An electrode assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument includes a base portion, a return lead adapted to be electrically coupled to a return terminal of an electrosurgical generator, an electrical insulator supported on a distal portion of the return lead, a tensioning mechanism, and an active lead adapted to be electrically coupled to an active terminal of the electrosurgical generator. The tensioning mechanism includes a slider slidably disposed in the base portion, a rotation rod threadably coupled to the slider, and a spring proximally biasing the slider. The active lead having a first end portion securely fixed to the base portion and a second end portion slidably coupled to the rotation rod of the tensioning mechanism. A portion of the active lead extends around the electrical insulator. Rotation of the rotation rod causes axial displacement of the second end portion of the active lead to tension the active lead about the electrical insulator.

A tissue sensing device for use with an electrosurgical knife is proposed which comprises a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a grip portion there between. The proximal end portion is configured for attachment to a housing of the electrosurgical knife. The distal end portion is configured for movably supporting a blade of the knife. A distal end of an optical fiber is arranged at the distal end portion of the device and a proximal end of the optical fiber is connectable to an optical console, so that optical measurements can be performed at the distal end portion.

A manual release assembly for a surgical tool includes a first release plate including a first pair of arms engageable with a first pair release gears arranged within a drive housing, a second release plate including a second pair of arms engageable with a second pair release gears arranged within the dive housing, and a first angled slot defined in the first release plate and a second angled slot defined in the second release plate. A release switch provides a transition pin extendable into the angled slots and manually movable between disengaged and engaged positions. When in the disengaged position, the arms are disengaged from the release gears, and when manually moved to the engaged position, the transition pin moves through the angled slots and urges the release plates in opposing lateral directions such that the arms engage and rotate the release gears.

A surgical tool includes a drive housing that houses a plurality of drive cable capstans, an elongate shaft that extends from the drive housing, and an end effector operatively coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft. A plurality of drive cables extend between the drive housing and the end effector, wherein each drive cable is associated with a corresponding drive cable capstan and rotation of the drive cable capstans correspondingly moves the drive cables to articulate the end effector. A manual release assembly is coupled to the drive housing and includes a release switch that is manually movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. When the release switch is manually moved to the engaged position, the drive cable capstans are rotated to move the drive cables and thereby manually articulate the end effector.

A surgical device may include a housing configured for handling by a user and comprising a plurality of operator interfacing features. The device may also include a patient interfacing tip arranged at, or spaced apart from, a distal end of the housing and controllable by the operator interfacing features. The patient interfacing tip may include a pair of jaws configured to grasp tissue, an electrode on each jaw configured to seal tissue, and an articulating blade configured to cut tissue in a grasp of the pair of jaws. The device may also include an optical element extending from the housing to the patient interfacing tip and configured to emit laser energy to cut tissue, wherein the pair of jaws, electrode, and articulating blade are adapted for coarse cutting of tissue and the optical element is configured for precise cutting of tissue.

Apparatus for performing a minimally-invasive procedure, the apparatus comprising: a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; a monopolar knife assembly attached to the distal end of the shaft, the monopolar knife assembly comprising a knife; a handle attached to the proximal end of the shaft; wherein the shaft comprises a flexible portion and an articulating portion, wherein the flexible portion extends distally from the handle and the articulating portion extends distally from the flexible portion; wherein at least one articulation cable extends from the handle to the articulating portion, such that when tension is applied to the at least one articulation cable, the articulating portion deflects; wherein an actuation element extends through the shaft from the handle to the knife, such that when the actuation element is moved, the knife is moved; and wherein the actuation element transmits electrical power from the handle to the knife.

A surgical instrument with insulating grips is described. The grips can include internal metal frames that are arranged to limit electrical conductivity within the grips and to other components that attach to a grip, such as a ratchet. The internal metal frames can be constructed of multiple internal portions, spatially separated from one another to interrupt electrical conductivity between the internal portions, but coated with an insulating overmold to provide mechanical coupling between the portions. An internal metal frame can also include a notch, cut-out, or other region partially surrounded by the structure of the internal metal frame, which can be coated with an insulating overmold to define a region of the grip that does not have an internal metal frame therein but which can include an attachment point for mechanically coupling other components while limiting electrical coupling between the metal frame and the other components.

A surgical instrument with insulating grips is described. The grips can include internal metal frames that are arranged to limit electrical conductivity within the grips and to other components that attach to a grip, such as a ratchet. The internal metal frames can be constructed of multiple internal portions, spatially separated from one another to interrupt electrical conductivity between the internal portions, but coated with an insulating overmold to provide mechanical coupling between the portions. An internal metal frame can also include a notch, cut-out, or other region partially surrounded by the structure of the internal metal frame, which can be coated with an insulating overmold to define a region of the grip that does not have an internal metal frame therein but which can include an attachment point for mechanically coupling other components while limiting electrical coupling between the metal frame and the other components.

A catheter has a composite and segmented construction in a distal section that includes deflectable members and support member arranged in alternating sequence, with each support member carrying a ring electrode and the deflectable members being flexible to allow deflection of the distal section as a whole. Carried on an outer surface of the support member is a coil location sensor. The distal section is configured with a distal irrigation fluid path extending axially through the deflectable members and the support members to deliver irrigation fluid to the ring electrode and the tip electrode. A method of constructing a catheter includes building a section of the catheter from the inside out by mounting the support members on a tubing at predetermined locations and filling gaps in between with a more flexible material to form the deflectable members by extrusion segments or injection molding over assembled components internal to the catheter.

A surgical instrument with insulating grips is described. The grips can include internal metal frames that are arranged to limit electrical conductivity within the grips and to other components that attach to a grip, such as a ratchet. The internal metal frames can be constructed of multiple internal portions, spatially separated from one another to interrupt electrical conductivity between the internal portions, but coated with an insulating overmold to provide mechanical coupling between the portions. An internal metal frame can also include a notch, cut-out, or other region partially surrounded by the structure of the internal metal frame, which can be coated with an insulating overmold to define a region of the grip that does not have an internal metal frame therein but which can include an attachment point for mechanically coupling other components while limiting electrical coupling between the metal frame and the other components.