Abstract: The invention relates to an electrosurgical system for delivering electromagnetic energy at a plurality of frequencies to cause different effects on biological tissue at a treatment site, and in particular to an electrosurgical generator.

Abstract: An electrosurgical resector tool having an energy delivery structure that provides a plurality of operational modalities that facilitate biological tissue cutting and sealing using radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) energy and/or microwave EM energy. The tool comprises a static first blade element, and a pivotable second blade element that has a length commensurate with the first blade element whereby, in a closed position, it lies adjacent to a laterally facing surface of the first blade element. The blade elements constitute an energy delivery mechanisms that is compact enough to enable the tool to be insertable through an instrument channel of a surgical scoping device, such as an endoscope, gastroscope or bronchoscope.

Abstract: An energy conveying device for conveying radiofrequency electromagnetic energy or microwave electromagnetic energy. The device comprises: a first conductive line and a second conductive line configured to convey radiofrequency electromagnetic energy or microwave electromagnetic energy having a first frequency. Also, the device comprises: an electrical element providing a first leakage capacitance. The first leakage capacitance is between the first conductive line and a ground or between the second conductive line and the ground. Further, the device comprises: a tuning circuit including an inductor unit and a capacitor unit having a ground capacitance. The inductor unit and the capacitor unit are connected in series between the ground and either the first conductive line or the second conductive line. The inductor unit has a tuning inductance such that the tuning circuit and the first leakage capacitance form a resonant circuit having a resonance frequency that is aligned with the first frequency.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for delivering pressurised fluid to a biological tissue, and for delivering radiofrequency electromagnetic energy and/or microwave frequency EM energy to the biological tissue. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a flexible shaft with an instrument tip connected to its distal end. The instrument tip comprises a planar body made of a first dielectric material separating a first conductive element from a second conductive element, for delivering EM energy to the biological tissue. The instrument tip has a nozzle for delivering the pressurised fluid directly to the biological tissue. An outer sleeve extends over the flexible shaft and a proximal section of the instrument tip to reinforce the flexible shaft and a junction between the flexible shaft and instrument tip.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for delivering pressurised fluid to a biological tissue, and for delivering radiofrequency electromagnetic energy and/or microwave frequency EM energy to the biological tissue. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a flexible shaft with an instrument tip connected to its distal end. The instrument tip comprises a planar body made of a first dielectric material separating a first conductive element from a second conductive element, for delivering EM energy to the biological tissue. The instrument tip has a nozzle for delivering the pressurised fluid directly to the biological tissue. An outer sleeve extends over the flexible shaft and a proximal section of the instrument tip to reinforce the flexible shaft and a junction between the flexible shaft and instrument tip.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a power transfer assembly. The assembly includes a transmitter comprising a coaxial cable having an inner conductor and an outer conductor separated by a dielectric material. The coaxial cable is configured to generate a magnetic field outside of the outer conductor when a first electromagnetic (EM) signal is conveyed by the coaxial cable. The assembly also includes a receiver for receiving power from the transmitter by inductive coupling using the magnetic field. Some other embodiments provide an electrosurgical instrument for delivering electromagnetic (EM) energy to biological tissue for tissue treatment. The instrument includes a feed structure, an applicator and the power transfer assembly.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for use in minimally invasive surgical techniques that provides a small scale localized microwave field capable of precisely ablating tissue, e.g. in the lungs, through suitable selection of geometry and material for a radiating distal tip thereof. The instrument may be used with a bronchoscope having a power delivery structure formed within the instrument cord thereof. A vision system may be incorporated into the energy delivery structure. The instrument includes a coaxial cable for conveying microwave energy to a radiating tip portion that comprises a dielectric tip and a distal conductive portion that extends longitudinally therein. The dielectric tip has a dielectric constant greater than a dielectric material within the coaxial cable. The distal end of the device is designed to facilitate efficient microwave energy delivery into lung tumour tissue to achieve a localized volume of ablation.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument which is capable of simultaneously ablating an area of tissue with microwave energy and performing resection with RF energy. The instrument comprises a structure for conveying both RF and microwave energy to an instrument tip that is configured to emit the microwave energy in a manner suitable for ablation (e.g. as a substantially spherical field) and to emit the RF energy in a more focussed manner to enable accurate and controllable resection to be performed. The energy conveying structure comprises a coaxial transmission line for conveying microwave energy. The coaxial transmission line has a hollow inner conductor that defines a passage that supports a second transmission line for conveying radiofrequency energy.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for use in minimally invasive surgical techniques that provides a small scale localized microwave field capable of precisely ablating tissue, e.g. in the lungs, through suitable selection of geometry and material for a radiating distal tip thereof. The instrument may be used with a bronchoscope having a power delivery structure formed within the instrument cord thereof. A vision system may be incorporated into the energy delivery structure. The instrument comprise a coaxial cable for conveying microwave energy to a radiating tip portion that comprises a dielectric tip and a distal conductive portion that extends longitudinally therein. The dielectric tip has a dielectric constant greater than a dielectric material within the coaxial cable. The distal end of the device is designed to facilitate efficient microwave energy delivery into lung tumour tissue to achieve a localized volume of ablation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cable assembly for an electrosurgical instrument, comprising an inner conductive layer, an outer conductive layer arranged coaxially with the inner conductive layer, a dielectric layer separating the inner conductive layer and the outer conductive layer, and an optical fibre for transmitting electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet spectrum, the visible spectrum, and/or in the infrared spectrum; wherein the inner conductive layer, the dielectric layer, and the outer conductive layer form a coaxial cable providing a transmission line for conveying radiofrequency and/or microwave radiation, wherein the inner conductive layer surrounds the optical fibre, and wherein the inner conductive layer and the optical fibre are bonded to each other.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a hollow cable for transmitting radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to an electrosurgical instrument, wherein the hollow cable is provided with electrical connectors for forming a bipolar electrical connection with an electrosurgical instrument that fits within, e.g. slides relative to, the hollow cable. The connectors can be conductive protrusions extending in an axial direction on opposite sides of the cable. The protrusions can be tabs, fins, rods, pins, or wires. The protrusions can be strips which engage corresponding terminals on the instrument. The transmission line structure of the invention can have a greater diameter then convention coaxial cables, which can minimise loss whilst still providing access for control wires and/or fluid to reach an surgical instrument. The cable can be used with multiple instruments.

Abstract: Sterilisation apparatus suitable for generating hydroxyl radicals for sterilising an enclosed space, in which energy and water mist feeds are combined in a manner that permit the apparatus to be readily scaled to the size of enclosure. In particular, the sterilisation apparatus provides a manifold for providing a plasma generating region to form a plasma arc through which a flow of water mist is directed to form the hydroxyl radicals. A power distribution device transmits microwave energy generated by a microwave source to the manifold and distributes the received microwave energy to a plurality of output ports connected to the manifold.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for delivering microwave energy having a predetermined frequency into biological tissue in contact with the instrument, wherein the instrument comprises a first coaxial transmission line having a second coaxial transmission line connected to the distal end thereof, the second coaxial transmission line having a length and a characteristic impedance that are configured to match the impedance of the first coaxial transmission line to the load impedance at the distal end of the distal coaxial transmission line when the instrument is in contact with the tissue, at the operating frequency.

Abstract: A helical antenna structure for use in an electrosurgical instrument. The helical antenna structure is connectable to inner and outer conductors of a coaxial transmission line, and can act as both a radiating antenna or applicator structure, and also in a mode where an electric field is generated between its electrodes. In this way, the helical antenna structure may be used both for argon plasma coagulation, and deep tissue coagulation, as well as providing means for delivering a fluid, e.g. a therapeutic fluid such as adrenaline. This may be achieved through the use of helically arranged electrodes and a channel for gas to flow. This device is also used to deliver adrenaline and RF/microwave energy.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrosurgical apparatus for cutting and coagulating biological tissue. In particular, the present invention provides an electrosurgical generator arranged to generate radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) energy and microwave frequency EM energy; wherein the electrosurgical generator is operable in each of a coagulation mode and a cutting mode, wherein in the coagulation mode the electrosurgical generator is arranged to deliver the RF EM energy and the microwave EM energy simultaneously in a coagulation composite waveform comprising a dominant microwave signal and a supplementary RF signal, and wherein in the cutting mode the electrosurgical generator is arranged to deliver the RF EM energy and the microwave EM energy simultaneously in a cutting composite waveform comprising a dominant RF signal and a supplementary microwave signal.

Abstract: A microstrip impedance transformer that permits efficient (i.e. low loss) coupling of a microwave feed line (e.g. a conventional 50? coaxial cable) to an instrument cable, where the instrument cable has a lower impedance (e.g. in the range 12 to 14?) and includes an internal passageway. The microstrip impedance transformer is configured to perform impedance matching between the microwave feed line and the instrument cable in a manner that does not adversely affect a separate feed, e.g. for delivering fluid, into the internal passageway.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator capable of supplying energy in a waveform that causes electroporation in biological tissue. The electrosurgical generator may comprise an electroporation waveform supply unit that is integrated with an electromagnetic signal supply unit for generating microwave electromagnetic signals and radiofrequency electromagnetic signals for treatment. The electrosurgical generator may be configured to deliver different types of energy along a common feed cable. The electroporation waveform supply unit comprises a DC power supply and a DC pulse generator. The DC power supply may include a DC-DC converter for up-converting a voltage output by an adjustable voltage supply. Each DC pulse may have a duration in the range 1 ns to 10 ms and a maximum amplitude in the range 10 V to 10 kV.

Abstract: An isolating circuit for electrosurgical generator arranged to produce radiofrequency (RF) energy and microwave energy for treating biological tissue. The generator has an RF channel and a microwave channel which are combined at signal combiner to enable the RF energy and microwave energy to be delivered into tissue along a common feed path. The isolating circuit comprises a tunable waveguide isolator at a junction between the microwave channel and signal combiner, and can include a capacitive structure between a ground conductor of the signal combiner and a conductive input section of the waveguide isolator to inhibit coupling of the RF energy and leakage of the microwave energy. The isolating circuit can combine into a single tunable unit all the necessary components to isolate the microwave and RF channels from one another whilst providing a high withstanding voltage.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an electrosurgical resector tool comprising: a shaft defining a lumen; an energy conveying structure for carrying electromagnetic (EM) energy through the lumen of the shaft; an instrument tip mounted at a distal end of the shaft. The instrument tip comprises: a static portion comprising a first blade element; and a movable portion comprising a second blade element, wherein the movable portion is movable relative to the static portion between a closed position in which the first blade element and second blade element lie alongside each other to an open position in which the second blade element is spaced from the first blade element by a gap for receiving biological tissue. The instrument tip also includes a travel limiting mechanism operable to limit a maximum extent of relative movement between the second blade element and the first blade element in the open position and/or the closed position.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrosurgical system for delivering electromagnetic energy at a plurality of frequencies to cause different effects on biological tissue at a treatment site, and in particular to an electrosurgical generator.