Tumors in portions of a subject's body that have a longitudinal axis (e.g., the torso, head, and arm) can be treated with TTFields by affixing first and second sets of electrodes at respective positions that are longitudinally prior to and subsequent to a target region. An AC voltage with a frequency of 100-500 kHz is applied between these sets of electrodes. This imposes an AC electric field with field lines that run through the target region longitudinally. The field strength is at least 1 V/cm in at least a portion of the target region. In some embodiments, this approach is combined with the application of AC electric fields through the target region in a lateral direction (e.g., front to back and/or side to side) in order to apply AC electric fields with different orientations to the target region.

Tumors in portions of a subject's body that have a longitudinal axis (e.g., the torso, head, and arm) can be treated with TTFields by affixing first and second sets of electrodes at respective positions that are longitudinally prior to and subsequent to a target region. An AC voltage with a frequency of 100-500 kHz is applied between these sets of electrodes. This imposes an AC electric field with field lines that run through the target region longitudinally. The field strength is at least 1 V/cm in at least a portion of the target region. In some embodiments, this approach is combined with the application of AC electric fields through the target region in a lateral direction (e.g., front to back and/or side to side) in order to apply AC electric fields with different orientations to the target region.

An end effector assembly of a surgical instrument includes an ultrasonic blade. A jaw member is movable relative to the ultrasonic blade from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position. The jaw member includes a structural body. The structural body defines a first side facing the ultrasonic blade and a second side facing away from the ultrasonic blade. A jaw liner is engaged with the first side of the structural body such that the jaw liner contacts the ultrasonic blade when the jaw member is in the approximated position. An electrode is engaged with the second side of the structural body. The electrode is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy. The electrode defines a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the electrode is in contact with the structural body and the second portion of the electrode tapers to a pointed edge.

An effector having a support frame with one or more corrugated struts is presented herein. Corrugation of a strut increases lateral stiffness of the strut and decreases axial bending stiffness of the strut compared to a linear, non-corrugated strut of similar thickness. Geometry of corrugations can be selected to provide conformal contact of the end effector to tissue while maintaining a desired spatial relationship between electrodes of the end effector. The geometry that can be selected can include amplitude of undulations, wavelength of undulations, and placement of a particular geometry within the end effector.

Methods and apparatus are provided for monopolar neuromodulation, e.g., via a pulsed electric field. Such monopolar neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, monopolar neuromodulation is applied to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. In some embodiments, such monopolar neuromodulation is performed bilaterally.

A catheter with basket-shaped electrode assembly with spines configured for hyper-flexing in a predetermined, predictable manner when a compressive force acts on the assembly from either its distal end or its proximal end. At least one spine has at least one region of greater (or hyper) flexibility that allows the electrode assembly to deform, for example, compress, for absorbing and dampening excessive force that may otherwise cause damage or injury to tissue wall in contact with the assembly, without compromising the structure and stiffness of the remaining regions of the spine, including its distal and proximal regions. The one or more regions of greater flexibility in the spine allow the spine to flex into a generally V-shape configuration or a generally U-shape configuration.

A device, system, and method for optically evaluating and treating or ablating tissue. Specifically, device, system, and method allow for the optical and/or electrical evaluation of tissue at the same location(s) at which ablation or treatment or ablation energy is delivered. This allows for a more accurate evaluation of lesion formation and tissue condition before, during, and/or after a treatment or ablation procedure. In one embodiment, a device for performing a medical procedure includes an elongate body including a proximal portion, a distal portion having a distal end, and a longitudinal axis, and a distal tip electrode at the elongate body distal end, the tip electrode being optically transparent and electrically conductive. The device may also include optical windows in the elongate body aligned with one or more transparent lateral electrodes for optically interrogating tissue and/or for delivering treatment or ablation energy to tissue.

An end effector of an electrosurgical device may include a first body, a first electrode on the left side of the first body, and a second electrode on the right side of the first body. The first and second electrodes may be configured to receive electrosurgical energy to treat tissue in a target treatment zone. The end effector may also include a fluid aspiration port in fluid communication with a fluid path. The fluid aspiration port may be configured to remove a material from the target treatment zone.

Methods and apparatus are provided for monopolar neuromodulation, e.g., via a pulsed electric field. Such monopolar neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, monopolar neuromodulation is applied to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. In some embodiments, such monopolar neuromodulation is performed bilaterally.

An electrosurgical resector tool for cutting, coagulating and ablating biological tissue. The tool has an instrument tip comprising first and second jaws; wherein the second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw between a closed and open position. The first jaw comprises a first pair of electrodes electrically isolated from one another, the first pair of electrodes comprising an inner and outer electrode, and the second jaw comprising a single electrode. The first pair of electrodes is operable as active and return electrodes for delivering RF EM energy, and the single electrode is operable as an active electrode when the inner electrode of the first jaw is operable as a return electrode, or as a return electrode when the inner electrode of the first jaw is operable as an active electrode. The instrument tip is also operable as a microwave field emitting structure for emitting microwave EM energy.