Methods and devices described herein facilitate ablation patterns on the heart within a pericardial sac and without opening or deflating the lungs.

A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly having a distal end and an end effector at the distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector includes a first jaw and a second jaw movably coupled relative to the first jaw for clamping tissue therebetween. The end effector also includes at least one lightbox for detecting the tissue. The at least one lightbox includes a housing having at least one optically transmissive surface configured to face the tissue. The at least one lightbox also includes at least one of an illuminating element or a light receiving element. The at least one of an illuminating element or a light receiving element is secured to the housing.

A surgical system includes a surgical instrument, including a shaft assembly having a distal end and an end effector at the distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw movably coupled relative to the first jaw for clamping tissue therebetween, and an optical sensor for detecting the tissue. The surgical system also includes a generator configured to supply a therapeutic energy to the first jaw or the second jaw, and a pass-through device configured to be connected between the surgical instrument and the generator. The pass-through device includes a therapeutic energy connector configured to operatively couple the generator to the surgical instrument for transmitting the therapeutic energy from the generator to the first jaw or the second jaw, and at least one optical component configured to transmit light to the optical sensor and to receive light from the optical sensor.

A surgical system includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members, a generator, and one or more machine learning applications. The first and/or second jaw member is movable relative to the other from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. The jaw members are configured to conduct energy therebetween and through tissue grasped therebetween. The generator includes an energy output configured to supply energy to the jaw members, a main controller configured to control the energy output, and sensor circuitry configured to sense impedance and/or power. The machine learning application(s) is configured to determine a type of tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members based upon the impedance and/or power sensed by the sensor circuitry.

A method for determining a characteristic of material at a target is provided. A target is illuminated with a pulsed light source. A fluorescence signal from the target when the pulsed light source is an “off” state is then sensed. Based on analysis of the fluorescence signal, a characteristic of material at the target is identified. A device can then be controlled based on the identified characteristic of the material at the target.

An electroporation ablation system includes a probe to be inserted into a body part of a living subject, and including a distal end including at least one electrode, body-surface patches to be applied to a skin surface, an ablation power generator to apply at least one first electrical pulse train between the electrode(s) and first one(s) of the body-surface patches, and a processor to provide a measurement of movement of the living subject responsively to applying the first electrical pulse train(s) between the electrode(s) and the first one(s) of the body-surface patches, and select second one(s) of the body-surface patches responsively to the measurement of movement, and wherein the ablation power generator is configured to apply at least one second electrical pulse train between the electrode(s) and the second one(s) of the body-surface patches.

An electrosurgical smoke evacuation pencil includes a handle housing having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the handle housing defining a lumen therethrough, a nozzle in fluid communication with the lumen, a pressure sensor configured to sense a vacuum pressure at the nozzle, a connector coupled to the distal end portion of the handle housing, the connector configured to couple to a suction source, and an electrode configured to couple to a source of electrosurgical energy.

Methods for estimating of the effectiveness of catheter ablation procedures to form lesions. Lesion effectiveness parameters are received, and effectiveness of a corresponding ablation (optionally planned, current, and/or already performed) is estimated. The estimating is based on use by computer circuitry of an estimator constructed based on observed associations between previously analyzed lesion effectiveness parameters, and observed lesion effectiveness. The estimator is used by application to the received lesion effectiveness parameters.

The present disclosed subject matter provides a return electrode, such as a body surface electrode, which includes an accelerometer, for detecting movement of the body at and proximate to the location of the return electrode. The body movement results from pulses from an Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) pulse generator which are delivered to the return electrode, by a pulse delivery electrode. The data associated with the body movement at each location on the body of the return electrode, is used to determine suitable, and in some cases optimal, locations for return electrodes for IRE procedures.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and apparatus for sensing. An exemplary apparatus includes a surgical device, a control unit comprising a user interface, a power unit, a motor, a warning element, a processor, and a memory including computer program instructions, the user interface operable to select between an on or off setting for the apparatus, the power unit operable to connect with a power source. The apparatus further includes a sensor located on at least one of the surgical device and the control unit, the sensor operable to sense a presence of gases, and a conduit comprising a vacuum tube fluidly coupled to the surgical device and the control unit, and a communication line operable to transmit electronic signals between the surgical device, the control unit and the sensor.