Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument having a radiating tip with enhanced flexibility. In a first aspect, this is achieved by shaping the dielectric material in the radiating tip to facilitate bending of the radiating tip. In a second aspect, this is achieved by forming a dielectric body and outer sheath of the radiating tip as separate parts, to enable movement and flexure between the parts. By improving the flexibility of the radiating tip, maneuverability of the electrosurgical instrument may be improved.

Abstract: An electrosurgical apparatus for tightening ligaments using microwave energy. A detector is used to obtain information about a treatment zone. Based on this information, an energy delivery profile is determined. The energy delivery profile is selected to cause desired thermal effects in target tissue (e.g. ligaments, tendons or the like) without unwanted thermal side effects is determined and delivered. With this apparatus, energy can be delivered in a precise manner to the target tissue. The energy delivery profile may be based on a complex impedance, or attenuation and/or phase constants of the type of body tissue in the treatment zone.

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 applying microwave energy to biological tissue, where the instrument is capable of freezing biological tissue in a region around a radiating tip portion and applying microwave energy to the frozen tissue. By freezing the region around the radiating tip portion, microwave energy radiated from the radiating tip portion can be transmitted through the frozen region with low losses and into tissue surrounding the frozen region. This enables the size of the treatment area to be increased without having to increase the amount of microwave energy delivered to the radiating tip portion. The instrument comprises a transmission line, a radiating tip, a fluid feed for conveying a tissue-freezing fluid, and a thermal transfer portion arranged to provide thermal communication between the tissue-freezing fluid and biological tissue in a treatment zone.

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: Sterilisation apparatus comprising a sterilisation instrument configured inserted through the instrument channel of a surgical scoping device and a withdrawal device for withdrawing the sterilisation instrument from the instrument channel predetermined rate. The sterilisation instrument comprises an elongate probe having probe tip with a first electrode and a second electrode arranged to produce an electric field from received RF and/or microwave frequency EM energy. In operation the instrument may disinfect an inner surface of the instrument channel by emitting energy whilst being withdrawn through the channel.

Abstract: A protective case for an electronic device may comprise a wireless adaptor for adding wireless capabilities, including support of additional wireless communication protocols, to the electronic device. The system may enable, for example, location based services functions, social networking functions, and messaging functions.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument capable of supporting resonance of microwave energy at multiple frequencies. The instrument comprises a coaxial cable and a radiating distal tip portion arranged to receive microwave energy from the coaxial cable. The radiating tip portion consists of a dielectric material having an electrical length selected in conjunction with its dielectric properties at three or more frequencies of microwave energy to support resonance at each frequency. By providing a single device that can effectively couple microwave energy into biological tissue at three or more frequencies, tissue ablation can be performed rapidly with accuracy.

Abstract: An electrosurgical apparatus for treating fluid-filled biological growths by replacing the fluid within the growth with a substance that assists in delivering treatment energy. The treatment energy may be microwave energy or may be thermal energy derived from microwave energy. The apparatus comprises an instrument having a radiating tip portion, and a fluid delivery mechanism for transporting fluid to and from a treatment zone located around the radiating tip portion. The fluid delivery mechanism comprises a rigid insertion element arranged to extend into the treatment zone, whereby fluid can be aspirated from the treatment zone, and a substance injected into the treatment zone to replace the aspirated fluid. The injected substance has dielectric properties selected to facilitate uniform delivery of treatment energy to biological tissue in the treatment zone.

Abstract: Aspects of subject technology provide systems and methods for generation and distribution of a stable identifier associated with multiple aliases of a user account. The stable identifier may be provided to various electronic devices by a server, responsive to requests associated with communications to those devices from one of the associated aliases. In this way, messaging applications can utilize the stable identifier to merge conversations from a single user having multiple aliases, and secure access to a secure device can be provided to an authorized user, even if the authorized user attempts access from an unauthorized account alias.

Abstract: Sterilization apparatus comprising a sterilization instrument configured to be inserted through the instrument channel of a surgical scoping device and a withdrawal device for withdrawing the sterilization instrument from the instrument channel at a predetermined rate. The sterilization instrument comprises an elongate probe having a probe tip with a first electrode and a second electrode arranged to produce an electric field from received RF and/or microwave frequency EM energy. In operation the instrument may disinfect an inner surface of the instrument channel by emitting energy while being withdrawn through the channel.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument with a radiating tip portion having a relative permeability and/or relative permittivity that is selected to provide an electrical length for the radiating tip portion that enables effective delivery into biological tissue of microwave EM energy supplied thereto, at two or more frequencies of choice. The instrument has a radiating tip portion disposed to receive microwave EM energy from a coaxial cable, the radiating tip portion having a first effective relative permeability at a first frequency and a second effective relative permeability at a second frequency.

Abstract: A protective case for an electronic device may comprise a wireless adaptor for adding wireless capabilities, including support of additional wireless communication protocols, to the electronic device. The system may enable, for example, location based services functions, social networking functions, and messaging functions.

Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps instrument in which an energy conveying structure for efficiently transferring electromagnetic energy (e.g. microwave energy and/or radiofrequency energy) from a coaxial cable to electrodes on the forceps jaws is incorporated into a compact jaw opening structure. The jaw opening structure may be dimensioned to be suitable for insertion down the instrument channel of a endoscope or other scoping device. Alternatively, the device may be configured as a laparoscopic device or be used in open procedures. The instrument may be used as a tool to perform new minimally invasive surgical techniques such as Natural Orifice Transluminal Endosurgery (NOTES) or the like.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument in which an amplifier for getting microwave power is located in the same region at a radiating structure for delivering that power in a distal portion of the instrument. The instrument may be insertable through the instrument channel of a surgical scoping device, e.g. endoscope. The entire microwave generating line up may be incorporated into the instrument so that only DC input power is needed. The microwave power losses and associated drawbacks present in known devices can therefore be avoided. The amplifier may be fabricated using wide band-gap conductor materials, such as GaN and GaN-based alloys, which offer the ability to fabricate devices that are active at RF and microwave frequencies.

Abstract: An electrosurgical cutting tool comprising a pair of pivotable blades that are mechanically operable as scissors or pliers. The blades have electrodes capable of delivery RF and/or microwave energy to cut or coagulate tissue between them. The tool combines the actuation and energy delivery mechanisms in a compact arrangement that enables the tool to be inserted through an instrument channel of a surgical scoping device, such as an endoscope, gastroscope or laparoscope. Each blade may comprise a planar body made of dielectric material that separates a first conductive element from a second conductive element. The blades may rotate relative to each other in the plane of the blades.

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.