A catheter apparatus includes an elongated deflectable element including a distal end, a coupler connected to the distal end, a pusher including a distal portion, and configured to be advanced and retracted through the deflectable element, and an expandable assembly including flexible polymer circuit strips, each strip including electrodes disposed thereon. The strips can be configured to bow radially outward when the pusher is retracted expanding the expandable assembly from a collapsed form to an expanded form. A covering can at least partially enclose the flexible polymer circuit strip and the multiple electrodes. The covering can include a plurality of apertures at each electrode so that a portion of the conductive surface of each electrode is exposed through each aperture.

A flexible frame comprising an electrically conductive hollow cylindrical metallic tube having a plurality of cuts along the longitudinal axis to form a plurality of conductive wires. The wires are equally spaced apart circumferentially along the longitudinal axis of the tube by a gap to electrically isolate the wires. A first electrode is mounted around the circumference of the frame along the longitudinal axis and attached to a first wire of the plurality of wires. A second electrode is mounted around the circumference of the flexible frame along the longitudinal axis at a predetermined distance from the first electrode and attached to a second wire. A non-conductive thermoplastic layer may be secured to the outer surface of the flexible frame between the first and second electrodes to form an insulation layer between the first and second electrodes.

A surgical instrument is disclosed herein. The surgical instrument can include an end effector that includes jaws configured to transition between an opened condition and a closed condition, a plurality of electrodes positioned within the jaws of the end effector, a control circuit, and a memory configured to store an algorithm configured to cause the control circuit to determine an impedance signal based on signals received from the plurality of electrodes, detect a media positioned between the jaws of the end effector based on the determined impedance signal, determine a position of the detected media based on the received signals, and generate an alert associated with the detected media and the determined position.

Methods and apparatus are provided for applying an fragment of a neurotoxin such as the active light chain (LC) of the botulinum toxin (BoNT), such as one of the serotype A, B, C, D, E, F or G botulinum toxins, via permeabilization of targeted cell membranes to enable translocation of the botulinum neurotoxin light chain (BoNT-LC) molecule across the targeted cell membrane to the cell cytosol where a therapeutic response is produced in a mammalian system. The methods and apparatus include use of catheter based delivery systems, non-invasive delivery systems, and transdermal delivery systems.

A system for imaging and treating tissue comprises a probe having a deflectable distal tip for carrying an imaging array and a delivery needle for advancement within a field of view of the imaging array. Optionally, the needle will carry a plurality of tines which may be selectively radially deployed from the needle. The imaging array will preferably be provided in a separate, removable component.

Some embodiments of the invention may be related to an apparatus for non-invasive directional tissue treatment. The apparatus includes a radiofrequency (RF) generator and an array of RF energy delivery elements in monopolar configuration, in active communication with the RF generator, at least one of: a return electrode and a return pad, and a power source and a controller. In some embodiments, each of the RF energy delivery elements comprises a monopolar electrode such that each monopolar electrode has a first dimension and a second dimension, the first dimension perpendicular to the second dimension. In some embodiments, the first dimension of each monopolar electrode and the distance between the monopolar electrodes in each pair are configured to create an elongated heated volume of tissue when the RF generator is activated and at least one of the RF delivery elements is in contact with the tissue.

A method and apparatus that affect vacuum to massage a volume of the skin and one or more types of skin treatment energies coupled to the massaged volume to treat the skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue and produce a desired treatment effect. The method and apparatus are based on coupling an array or a number of arrays being an assembly of skin treatment units with each skin treatment unit including a hollow cavity and a number of different energy to skin applying elements operative to receive skin treatment energy from a source of such energy and couple or apply the received energy to a treated segment of skin.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for therapeutically modulating nerves in or associated with a nasal region of a patient for the treatment of a rhinosinusitis condition.

The invention provides a therapeutic system comprising: a console, wherein the console comprises a controller and an energy generator; a therapeutic device comprising: an operational head configured for transmitting the energy output from to a biological tissue; and a memory device comprising control instructions, wherein said control instructions comprise instructions for controlling the console; a reversible memory operable linkage linking the memory device to the controller; and a reversible connector configured for operably linking the energy generator to the operational head. Optionally, the energy generator is a generator of ablation energy or heat energy (e.g. RF generator) and the control instructions comprise instructions for controlling the output of the energy generator. Optionally, the control instructions comprise one or more parameters of energy output or an algorithm configured for controlling the energy output. Optionally, the system further comprises one or more secondary therapeutic devices and the control instructions comprise instructions for controlling the one or more secondary therapeutic devices. Optionally, the system further comprises one or more sensors configured for sensing parameters of energy output or biological or environmental effects of the energy output and the control instructions comprise instructions for controlling the energy output and/or secondary therapeutic devices based on the parameters of energy output or biological or environmental effects. In some embodiments, one advantage provided by the present invention is the use of a single console with a plurality of interchangeable reversibly connected therapeutic devices.

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.