable between the active electrodes. The floating electrode, when positioned to contact tissue between the active electrodes, modifies the electrosurgical current flows through tissue. The resultant modified current flows enables a surgeon to more effectively to control tissue desiccation by focusing electrosurgical energy toward targeted tissue and by reducing peripheral current flows. Embodiments are provided wherein the active electrodes include cooling provisions. Related electrosurgical systems and method of use are also provided.

Abstract: An end effector assembly of a surgical device for shallow depth ablation includes first and second jaw members movable between open and closed positions and including hemicylindrical surfaces that cooperate to define a cylindrical cavity in the closed position for capturing tissue therebetween. At least one electrode array includes a plurality of first and second electrode portions disposed on or within at least one of the hemicylindrical surfaces and extending annularly at least partially thereabout. The plurality of first and second electrode portions are configured to be energized with electrosurgical energy at different potentials to thereby conduct electrosurgical energy between adjacent first and second electrode portions and through captured tissue to affect shallow depth ablation of captured tissue in the closed position of the first and second jaw members.

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 modeling lungs of a patient includes acquiring computed tomography data of a patient's lungs, storing a software application within a memory associated with a computer, the computer having a processor configured to execute the software application, executing the software application to differentiate tissue located within the patient's lung using the acquired CT data, generate a 3-D model of the patient's lungs based on the acquired CT data and the differentiated tissue, apply a material property to each tissue of the differentiated tissue within the generated 3-D model, generate a mesh of the 3-D model of the patient's lungs, calculate a displacement of the patient's lungs in a collapsed state based on the material property applied to the differentiated tissue and the generated mesh of the generated 3-D model, and display a collapsed lung model of the patient's lungs based on the calculated displacement of the patient's lungs.

Abstract: A surgical system includes an endoscope, a computing device, a vacuum source, and a laser source. The endoscope defines an elongate body having an ultrasound sensor disposed on a distal portion thereof, a first channel defined through the elongate body defining a first aperture extending through the distal portion, a second channel defined through the elongate body defining a second aperture extending through the distal portion and having an optical waveguide disposed therein. The computing device includes a display screen and a processor having a memory storing a software application, which when executed, processes image data captured by the ultrasound sensor and displays a representation of the patient's anatomy on the display screen. The vacuum source is in fluid communication with the first channel to cause a stone to be retained against the distal portion of the endoscope. The laser source is in electromagnetic communication with the optical waveguide.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device is provided and includes a handset having a shaft extending therefrom. The electrosurgical device includes a pair of electrodes disposed at a distal end of the shaft. One or more sensors are in operable communication with the pair of electrodes to detect a pressure applied thereto. The amount of electrosurgical energy that is transmitted to the pair of electrodes is proportional to the amount of pressure that is applied to the pair of electrodes and detected by the sensor.

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.