Abstract: A kit comprising: a urinary catheter comprising a first and a second longitudinal lumens; an ultrasonic transducer disposed about said catheter; a balloon mounted on said catheter, and enclosing said transducer; and a reservoir containing an acoustic coupling medium, wherein: said catheter further comprises a first opening in said first longitudinal lumen, said first opening disposed inside said balloon and configured to inflate said balloon with at least some of said acoustic coupling medium, said catheter further comprises a second opening in said second longitudinal lumen, said second opening disposed outside said balloon and configured to deliver a therapeutic fluid into the urinary bladder, around said balloon, and activation of said transducer in said urinary bladder causes cavitation bubbles to form in said therapeutic fluid adjacent an internal surface of the urinary bladder, and little or no cavitation bubbles are formed in said acoustic coupling medium in said balloon.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling energy delivered to an area of tissue during a treatment procedure are provided. The system includes a device for delivering energy to the area of tissue; an energy generator for generating and supplying energy to the device; and a controller for controlling an amount of energy generated by the energy generator and delivered to the area of tissue by the device. Controlling the amount of energy delivered to the area of tissue alters a primary zone of the area of tissue to a first level, alters a secondary zone to a second level, alters a tertiary zone to a third level, or a combination thereof, where the first level, the second level, the third level, or a combination thereof is predetermined, and where a coverage area of the primary zone, the secondary zone, the tertiary zone, or a combination thereof is also predetermined.

Abstract: Neuromodulation catheter systems with controlled irrigation capabilities and methods for using such systems are disclosed herein. One such method includes, for example, positioning an irrigated neuromodulation catheter at a treatment site within a renal blood vessel of a human patient, delivering neuromodulation energy at the treatment site, and delivering irrigation fluid to the treatment site having characteristics coordinated with the delivered energy. The characteristics can be adjusted to maintain an energy delivery element and/or tissue of the blood vessel at a constant temperature as power is increased. The method can further include monitoring at least one parameter of the tissue and/or of the energy delivery element, and adjusting the neuromodulation energy and/or the characteristics of the irrigation fluid if the at least one parameter falls outside of a treatment range of values.

Abstract: Improved methods and devices for performing an endoscopic surgery including a system for performing minimally invasive procedures including a flexible catheter having a first lumen, a first flexible tube positioned in the first lumen, and a second flexible tube positioned in the first lumen. The first lumen defines a first space configured and dimensioned to receive an endoscope. The first flexible tube and second flexible tube are fixed at a proximal portion and configured to float within the first lumen of the catheter. First and second flexible guides are slidably positioned within the first and second flexible tubes and dimensioned to receive a first instrument for axial movement therein, the first and second flexible guides movable to an angled position with respect to a longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for treating pulmonary tissues via delivery of energy, generally characterized by high voltage pulses, to target tissue using a pulmonary tissue modification system (e.g., an energy delivery catheter system). Example pulmonary tissues include, without limitation, the epithelium (the goblet cells, ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelial cells, and basal cells), lamina propria, submucosa, submucosal glands, basement membrane, smooth muscle, cartilage, nerves, pathogens resident near or within the tissue, or a combination of any of these. The system may be used to treat a variety of pulmonary diseases or disorders such as or associated with COPD (e.g., chronic bronchitis, emphysema), asthma, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), acute bronchitis and/or other pulmonary diseases or disorders.

Abstract: A system for controlling operation of a radiofrequency treatment device to apply radiofrequency energy to tissue to treat tissue to create lesions without ablating the tissue. The system includes a first treatment device having a plurality of electrodes. The electrodes are maintained in axial alignment and fixed radial spacing in retracted and extended positions. The device includes a basket having a plurality of arms. The arms are maintained in a fixed radial spacing in the collapsed position of the basket.

Abstract: An in vivo potential measurement device includes an insulating member and an amplifier. The insulating member has an electrode. The insulating member is inserted into an organ of a living body such that an outer peripheral face of the insulating member contacts with an inner wall face of the organ at a contact site. The electrode senses electric potential at the contact site. The amplifier amplifies the electric potential to obtain output voltage. The amplifier has input capacitance Cin and input resistance Rin that satisfy Cin/Ce>0.1 and 1/(2?fCeRin)>0.1, where Ce represents capacitance of the insulating member at the contact site, and f represents frequency of the electric potential at the contact site on the inner wall face. A contact state between the outer peripheral face and the inner wall face is evaluated using the output voltage.

Abstract: An effective and highly accurate method for measuring temperature during thermal tumor ablation to increase ablation accuracy includes installing a fiber optic temperature sensor with a linearly chirped (the variation of the refractive index has a period growing in an algebraic progression) Bragg grating with a length of 1.4-6 cm and a diameter of 80-300 ?m using a catheter directly on the tumor. Through the fiber optic sensor with a length of 1.4-6 cm and a diameter of 80-300 ?m is passed a light spectrum, which undergoes backscatter due to the Bragg grating, dependent on the temperature acting on the sensor. Subsequently, using the backscatter light spectrum decoding software, developed according to the fiber optic cable parameters, the temperature profile is displayed on the computer. The method has applications in medicine, in particular oncology.

Abstract: A catheter apparatus includes an elongated body having a distal portion including a distal end, a plurality of flexible segments, and at least one intermediate segment that is less flexible than the flexible segments. Adjacent flexible segments are spaced from each other longitudinally by the at least one intermediate segment. Each of the flexible segments include a sidewall having at least one elongated gap extending at least partially therethrough and forming interlocking members. The at least one intermediate segment is shorter than the flexible segments.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides agents, compositions, and methods for augmenting ablation of a target tissue in a subject in need thereof, for example, using agents that modulate protective and/or reparative cellular processes induced in target tissue by application of ablative energy to the target tissue to sensitize the target tissue to the ablative energy. The presently disclosed subject matter further provides methods for augmenting radiofrequency ablation of cardiac tissue, for example, by applying radiofrequency energy to ablate cardiac tissue in the presence of metallic nanoparticles magnetically guided to the cardiac tissue.

Abstract: In an approach for database index optimization, a processor detects a pattern of characters and numeric digits of an index key. The index key provides an access to a database through an index access without a sorting operation. A processor determines a converting format based on the pattern of the index key. The pattern includes a string of the numeric digits. A processor converts the index key into a converted key by converting the string of the numeric digits into an integer. A processor saves the converted key into a storage.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to an electrosurgical device that includes an outer body, an inner body disposed partially within the outer body, three plates and an insulator. A first plate of the three plates includes a plurality of apertures and is positioned so that each of two projections extending from the inner body extend through a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures of the first plate. A second plate and a third plate of the three plates are both disposed on the first plate such that each of the two projections extends through an aperture of the second plate or the third plate, the second and third plates being fixed to a respective projection. The insulator is disposed around the inner body and is attached to the outer body at a first end and abuts the first plate at a second end opposite the first end.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an RF treatment apparatus controlling the RF energy so that the target tissue is maintained within a range of a treatment temperature if the target tissue is determined to have reached the treatment temperature based on the impedance, a method of controlling the RF treatment apparatus, and a skin treatment method using RF energy. The RF treatment apparatus, the method of controlling the RF treatment apparatus and the skin treatment method using RF energy according to the present invention have an effect in that they can improve the accuracy and efficiency of treatment because whether a target tissue corresponds to a treatment temperature is determined based on impedance of the tissue and the volume of the target tissue corresponding to the treatment temperature can be maximized while maintaining the target tissue to the treatment temperature for a predetermined time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an RF treatment apparatus, the method of controlling the RF treatment apparatus and the skin treatment method using RF energy according to the present invention have an effect in that they can improve the accuracy and efficiency of treatment because whether a target tissue corresponds to a treatment temperature is determined based on impedance of the tissue and the volume of the target tissue corresponding to the treatment temperature can be maximized while maintaining the target tissue to the treatment temperature for a predetermined time.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator having active and return terminals, an electrosurgical instrument including an active electrode, a return instrument including a return electrode, an active plug configured to connect to the active terminal of the generator, a return plug configured to connect to the return terminal of the generator, an active cable extending from the return plug to the electro surgical instrument, a return cable extending from the return plug to the return instrument, a connector cable extending from the active plug to the return plug, and a mechanical switch mechanism disposed within the return plug. The mechanical switch mechanism has a disengaged position in which the active plug is electrically disconnected from the active cable and an engaged position in which the active plug is in electrical communication with the active cable.

Abstract: Digital imaging systems and methods are described for determining a user-specific skin redness value of a user's skin after removing hair. An example method may be performed by one or more processors and may include aggregating training images comprising pixel data of skin of individuals after removing hair. A skin redness model may be trained using the training images to output skin redness values associated with a degree of skin redness from least to most red. The method may include receiving an image of a user including pixel data of the user's skin after hair is removed from the skin, analyzing the image using the skin redness model to determine a user-specific skin redness value, generating a user-specific recommendation designed to address a feature identifiable within the pixel data of the user's skin, and rendering the recommendation on a display screen of a user computing device.

Abstract: Surgical instruments and system and methods for using surgical instruments are disclosed. A surgical instrument comprises an end effector comprising an ultrasonic blade and clamp arm, an electrode, an ultrasonic transducer, and a sensor coupled to a control circuit. The electrode receives electrosurgical energy from a generator and applies the electrosurgical energy to the end effector to weld tissue based on the generator generating a drive signal. The ultrasonic transducer ultrasonically oscillates the ultrasonic blade in response to the drive signal. The control circuit receives a signal from the sensor indicative of a surgical parameter, determines a weld time of a surgical operation based on the sensor signal, and varies one or more of a clamp arm pressure applied by the clamp arm and a power level of the electrosurgical energy to maintain one or more of a predefined heat flux or power applied to tissue loaded in the end effector.

Abstract: A catheter force control system including: a hand-held catheter force control device including: a base sized to be hand-held; a cover reversibly fastened to the base in a closed position; a sheath clamp coupled to the base, the sheath clamp capturing a sheath handle to immobilize the sheath handle relative to the base, the sheath clamp is an aperture formed in corresponding abutting edges of the cover and the base, the aperture being formed when the cover and the base are in the closed position; a catheter clamp capturing a catheter, a remote end of the catheter configured to deliver an ablation therapy; the catheter clamp aligned to be substantially co-axial with the sheath clamp; and a linear actuator effecting linear motion of the catheter clamp relative to the sheath clamp; a force sensor located at the remote end of the catheter, the remote end configured for contact with a target tissue, the force sensor detecting real-time contact force data; a controller for receiving the real-time contact force data

Abstract: A forceps is provided that includes a housing defining an internal passageway and a longitudinal axis, first and second jaws slidably and pivotably connected to the housing, a first connection member having a first end pivotably attached to the first jaw, a second connection member having a first end pivotably attached to the second jaw; and a driver pivotably connected to the other ends of the first connection member and the second connection member, wherein the jaws have an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein longitudinal movement of the driver in a first direction rotates the first and second jaws relative to the housing from the open configuration towards the closed configuration, wherein longitudinal movement of the driver in the first direction also moves the first and second jaws longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the housing from the open configuration towards the closed configuration.

Abstract: A surgical fastener cartridge is provided and includes a cartridge body having a tissue contacting surface that includes a plurality of fastener retention slots. A plurality of surgical fasteners is operatively disposed in the plurality of fastener retention slots. A plurality of pushers is operably associated with the plurality of surgical fasteners. Each pusher is configured for ejecting an associated surgical fastener towards a depression in an anvil. An actuation sled is housed within the cartridge body and includes a plurality of cam wedges. The plurality of cam wedges configured to sequentially contact the plurality of pushers such that a surgical fastener that is ejected closer to a cut line produces a greater compression force to stapled tissue than a surgical fastener ejected further from the cut line.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a surgery support system, a display control device, and a display control method in which a plurality of images can be displayed in an easy-to-see and efficient manner. An information processing device generates a composite image by compositing images output from a plurality of electronic instruments including a medical instrument, and adds, to the composite image, metadata related to division of the composite image. The display control device controls a display device to display, in the virtual three-dimensional space, divided images obtained by dividing the composite image into a plurality of divided regions on the basis of the metadata. The present disclosure can be applied to an endoscopic surgical system, for example.

Abstract: Disclosed are: a skin care device which determines whether, on the basis of a voltage fluctuation according to contact with the skin, the skin care device has been rubbed, and which blocks the output of current through an electrode when rubbing does not occur for at least a set time; and a control method therefor. The disclosed skin care device determines the state of the skin care device on the basis of sensing voltage corresponding to a change in current of a transformation module according to the outputting of alternating current into the skin through contact electrodes, and blocks the output of current of an electrode module if the skin care device is in a fixed state.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to measuring impedance across a plurality of electrode pairs. The disclosed systems and methods may simultaneously provide drive signals between electrode pairs and then sense the voltage signals that develop at the electrodes. Digital signal processing may be used to synchronously demodulate the voltage signal at each electrode to determine impedances at the electrodes. Each electrode pair may be driven at a unique frequency to allow for significantly increasing a number of electrode pairs and/or increasing drive current magnitudes. Synchronous demodulation allows the unique frequencies to be detected independent of each other while minimizing crosstalk. Typically, the drive frequencies are made orthogonal by setting the drive frequencies at harmonics of a common base frequency and measuring a response over an integer number of cycles.

Abstract: Adjacent tissue layers can be accessed using a catheter device with a distal tip having a conductive portion including a first cutting feature and one or more projections extending from the first cutting feature towards an outer diameter of the distal tip. Electrical energy can be supplied to the conductive portion of the device to cut tissue. A stent can be delivered to form a fluid communication between the adjacent tissue layers.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method that allows a therapeutic device, such as an atrial fibrillation microwave ablation catheter or ablation tip to be guided to a remote location within a body cavity and then accurately immobilized on the tissue, including that of a moving organ, such as the heart. In various embodiments, the system and method also enables accurate movement and steering along the tissue, while in engagement therewith. Such movement and engagement entails the use of vacuum or microneedle structures on at least two interconnected and articulated immobilizers that selectively engage to and release from the tissue to allow a crawling or traversing walking across the organ as the therapeutic catheter/tool tip applies treatment (AGE devices). In further embodiments that lack a movement capability (AID devices), the immobilizers allow a predetermined position for the introduced device to be maintained against the tissue while a treatment is applied to the location adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A percutaneous catheter system for use within the human body and an ablation catheter for ablating a selected tissue region within the body of a subject. The percutaneous catheter system can include two catheters that are operatively coupled to one another by magnetic coupling through a tissue structure. The ablation catheter can include electrodes positioned within a central portion. The ablation catheter is positioned such that the central portion of a flexible shaft at least partially surrounds the selected tissue region. Each electrode of the ablation catheter can be activated independently to apply ablative energy to the selected tissue region. The ablation catheter can employ high impedance structures to change the current density at specific points. Methods of puncturing through a tissue structure using the percutaneous catheter system are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for ablating a selected tissue region using the ablation catheter.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to treating diseased tissue with ablation therapy. In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises a catheter having an elongate body extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The apparatus further includes a balloon structure arranged proximal to the distal end of the catheter, wherein the balloon structure has a first portion with a first permeability and a second portion with a second permeability such that the first permeability is different than the second permeability. In addition, the apparatus includes a first electrode arranged on or within the balloon structure and configured to: transmit current through the first portion, receive current transmitted through the first portion or both.

Abstract: Described herein are various implementations of systems and methods for accessing and modulating tissue (for example, systems and methods for accessing and ablating nerves or other tissue within or surrounding a vertebral body to treat chronic lower back pain). Assessment of vertebral endplate degeneration or defects (e.g., pre-Modic changes) to facilitate identification of treatment sites and protocols are also provided in several embodiments. Several embodiments comprise the use of biomarkers to confirm or otherwise assess ablation, pain relief, efficacy of treatment, etc. Some embodiments include robotic elements for, as an example, facilitating robotically controlled access, navigation, imaging, and/or treatment.

Abstract: A forceps includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a shaft, an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft, and a drive assembly including a drive bar. The end effector assembly includes jaw members movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions. The drive bar is slidably disposed within the shaft and coupled to the end effector assembly such that translation of the drive bar relative to the shaft moves the jaw members between the spaced-apart and approximated positions. The second portion includes a housing (or portion thereof) and a handle assembly including a movable handle that is coupled to the housing and movable relative thereto between first and second positions. The first and second portions are releasably couplable with one another to operably couple the movable handle with the drive bar such that moving the movable handle actuates the jaw members.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device having an easily adjustable length, in which the entire length of the device can be easily adjusted by allowing a stretching member having a blade to be easily moved in a body by unlocking the stretching member in a one-touch button type. Therefore, an operator can easily insert the blade inside incised skin of a patient.

Abstract: Embodiments of medical devices and methods are disclosed. The medical devices typically comprises an elongate member with a proximal region and a distal region. The distal region comprises a flexible portion that is more flexible than the proximal region of the medical device. The flexible region includes gaps in the sidewall of the elongate member. Furthermore, the medical device comprises a rigid energy delivery device at the distal end which is configured to deliver energy to tissue when energy is supplied to the energy delivery device. In some embodiments, the medical device comprises a support spine configured to provide support to the flexible portion of the elongate member.

Abstract: In the present invention, an interface control module for controlling a mapping/imaging/recording system is provided for placement on a catheter control handle. The interface control module includes control elements that are operably connected to the mapping/imaging/recording system in order to control various functions of the imaging/recording system relating to images represented on a display forming a part of the mapping/imaging/recording system. The interface control module can be integrated with the catheter control handle or can be formed as a separate component that is releasably attachable to the catheter control handle to enable a use to operate the mapping/imaging/recording system from the catheter control handle being utilized in an interventional medical procedure.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for transvascular ablation of target tissue. The devices and methods may, in some examples, be used for splanchnic nerve ablation to increase splanchnic venous blood capacitance to treat at least one of heart failure and hypertension. For example, the devices disclosed herein may be advanced endovascularly to a target vessel in the region of a thoracic splanchnic nerve (TSN), such as a greater splanchnic nerve (GSN) or a TSN nerve root. Also disclosed are methods of treating heart failure, such as HFpEF, by endovascularly ablating a thoracic splanchnic nerve to increase venous capacitance and reduce pulmonary blood pressure.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an ablation system includes a probe to be inserted into a heart and including an electrode to apply radiofrequency (RF) power so as to ablate a myocardium, an RF signal generator, a tracking module to compute a relative location and orientation of the probe, and a processor to receive a signal from at least one user input device indicating an actuation of a serial ablation procedure including performing ablations at different locations of the myocardium, and control the serial ablation procedure so that for each ablation the processor is configured to check whether the relative location and orientation of the probe are steady, automatically compute an ablation duration, automatically control the RF signal generator to generate the RF power for the computed ablation duration, and render a user interface screen including a time indicator indicating a time remaining until an end of the ablation duration.

Abstract: A forceps having a first jaw and a second jaw, where at least one of the first and second jaws is capable of moving between an open position and a closed positions. The forceps including an inner shaft located within an outer shaft and extending along the longitudinal axis, and a drive bar coupled to and extending distally from the inner shaft. The drive bar including a pair of drive bar struts extending from a distal portion of the inner shaft and positioned laterally inward of at least one of first and second set of flanges of the first and second jaws. A drive pin is securable to the pair of drive bar struts and the drive bar is translatable within the outer shaft to translate the drive pin to move the first jaw and/or the second jaw between open and closed positions.

Abstract: Provided herein is a plasma generating device for medical treatment and sanitizing purposes which comprises a control unit and a plasma generator connecting to the control unit. The plasma generator comprises a plasma tube having a first end and a second end; a first dielectric layer disposed on the inner surface of the plasma tube; a first electrode disposed on the first dielectric layer; a second dielectric layer disposed on the first electrode; a second electrode disposed on the second dielectric layer; and a plasma nozzle disposed on the bottom cover on the second end of the plasma tube.

Abstract: Embodiments of medical treatment including skin treatment using electrical energy, especially with the primary purpose for skin treatment for aesthetics are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: An energy treatment instrument includes a pair of grasping pieces, and the grasping pieces grasp a treated target therebetween by closing relative to each other. At least one of the grasping pieces includes an energy applying portion which treats the treated target by applying treatment energy to the grasped treated target. At least one of the grasping pieces includes a hauler hauling the treated target toward an inside in a width direction of the grasping pieces, when the grasping pieces close relative to each other in a state that the treated target is disposed between the grasping pieces.

Abstract: Ablation electrode assemblies include an inner core member and an outer shell surrounding the inner core member. The inner core member and the outer shell define a space or separation region therebetween. The inner core member is constructed from a thermally insulative material having a reduced thermal conductivity. In an embodiment, the space is a sealed or evacuated region. In other embodiments, irrigation fluid flows within the space. The ablation electrode assembly further includes at least one thermal sensor in some embodiments. Methods for providing irrigation fluid during cardiac ablation of targeted tissue are disclosed that include calculating the energy delivered to irrigation fluid as it flows within the ablation electrode assembly through temperature measurement of the irrigation fluid. Pulsatile flow of irrigation fluid can be utilized in some embodiments of the disclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft assembly, an end effector, an articulation section, and an articulation control assembly. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft assembly and comprises an ultrasonic blade. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft assembly and is operable to articulate to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis. The articulation control assembly comprises first and second threaded members and an articulation control. The first and second threaded members have respective first and second pitch orientations. The articulation control is rotatable to thereby drive articulation of the articulation section by causing translation of the first and second threaded members along a path that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. The axis of rotation of the articulation control is non-parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly.

Abstract: A phrenic nerve pacing monitor assembly for a cryogenic balloon catheter system used during a cryoablation procedure, which monitors movement of a diaphragm of a patient, includes a pacing detector and a safety system. The pacing detector directly monitors movement of the diaphragm of the patient to detect when phrenic nerve pacing is occurring. Additionally, the pacing detector generates monitor output based on the movement of the diaphragm of the patient. The safety system receives the monitor output and based at least in part on the monitor output selectively provides an alert when movement of the diaphragm of the patient is atypical. The safety system is configured to provide the alert only while at least one of (i) phrenic nerve pacing is occurring, and (ii) cryoablation is occurring.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for delivering coolant to an energy delivery device used to treat tissue with electromagnetic energy. A cooling system includes a pump that is configured to pump a coolant to the energy delivery device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a navigation system for navigating an interventional device (11) like a catheter and an interventional system comprising the navigation system. A position and shape determining unit (13) determines and stores a first position and shape of the interventional device within a living being (9) during a first interventional procedure like a first chemoembolization session and determines a second position and shape of an interventional device within the living being during a subsequent second interventional procedure like a second chemoembolization session. During the second interventional procedure the interventional device is navigated based on the stored first position and shape and based on the second position and shape. This allows considering during the second interventional procedure the path of the interventional device used during the first interventional procedure.

Abstract: A cooled radiofrequency ablation system including a probe assembly having a proximal region, a distal tip region, and a shaft is provided. First and second internal cooling fluid tubes extend from the proximal region and are positioned inside a cavity defined by the shaft. The distal tip region includes a conductive portion for delivering energy to a target location within tissue. The system also includes a radiofrequency generator for delivering energy to the target location and a cooling fluid reservoir and a bidirectional pump assembly for circulating a cooling fluid from the reservoir through the first internal cooling fluid tube then the second internal cooling fluid tube when the pump operates in a first direction or through the second internal cooling fluid tube then the first internal cooling fluid tube when the pump operates in a second direction to form lesions of different sizes at the target location.

Abstract: A pre-assembled, telescoping needle system comprising an outer needle surrounding a finer gauge needle which, after percutaneous penetration by the outer needle, extends to penetrate the intervertebral disc into which the injectable is to be delivered.

Abstract: A steerable system and methods for accessing bone. A control mechanism includes a handle configured to be detachably secured to a trocar. The handle includes a drive shaft coupled to a sliding shaft such that relative rotation is prevented and relative translation is permitted. A rod having a preformed bend is removably disposed within the cannula. The rod is prevented from rotating relative to the drive shaft such that a deflection plane of the preformed bend is predefined relative to each of the sliding shaft, the handle, and the trocar when the handle is coupled to the trocar. Rotating a sliding ring of the handle translates the drive shaft to advance the rod beyond the trocar such that the preformed bend extends laterally out of the trocar in the deflection plane. The rod may be removed from the cannula, and material may be injected through the cannula.

Abstract: Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue. The treatment systems are capable of delivering a coolable ablation assembly that ablates targeted tissue without damaging non-targeted tissue. The coolable ablation assembly damages nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The system, delivery devices, and methods can damage tissue and manage scarring and stenosis.

Abstract: System and method for selectively applying electrical energy to structures within or on the surface of a patient's body and controlling the flow of an electrically conductive fluid from the application site to provide or maintain a desired operating condition of the electrosurgical device. An electrosurgical probe is in communication with a fluid transport apparatus through a fluid transport lumen having an opening at an end proximate the application site and disposed proximate the electrosurgical probe. A controller in communication with the fluid transport apparatus provides control signals to the fluid transport apparatus in response to at least one operating parameter associated with the system. Based on the received control signals, the fluid transport apparatus adjusts a flow rate of the electrically conductive fluid at the application site through the fluid transport lumen in response to at least one operating parameter associated with the system.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods for irrigated bipolar radiofrequency ablation. The system includes an ablation probe that includes an elongate inner electrode assembly and an elongate outer electrode assembly. An irrigation path for irrigation fluid flow is defined between the outer surface of the inner electrode assembly and the outer surface of the outer electrode assembly. The irrigation path enables cooling fluid to be circulated within the probe body, cooling the outer electrode during ablation.

Abstract: A catheter and catheter system for treatment of a blood vessel of a patient include an elongate flexible catheter body with a radially expandable structure. A plurality of electrodes or other electrosurgical energy delivery surfaces can radially engage material to be treated when the structure expands. A material detector near the distal end of the catheter body may measure circumferential material distribution, and a power source selectively energizes the electrodes to eccentrically treat of a body lumen.