Embodiments of the present invention provide an electroporation system comprising an electroporation probe having at least two contiguous electrodes configured to be inserted into biological tissue for electroporation treatment, and a pulse generator electrically connected to the probe and configured to drive the electroporation probe using a sequence of one or more electric pulses to cause current transmission through the probe and induce a non-uniform electric field in the biological tissue proximate the probe electrodes. Treatment tissue can be targeted by controlling the probe configuration, carrier solution characteristics and parameters of the electroporation pulse sequence to achieve predictable electroporation outcomes. This electroporation control method can also reduce potentially toxic effects of electroporation treatment.

Intrauterine devices and methods for facilitating deployment thereof using a bumper are disclosed. In one embodiment, an intrauterine device comprises a structure including a first central support member and a deployment mechanism coupled to the first central support member. The intrauterine device further comprises a bumper positioned at a distal end of a second central support member and at a more distal position relative to a distal end of the structure so as to prevent the distal end of the structure from contacting the fundus of the uterus of a patient during deployment of the deployment mechanism. In another embodiment, the intrauterine device comprises a bumper coupled to the deployment mechanism and configured to move from a more distal to a more proximal position relative to a distal end of the structure.

A system and method for electrical stimulation of a body tissue. An array of microneedles, formed from an electrically conductive material are adapted for puncturing a surface of the tissue. A processing unit is configured to determine from a signal when the microneedles in the microneedle array are in a predetermined position in the tissue or when tissue surrounding one or more microneedles has been ablated.

An RF electrode can have a straight shaft to generate an RF heat lesion that is asymmetric about the central axis of the cannula through which the RF electrode is introduced into bodily tissue. For example, system for tissue ablation including a cannula and an electrode, the cannula including an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the cannula shaft including an electrically conductive active tip distal to an electrically insulated cannula shaft portion, the cannula shaft including a lumen extending from a proximal opening at the proximal end of the shaft to a distal portion of the shaft.

A nerve mapping system includes an elongate medical device, a non-invasive mechanical sensor, and a processor. The elongate medical device includes a distal end portion configured to explore an intracorporeal treatment area of a subject, and the distal end portion includes an electrode. The non-invasive mechanical sensor is configured to provide a mechanomyography output signal corresponding to a monitored mechanical response of a muscle innervated by the nerve. The processor is in communication with the electrode and the sensor, and is configured to provide a plurality of electrical stimuli to the electrode. Each of the plurality of stimuli is provided when the electrode is located at a different position within the intracorporeal treatment area. The processor determines the likelihood of a nerve existing at a particular point using the magnitudes of each of the stimuli and the detected response of the muscle.

A reusable tip for minimally invasive surgical instruments can include an end effector, a two-part hub, and a yoke. The end effector can include one or more movable portions enabling the end effector to move between first (e.g., open) and second (e.g., closed) positions via manipulation of the yoke within the hub. The hub can include a proximal hub and a distal hub coupled together. The end effector can be coupled to the distal hub, which can be made of a metal to provide high strength and secure shape to the distal hub. The proximal hub can be made of an autoclavable insulation material capable of maintaining a removable coupling with a control shaft. The proximal hub can be made of polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

A guidewire includes an elongated member and a shaft extending distally from the elongated member, wherein the elongated member and shaft are configured to be navigated through vasculature of a patient. The guidewire further includes a first conductor extending around the shaft to define an outer perimeter of the guidewire and a first electrode adjacent the shaft. The first conductor is configured electrically connect the first electrode to an energy source. The guidewire further includes a second electrode and a second conductor configured to electrically couple the second electrode to the energy source. The first and second electrodes may be configured to deliver an electrical signal to fluid contacting the first and second electrodes to cause the fluid to undergo cavitation to generate a pressure pulse wave within the fluid.

According to an example, a medical device is provided. The medical device comprises a body that has a proximal end with a proximal opening to interface with a fluid delivery device. The body defines a channel from the proximal opening to a distal opening configured to emit a fluid jet along a longitudinal axis of the body. The body further includes a distal wall surface that has a surface extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis and faces the distal opening to receive the fluid jet. The body also defines a space between the distal wall surface and the distal opening. The distal wall includes a protrusion configured to engage tissue.

A coupling arrangement including a coupling member arranged on a skin contact surface of an electrode of a radio-frequency (RF) skin treatment device for electrically coupling the electrode to a user's skin. The coupling member includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer has a first electrically conductive material configured to be arranged on the skin contact surface via one side of the first layer. The second layer has a second (different) electrically conductive material arranged on the first layer, on an opposite side of the first layer. The first layer has a thickness in a range from 10 μm to 100 μm, and the first electrically conductive material has a modulus of elasticity of at least 100 kPa. The second layer has a thickness of 10 μm or less, and the second electrically conductive material has a viscosity of 1,000 CPS or less.

A conductive member such as conductive pad (1) for use in radiofrequency ablation, the conductive member being flexible so as to conform to a subject's skin, the conductive member comprising a conductive skin contact layer (5) arranged for contact with the subject's skin and a conductive layer (4) over the conductive skin contact layer, in which the conductive skin contact layer (5) and the conductive layer (4) are both conductive to DC electrical signals.