Abstract: A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure at a surgical site on a patient includes continually sensing electrical and physical properties proximate the surgical site that includes acquiring readings of tissue electrical impedance with respect to time at the surgical site; identifying the minima and maxima of the impedance readings with respect to time; and correlating the minima and/or the maxima of the impedance readings with hydration level and/or hydraulic conductivity in the tissue at the surgical site. The method also includes controlling the application of electrosurgical energy to the surgical site to vary energy delivery based on the step of correlating the minima and/or the maxima of the impedance readings with the hydration level/or and the hydraulic conductivity in the tissue at the surgical site. The process may be an ablation process.

Abstract: A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure at a surgical site on a patient includes continually sensing electrical and physical properties proximate the surgical site that includes acquiring readings of tissue electrical impedance with respect to time at the surgical site; identifying the minima and maxima of the impedance readings with respect to time; and correlating the minima and/or the maxima of the impedance readings with hydration level and/or hydraulic conductivity in the tissue at the surgical site. The method also includes controlling the application of electrosurgical energy to the surgical site to vary energy delivery based on the step of correlating the minima and/or the maxima of the impedance readings with the hydration level/or and the hydraulic conductivity in the tissue at the surgical site. The process may be an ablation process.

Abstract: An electrosurgical dissection apparatus is disclosed, and includes a thermally insulating body, a thermally conductive insert, at least one active electrode, and at least one return electrode. The at least one active electrode is disposed on the thermally conductive insert, and the at least one return electrode is spaced from the at least one active electrode by a portion of the thermally insulating body. The thermally conductive insert is configured to cauterize tissue dissected by radiofrequency energy passing from the at least one active electrode to the at least one return electrode.

Abstract: A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure at a surgical site on a patient includes continually sensing electrical and physical properties proximate the surgical site that includes acquiring readings of tissue electrical impedance with respect to time at the surgical site; identifying the minima and maxima of the impedance readings with respect to time; and correlating the minima and/or the maxima of the impedance readings with hydration level and/or hydraulic conductivity in the tissue at the surgical site. The method also includes controlling the application of electrosurgical energy to the surgical site to vary energy delivery based on the step of correlating the minima and/or the maxima of the impedance readings with the hydration level/or and the hydraulic conductivity in the tissue at the surgical site. The process may be an ablation process.

Abstract: A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure at a surgical site on a patient includes continually sensing electrical and physical properties proximate the surgical site that includes acquiring readings of tissue electrical impedance with respect to time at the surgical site; identifying the minima and maxima of the impedance readings with respect to time; and correlating the minima and/or the maxima of the impedance readings with hydration level and/or hydraulic conductivity in the tissue at the surgical site. The method also includes controlling the application of electrosurgical energy to the surgical site to vary energy delivery based on the step of correlating the minima and/or the maxima of the impedance readings with the hydration level/or and the hydraulic conductivity in the tissue at the surgical site. The process may be an ablation process.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator for supplying electrosurgical energy to tissue includes sensor circuitry configured to measure at least one tissue or energy parameter and a controller configured to generate a plot of the at least one tissue or energy parameter including a plurality of tissue parameter values, wherein the controller is further configured to normalize the plot of the at least one tissue or energy parameter with respect to treatment volume.

Abstract: An electrosurgical dissection apparatus is disclosed, and includes a thermally insulating body, a thermally conductive insert, at least one active electrode, and at least one return electrode. The at least one active electrode is disposed on the thermally conductive insert, and the at least one return electrode is spaced from the at least one active electrode by a portion of the thermally insulating body. The thermally conductive insert is configured to cauterize tissue dissected by radiofrequency energy passing from the at least one active electrode to the at least one return electrode.

Abstract: An electrosurgical forceps is provided. The electrosurgical forceps includes an end effector including first and second jaw members. One of the first and second jaw members is movable from an open configuration for positioning tissue between the first and second jaw members to a closed configuration for grasping tissue for subsequent electrosurgical treatment thereof. One or more cutting electrodes are positioned on the first and/or second jaw members. The cutting electrode(s) includes one or more piezo-elements that are configured to oscillate at a predetermined frequency when the cutting electrode(s) is energized to sever tissue.

Abstract: An electrosurgical dissection apparatus is disclosed, and includes a thermally insulating body, a thermally conductive insert, at least one active electrode, and at least one return electrode. The at least one active electrode is disposed on the thermally conductive insert, and the at least one return electrode is spaced from the at least one active electrode by a portion of the thermally insulating body. The thermally conductive insert is configured to cauterize tissue dissected by radiofrequency energy passing from the at least one active electrode to the at least one return electrode.

Abstract: A microwave antenna assembly includes proximal and distal radiating sections and a junction member. The proximal radiating section includes inner and outer conductors and DC power and neutral conductors. The inner conductor is disposed within the outer conductor and the DC power and neutral conductors are disposed radially outward therefrom. The junction member mates the distal and proximal radiating sections such that the distal and proximal radiating sections are positioned relative to one another. The junction member further includes a microwave signal amplifier (MSA) that receives a signal at a first energy level from the inner and outer conductors and a DC power signal from the DC power and neutral conductors. The MSA amplifies the signal from the first energy level to an additional, greater energy level. The junction member provides the microwave signal at the additional energy level to the proximal and distal radiating sections.

Abstract: An electrosurgical dissection apparatus is disclosed, and includes a thermally insulating body, a thermally conductive insert, at least one active electrode, and at least one return electrode. The at least one active electrode is disposed on the thermally conductive insert, and the at least one return electrode is spaced from the at least one active electrode by a portion of the thermally insulating body. The thermally conductive insert is configured to cauterize tissue dissected by radiofrequency energy passing from the at least one active electrode to the at least one return electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a microwave antenna assembly that includes proximal and distal radiating sections and a junction member. The proximal radiating section includes inner and outer conductors and DC power and neutral conductors. The inner conductor is disposed within the outer conductor and the DC power and neutral conductors are disposed radially outward therefrom. The junction member mates the distal and proximal radiating sections such that the distal and proximal radiating sections are positioned relative to one another. The junction member further includes a microwave signal amplifier (MSA) that receives a signal at a first energy level from the inner and outer conductors and a DC power signal from the DC power and neutral conductors. The MSA amplifies the signal from the first energy level to an additional, greater energy level. The junction member provides the microwave signal at the additional energy level to the proximal and distal radiating sections.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an end effector for a surgical instrument includes providing a substrate wherein at least an outer periphery of the substrate is formed from an electrically-insulative material. The method further includes forming at least one ridge on the outer periphery of the substrate and depositing an electrically-conductive material onto the at least one ridge to form at least one electrode.

Abstract: An electrosurgical dissection apparatus is disclosed, and includes a thermally insulating body, a thermally conductive insert, at least one active electrode, and at least one return electrode. The at least one active electrode is disposed on the thermally conductive insert, and the at least one return electrode is spaced from the at least one active electrode by a portion of the thermally insulating body. The thermally conductive insert is configured to cauterize tissue dissected by radiofrequency energy passing from the at least one active electrode to the at least one return electrode.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator for supplying electrosurgical energy to tissue includes sensor circuitry configured to measure at least one tissue or energy parameter and a controller configured to generate a plot of the at least one tissue or energy parameter including a plurality of tissue parameter values, wherein the controller is further configured to normalize the plot of the at least one tissue or energy parameter with respect to treatment volume.

Abstract: A mammal undergoing an energy-based therapy is treated by administering at least one vasoconstrictive agent to the mammal prior to or during the procedure. The at least one vasoconstrictive agent is added in amounts sufficient to reduce or prevent vasodilation. This treatment method increases or promotes the size of the coagulation zone created after energy-based therapy.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator for supplying electrosurgical energy to tissue is disclosed. The generator includes sensor circuitry configured to measure at least one tissue or energy parameter and a controller configured to generate a plot of the at least one tissue or energy parameter including a plurality of tissue parameter values, wherein the controller is further configured to normalize the plot of the at least one tissue or energy parameter with respect to treatment volume.

Abstract: A system for planning, performing and/or evaluating the effectiveness of a therapeutic treatment of a target tissue includes at least one of a thermal conductivity probe including a microprobe sensor configured and adapted to measure a thermal conductivity in the target tissue in at least one direction or an electrical conductivity probe including a microprobe sensor configured and adapted to measure an electrical conductivity in the target tissue in at least one direction. The system further includes a multimeter operatively connected to at least one of the thermal conductivity probe or the electrical conductivity probe, the multimeter being configured and adapted to deliver energy to at least one of the thermal conductivity probe or the electrical conductivity probe, and a computer operatively connected to the multimeter.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical power generating source, an energy-delivery device operably associated with the electrosurgical power generating source, and a processor unit. The electrosurgical system also includes an imaging system capable of generating image data including tissue temperature information. The processor unit is disposed in operative communication with the imaging system and adapted to analyze the image data to determine a specific absorption rate around the energy-delivery device as a function of the tissue temperature information obtained from the image data.

Abstract: A system for planning, performing and/or evaluating the effectiveness of a therapeutic treatment of a target tissue is provided. The system includes at least one of a thermal conductivity probe including a microprobe sensor configured and adapted to measure a thermal conductivity in the target tissue in at least one direction and an electrical conductivity probe including a microprobe sensor configured and adapted to measure an electrical conductivity in the target tissue in at least one direction. The system further includes a multimeter operatively connected to at least one of the thermal conductivity probe and the electrical conductivity probe, the multimeter being configured and adapted to deliver energy to at least one of the thermal conductivity probe and the electrical conductivity probe and a computer operatively connected to the multimeter.