The disclosed technology includes a catheter comprising an elongated deflectable element extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, a position electrode attached to the elongated deflectable element proximate the distal end and configured for impedance-based position tracking, and a covering at least partially enclosing the position electrode. The covering can comprise a plurality of apertures such that a portion of a conductive surface of the position electrode is exposed through each aperture of the plurality of apertures.

A surgical clip applier is disclosed which is configured to automatically feed a clip from a clip cartridge once the surgical clip applier is positioned in the patient.

A medical device may include an elongated body, a balloon positioned at a distal portion of the elongated body, and one or more pressure-wave emitters positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the elongated body within the balloon. The one or more pressure-wave emitters may be configured to propagate pressure waves radially outward through the fluid to fragment a calcified lesion at the target treatment site. The at least one of the one or more pressure-wave emitters may include an electronic emitter comprising a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode may be arranged to define a spark gap between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the second electrode may comprise a portion of a hypotube.

A catheter apparatus includes an elongated deflectable element including a distal end, a coupler connected to the distal end, a pusher including a distal portion, and configured to be advanced and retracted through the deflectable element, and an expandable assembly including flexible polymer circuit strips, each strip including electrodes disposed thereon. The strips can be configured to bow radially outward when the pusher is retracted expanding the expandable assembly from a collapsed form to an expanded form. A covering can at least partially enclose the flexible polymer circuit strip and the multiple electrodes. The covering can include a plurality of apertures at each electrode so that a portion of the conductive surface of each electrode is exposed through each aperture.

An electrode assembly comprises an electrode support, an electrode on the electrode support, the electrode having a working surface extending generally transverse to a thickness of the electrode, and a filament of electrically insulative material overlying a portion of the working surface of the electrode and at least partially extending through the thickness of the electrode. An electrosurgical may include an end effector having a jaw member comprising such an electrode assembly.

The disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a flexible circuit electrode assembly and an apparatus manufactured by said method. According to the method, an electrically conductive sheet is laminated to an electrically insulative sheet. An electrode is formed on the electrically conductive sheet. An electrically insulative layer is formed on a tissue contacting surface of the electrode. The individual electrodes are separated from the laminated electrically insulative sheet and the electrically conductive sheet. In another method, a flexible circuit is vacuum formed to create a desired profile. The vacuum formed flexible circuit is trimmed. The trimmed vacuum formed flexible circuit is attached to a jaw member of a clamp jaw assembly.

A surgical instrument includes a body extending along a longitudinal axis between opposite proximal and distal end surfaces. The distal end surface includes a first cavity and a second cavity. The first cavity includes a first light bulb disposed therein. The second cavity includes a second light bulb disposed therein. A shaft includes opposite proximal and distal ends. The proximal end is coupled to the body. A blade is coupled to the distal end. The first light bulb is an ultraviolet (UV) light bulb and the second light bulb is configured to emit visible light. Systems and methods of use are disclosed.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for an RF guidewire for applying RF energy to create a channel through a region of tissue within a patient's body. The RF guidewire is configured to have a hydrophilic coating disposed thereon to reduce friction to facilitate traversal through vasculature while maintaining its mechanical, electrical and thermal properties.

A device for vascular denervation comprising a catheter for insertion into a vessel, at least one elongated catheter arm having alternating regions of flexible joints and rigid blocks along the at least one catheter arm, wherein each of the at least one catheter arm comprises at least one tactile sensor and at least one temperature sensor; at least one electrode and electrical circuitry disposed on each of the at least one catheter arm and at least one linkage connected to all of the elongated catheter arms. A method for batch fabricating a plurality of catheter arms for the vascular denervation device is also provided and comprises the steps of depositing a first polymer coating on a semiconductor substrate, forming metal traces on the first polymer coating, patterning and etching the substrate to the first polymer coating to create flexible joint regions.

A surgical instrument includes a shaft, an ultrasonic transducer, a waveguide acoustically coupled with the ultrasonic transducer and extending distally through the shaft, and an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade acoustically coupled with the waveguide, a clamp arm movable relative to the ultrasonic blade for clamping tissue, and an RF electrode operable to seal tissue with RF energy. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to drive the waveguide and the ultrasonic blade with ultrasonic energy. The surgical instrument further includes an ultrasonic electrical circuit operable to energize the ultrasonic transducer, and an RF electrical circuit operable to deliver RF energy to the RF electrode. A return path of the ultrasonic electrical circuit and a return path of the RF electrical circuit pass through a shared electrically conductive element.