Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes a light source, a first conductor, a second conductor, an insulation material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, and a light pipe that carries light from the light source to the insulation material.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes a light source, a first conductor, a second conductor, an insulation material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, and a light pipe that carries light from the light source to the insulation material.

Abstract: A medical device includes a hand piece, a heating power supply, and a therapy power supply. The hand piece includes a first electrode including a heater. The heating power supply selectively provides heating power to the heater. The therapy power supply selectively provides therapeutic power to the first electrode. The medical device is changeable between operating a first electrosurgical configuration and a second electrosurgical configuration. In the first electrosurgical configuration, the heating power supply provides the heating power to the heater to heat the first electrode and the therapy power supply provides the therapeutic power to the first electrode. A single conductor line carries the heating power to the heater and the therapeutic power to the first electrode.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes a light source, a first conductor, a second conductor, an insulation material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, and a light pipe that carries light from the light source to the insulation material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a stone fragment suction device. An apparatus includes a steerable access sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, a tip at the distal end, and a suction conduit positioned within a central lumen of the steerable access sheath from the distal end to the proximal end, the steerable access sheath containing an outer lumen surrounding the central lumen with one or more channels therethrough, an outer circumference of the outer lumen and an outer circumference of the central lumen forming concentric circles, the steerable access sheath further including a radiopaque material at the distal end or along a length of the steerable access sheath to enable tracking with a remote fluoroscopic device.

Abstract: A medical device is provided that includes a hand piece, a heating power supply, and a therapy power supply. The hand piece includes a first electrode including a heater. The heating power supply selectively provides heating power to the heater. The therapy power supply selectively provides therapeutic power to the first electrode. The medical device is changeable between operating a first electrosurgical configuration and a second electrosurgical configuration. In the first electrosurgical configuration, the heating power supply provides the heating power to the heater to heat the first electrode and the therapy power supply provides the therapeutic power to the first electrode.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a device are shown and disclosed for closing a vascular access puncture site following percutaneous diagnostic or therapeutic interventional procedures. The vascular closure device is configured to safely and accurately deploy a sealing material that undergoes a phase change when deployed inside the tissue tract. The sealing material may be a solid at room temperature and a liquid or gel at body temperature. Also, the sealing material may change from a liquid or gel to a cubic phase when it comes into contact with bodily fluids.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device that can be used to remove pedunculated tissue structures such as polyps and certain uterine fibroids includes bipolar surface electrodes and a bipolar snare. The device includes a probe having a proximal end and a distal end, bipolar surface electrodes adjacent to the distal end of the probe, and a bipolar snare extending distally from the distal end of the probe and including first and second snare electrodes. The bipolar surface electrodes are separated from each other by a gap and extend over a portion of the distal end of the probe. Providing both a bipolar snare and bipolar surface electrodes advantageously reduces thermal spread from occurring (compared to the use of a monopolar snare) when using the snare to excise the tissue. The bipolar surface electrodes can be used to coagulate the point of excision.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a device are shown and disclosed for closing a vascular access puncture site following percutaneous diagnostic or therapeutic interventional procedures. The vascular closure device is configured to safely and accurately deploy a sealing material that undergoes a phase change when deployed inside the tissue tract. The sealing material may be a solid at room temperature and a liquid or gel at body temperature. Also, the sealing material may change from a liquid or gel to a cubic phase when it comes into contact with bodily fluids.

Abstract: An annuloplasty prosthesis for a heart valve has a sewing cuff added to the conventional structure. The sewing cuff is preferably an extension of the fabric cover that is provided around the core of the prosthesis. The sewing cuff preferably extends radially outwardly from cross sections of the remainder of the prosthesis. Methods of making such a sewing cuff are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vascular closure device includes a main body and an expandable portion that can be selectively expanded and contracted. The vascular closure device may be used to close the hole in a wall of a vessel after a medical procedure. For example, the vascular closure device may be used to close the hole in an artery after a medical procedure that required access to the artery. In one embodiment, the expandable portion may be oriented at an oblique angle relative to the main body. This may be desirable in situations where the vessel puncture is oriented at an angle relative to the vessel. Orienting the expandable portion at an oblique angle relative to the main body may help the expandable portion to cover the hole in the wall of the vessel.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a device are shown and disclosed for closing a vascular access puncture site following percutaneous diagnostic or therapeutic interventional procedures. The vascular closure device is configured to safely and accurately deploy a sealing material that undergoes a phase change when deployed inside the tissue tract. The sealing material may be a solid at room temperature and a liquid or gel at body temperature. Also, the sealing material may change from a liquid or gel to a cubic phase when it comes into contact with bodily fluids.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a stone fragment suction device. An apparatus includes a steerable access sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, a tip at the distal end, and a suction conduit positioned within a central lumen of the steerable access sheath from the distal end to the proximal end, the steerable access sheath containing an outer lumen surrounding the central lumen with one or more channels therethrough, an outer circumference of the outer lumen and an outer circumference of the central lumen forming concentric circles, the steerable access sheath further including a radiopaque material at the distal end or along a length of the steerable access sheath to enable tracking with a remote fluoroscopic device.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical colpotomy device includes a colpotomy cup and a tissue containment bag. The colpotomy cup includes a first electrode located adjacent to a rim of the cup, the rim being configured to contact an internal surface of a patient's cervico-vaginal junction. The tissue containment bag includes an opening and a second electrode located adjacent to the opening. The tissue containment bag is configured to surround the patient's uterus and the opening is configured to fit over an external surface of the patient's cervico-vaginal junction. Applying a voltage potential between the first and second electrodes vaporizes tissue at the patient's cervico-vaginal junction by electrosurgical energy passing through the tissue disposed between the first and second electrodes. The tissue containment bag then can be used to remove the uterus from the patient, possibly after masticating the uterus within the bag.

Abstract: A suture delivery device for insertion into an internal tissue wall opening and delivery of a suturing apparatus to the internal tissue wall is provided. In one embodiment, the suture delivery device comprises at least one carrier tube, at least one leg, and a tensioning device. The at least one carrier tube is configured to house a pusher and a suturing apparatus, the carrier tube having an expulsion end. The at least one leg is coupled to the at least one tube at a first end of the leg. The tensioning device is pivotally coupled to the at least one leg at a second end of the leg. When the at least one leg is in an open position, the tensioning device exerts tension on the leg such that the leg is movably suspended and can pivot about the tensioning device in response to contacting a tissue wall, and the pusher and suturing apparatus are in an delivery configuration for delivery of the suturing apparatus to the internal tissue wall.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes a grasper and a snare that each includes electrodes. The grasper includes a first electrode that is attachable to a first output of an energy supply. The snare includes a second electrode that is attachable to a second output of the energy supply. When the first and second electrodes are coupled to the energy supply, the grasper and snare operate as a bipolar electrosurgical system. By grasping the tissue with the jaws of the grasper, the current path between the electrode on the snare and the electrode on the grasper is relatively short, and thus the system operates like a bipolar electrosurgical system. Accordingly, the applied energy can be focused to a small area, minimizing damage to surrounding tissue. In addition, energy suitable for coagulating the cut portion of the stalk of the removed tissue can be readily applied with the bipolar electrosurgical system.

Abstract: A uterine manipulator for manipulation of a uterus of a patient is provided. The uterine manipulator includes an elongate member having a distal end. The elongate member is configured to be inserted into a patient's anatomy, and the elongate member defines a center line through a center of the elongate member. An expandable membrane is coupled with the distal end of the elongate member. The expandable membrane has an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, wherein in the expanded configuration, the expandable membrane is configured to manipulate the patient's anatomy. A sensor is disposed adjacent to the elongate member and arranged non-coaxially with the center line of the elongate member.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical colpotomy device includes a colpotomy cup and a tissue containment bag. The colpotomy cup includes a first electrode located adjacent to a rim of the cup, the rim being configured to contact an internal surface of a patient's cervico-vaginal junction. The tissue containment bag includes an opening and a second electrode located adjacent to the opening. The tissue containment bag is configured to surround the patient's uterus and the opening is configured to fit over an external surface of the patient's cervico-vaginal junction. Applying a voltage potential between the first and second electrodes vaporizes tissue at the patient's cervico-vaginal junction by electrosurgical energy passing through the tissue disposed between the first and second electrodes. The tissue containment bag then can be used to remove the uterus from the patient, possibly after masticating the uterus within the bag.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes a grasper and a snare that each includes electrodes. The grasper includes a first electrode that is attachable to a first output of an energy supply. The snare includes a second electrode that is attachable to a second output of the energy supply. When the first and second electrodes are coupled to the energy supply, the grasper and snare operate as a bipolar electrosurgical system. By grasping the tissue with the jaws of the grasper, the current path between the electrode on the snare and the electrode on the grasper is relatively short, and thus the system operates like a bipolar electrosurgical system. Accordingly, the applied energy can be focused to a small area, minimizing damage to surrounding tissue. In addition, energy suitable for coagulating the cut portion of the stalk of the removed tissue can be readily applied with the bipolar electrosurgical system.

Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical assembly is for use in female pelvic surgical procedures. A first shaft includes a uterine manipulator, a second shaft that fits over the first shaft includes a colpotomy cup and first and second electrodes, and a third shaft can be provided over the second shaft and carries a seal for maintaining pneumoperitoneum. The colpotomy cup uses the first and second electrodes for resecting uterine tissue. Incision and resection may be performed by positioning the colpotomy cup near the cervico-vaginal junction, activating the first electrode, and moving one or both of the electrodes.