The plasma sensor monitors parameters characterizing the condition of the plasma during the treatment phase and/or the change thereof in order to recognize a prefiguring or already occurred interruption of the plasma in this manner and to avoid this interruption and, in the ideal case, avoid this by already changing the voltage form previously. The mentioned mechanisms can be used by the control device (22) also during a pulse packet. The length of each pulse packet is adapted at each change of the voltage form according to their characteristics in order to guarantee a constant average power.

A plasma surgery apparatus includes an HF generator for generating an HF activation signal, a gas source for providing a plasma gas, and a plasma applicator having a channel which opens out at a distal end of the applicator and through which the plasma gas can flow. The apparatus also includes an HF electrode that is electrically connected to the HF generator. When the HF electrode is supplied with the HF activation signal, a plasma is provided originating from the distal end of the applicator. The apparatus also includes a control unit and a flow regulator for regulating a flow rate the plasma gas in the channel. The control unit receives or requests an operating variable of the HF generator and, according to a saved functional relationship, controls the flow regulator so that the flow rate of the plasma gas is correlated with a detected value of the operating variable.

A system and method includes delivery of a redox gas solution to treat onychomycosis, wherein the redox gas solution comprises a reactive species dissolved in a perfluorocarbon liquid, and wherein the perfluorocarbon liquid comprises of an anti-inflammatory in a perfluorocarbon liquid and wherein the reactive species may include, alone or in combination, one or more of reactive oxygen, reactive nitrogen, reactive chlorine, or reactive bromine species, and the perfluorocarbon liquid may include perfluorodecalin.

A system for generating cold plasma is presented, suitable for use in in-vivo treatment of biological tissue. The system comprising: a control unit connectable to an elongated member at a first proximal end of the elongated member. The elongated member comprises a plasma generating unit at a second distal end thereof and gas and electricity transmission channels extending from said first proximal end towards said plasma generating unit. The control unit comprises a gas supply unit configured to provide predetermined flow rate of selected gas composition through said gas transmission channel and a power supply unit configured to generate selected sequence of high-frequency electrical pulses, typically in mega Hertz range, directed through said electricity transmission channel, thereby providing power and gas of said selected composition to the plasma generating unit for generating cold plasma.

An electrosurgical wand is described, for treating a target tissue using electrosurgical energy, which has an elongate shaft with a handle end and a distal end. A first active electrode surface is disposed on the distal end of the shaft and a first digester electrode surface is recessed away from the first active electrode surface and electrically connected with the first active electrode surface. An aspiration aperture is also disposed adjacent the first active electrode surface and fluidly connected with an aspiration lumen, wherein the first digester electrode surface is disposed within the aspiration lumen.

A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a vessel wall (108A) of a blood vessel (108) within a body (107) of a patient (109) includes an energy source (124), a catheter fluid (132), and an emitter assembly (129). The energy source (124) generates energy. The emitter assembly (129) includes (i) at least a portion of an energy guide (122A) having a guide distal end (122D) that is selectively positioned near the treatment site (106), (ii) a plasma generator (133), and (iii) an emitter housing (260) that is secured to each of the energy guide (122A) and the plasma generator (133) to maintain a relative position between the guide distal end (122D) of the energy guide (122A) and the plasma generator (133). The energy guide (122A) is configured to receive energy from the energy source (124) and direct the energy toward the plasma generator (133) to generate a plasma bubble (134) in the catheter fluid (132). The plasma generator (133) directs energy from the plasma bubble (134) toward the treatment site (106).

A probe for ablating tissue comprises an electrosurgical working end configured to provide a first plasma about a first surface location and a second plasma about a second surface location, the first plasma having first ablation parameters and the second plasma having second ablation parameters. The probe has a working end with a thickness below 3 mm and produces a low temperature plasma.

An arthroscopic cutting probe includes an elongated shaft assembly having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween. A working end at the distal end of the elongated shaft assembly includes a first active electrode and a second active electrode The shaft assembly is rotates the first electrode relative to the second electrode about the longitudinal axis, and a return electrode is carried on the shaft assembly proximal of the working end. The first and second active electrodes are electrically coupled to each other and electrically isolated from the return electrode.

Disclosed herein are high efficiency surgical devices and methods of using same using radio frequency (RF) electrical power and/or electrically heated filaments to destroy tumors, form lesions, denaturize, desiccate, coagulate and ablate soft tissues, as well as to drill, cut, resect and vaporize soft tissues. According to the principles of this invention, the electrosurgical instruments can be used with externally supplied conductive or non-conductive liquids, as well as without externally supplied liquids, a mode of operation often referred to as “dry field” environment.

A catheter system (100) used for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to the heart valve (108) includes an energy source (124), an energy guide (122A), and a balloon assembly (104). The energy source (124) generates energy. The energy guide (122A) is configured to receive energy from the energy source (124). The balloon assembly (104) is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site (106). The balloon assembly (104) includes an outer balloon (104B) and an inner balloon (104A) that is positioned substantially within the outer balloon (104B). Each of the balloons (104A, 104B) has a balloon wall (130) that defines a balloon interior (146). Each of the balloons (104A, 104B) is configured to retain a balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146). The balloon wall (130) of the inner balloon (104A) is positioned spaced apart from the balloon wall (130) of the outer balloon (104B) to define an interstitial space (146A) therebetween. A portion of the energy guide (122A) that receives the energy from the energy source (124) is positioned within the interstitial space (146A) between the balloons (104A, 104B) so that a plasma-induced bubble (134) is formed in the balloon fluid (132) within the interstitial space (146A).