An electrosurgical apparatus and method for performing thermal treatment in the gastrointestinal tract, e.g. to ablate duodenal mucosal tissue. The apparatus comprises an instrument having a flexible cable and an applicator suitable for use with a gastroscope, which can be deployed within a patient to delivery energy in a targeted or otherwise controllable manner. The applicator can deliver microwave energy by radiation. The direct and depth-limited nature of microwave energy can be make it more effective than treatments that rely on thermal conduction. The applicator may include a radially extendable portion arranged to move an microwave energy delivery structure into contact with duodenal mucosal tissue at the treatment region. The applicator may comprise any of a balloon, bipolar radiator, movable paddle, and rotatable roller element.

An electrosurgical apparatus and method for performing thermal treatment in the gastrointestinal tract, e.g. to ablate duodenal mucosal tissue. The apparatus comprises an instrument having a flexible cable and an applicator suitable for use with a gastroscope, which can be deployed within a patient to delivery energy in a targeted or otherwise controllable manner. The applicator can deliver microwave energy by radiation. The direct and depth-limited nature of microwave energy can be make it more effective than treatments that rely on thermal conduction. The applicator may include a radially extendable portion arranged to move an microwave energy delivery structure into contact with duodenal mucosal tissue at the treatment region. The applicator may comprise any of a balloon, bipolar radiator, movable paddle, and rotatable roller element.

Devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure can overcome physical constraints associated with catheter introduction to facilitate the use of a catheter with a large distal portion as part of a medical procedure benefiting from such a large distal portion, such as, for example, cardiac ablation. More specifically, devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure can compress an expandable tip of a catheter from an expanded state to a compressed state along a tapered surface of an insertion sleeve for advancement of the expandable tip into vasculature of a patient. The tapered surface of the insertion sleeve can, for example, apply compressive forces at an angle against the advancing expandable tip. As compared to other approaches to the application of compressive force to an expandable tip, compressing the expandable tip using an angled force can reduce the likelihood of unintended deformation of the expandable tip.

An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical device includes first and second jaw members movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions. The jaw members include tissue-contacting surfaces that define a tissue grasping area. One of the jaw members includes an electrically-insulating body, an interior electrode, and an exterior electrode. The interior electrode is positioned interiorly of outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. A portion of the interior electrode forms part of the tissue-contacting surface. The exterior electrode is positioned exteriorly of the outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. At least one portion of the exterior electrode: extends along the outer back surface of the body, is disposed within the body, and is positioned adjacent the outer bounds of the tissue grasping area. The interior and exterior electrodes are configured to conduct energy through tissue grasped within the tissue grasping area to seal tissue.

Ablation systems of the present disclosure facilitate the safe formation of wide and deep lesions. For example, ablation systems of the present disclosure can allow for the flow of irrigation fluid and blood through an expandable ablation electrode, resulting in efficient and effective cooling of the ablation electrode as the ablation electrode delivers energy at a treatment site of the patient. Additionally, or alternatively, ablation systems of the present disclosure can include a deformable ablation electrode and a plurality of sensors that, in cooperation, sense the deformation of the ablation electrode, to provide a robust indication of the extent and direction of contact between the ablation electrode and tissue at a treatment site.

An ablation applicator for an ablation device for ablating tissue of a blood vessel having a tubular body defining an inner lumen to which an ablation medium is conductable, a control mechanism for converting the tubular body between a passive operation mode for inserting the ablation applicator into the blood vessel and an active operation mode for ablating tissue of the blood vessel, and an ablation medium supply line for supplying the ablation medium to the inner lumen and positioned within the inner lumen and having a number of openings for passing the ablation medium from the ablation medium supply line to the inner lumen for thermally contacting the ablation medium with the tubular body wherein at least some of the openings are distributed along the ablation medium supply line with a predetermined spacing between neighboring openings. The ablation device can include a first temperature sensor arranged within the inner lumen and an ablation medium return line inside the tubular body made from a material that defines the active shape of the applicator.

A microwave system comprises: a microwave generator; and a microwave cable apparatus comprising a coaxial cable, wherein an exposed distal portion of an inner conductor of the coaxial cable is longer than an outer conductor of the coaxial cable, and wherein at least part of the exposed distal portion of the inner conductor is bent with respect to a longitudinal axis of the coaxial cable, thereby to provide a directional radiating element; wherein the microwave generator is configured to provide microwave energy to the cable apparatus at a frequency that provides directional radiation of microwave energy having a desired directionality from the radiating element.

An electrosurgical instrument includes an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members at least one of which is movable relative to the other from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position to grasp tissue between first and second opposed surfaces of the first and second jaw members, respectively. The first jaw member includes a thermal cutting wire including a first portion extending distally along at least a portion of a length of the first opposed surface and a second portion extending about a distal tip of the first jaw member. The first and second portions of the thermal cutting wire each include a ferromagnetic coating such that the first and second portions are ferromagnetically heated and provide automatic Curie temperature control upon supply of an AC signal thereto.

Ablation systems and methods of the present disclosure control lesion depth and width such that, for example, wide and shallow lesions can be formed in target tissue in an anatomic structure of a patient during a medical procedure. Such wide and shallow lesions can be useful for treating, for example, thin tissue such as atrial tissue in atria of the heart of the patient.

A medical probe includes a shaft and a frame. The shaft is configured for insertion into an organ of a patient. The frame is coupled to a distal end of the shaft, and includes (i) a plurality of electrodes disposed on an outer surface of the frame and configured to apply irreversible electroporation (IRE) to tissue by applying voltage pulses, and (ii) one or more irrigation channels, configured to flow irrigation fluid in a vicinity of the electrodes.