A method for applying a polydimethylsiloxane coating having a thickness in the range of from about 35 nm to about 85 nm on a tissue sealing plate. The method includes: placing the electrically conductive component into a plasma deposition chamber; supplying an ionizable media into the plasma deposition chamber; igniting the ionizable media to generate a first plasma at a first power level to prepare the electrically conductive component to receive the coating; supplying the ionizable media and a precursor composition into the plasma deposition chamber; and igniting the ionizable media and the precursor composition to generate a second plasma at a second power level thereby forming the coating on the electrically conductive component.

A tissue resecting or other medical device includes a handle coupled to an elongated shaft. A radiofrequency (RF) electrode is carried at a distal end of the elongated shaft, and the electrode is moveable across a window in a sleeve or other component of the shaft. The shaft has an interior channel connectable to a negative pressure source to remove debris from the channel. A motor is carried by the handle and operatively coupled to the electrode for moving the electrode relative to the window. An electronic image sensor and lens are disposed at a distal end of the shaft, and a plurality of conductors may extend through the shaft to the image sensor. The image sensor, lens and sensor conductors are disposed within a first tubular member, and an LED or other light source is also positioned at a distal end of the shaft with LED conductors or leads extending through a second tubular member of the shaft to the LED.

Devices and methods for treating conditions such as rhinitis are disclosed herein where a distal end of a probe shaft is introduced through the nasal cavity where the distal end has an end effector with a first configuration having a low-profile which is shaped to manipulate tissue within the nasal cavity. The distal end may be positioned into proximity of a nasal tissue region having at least one nasal nerve. Once suitably positioned, the distal end may be reconfigured from the first configuration to a second configuration which is shaped to contact and follow the nasal tissue region and the at least one nasal nerve may then be ablated via the distal end. Ablation may be performed using various mechanisms, such as cryotherapy, and optionally under direct visualization.

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.

An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The electrosurgical instrument includes a handle having a shaft that extends therefrom, an end effector disposed at a distal end of the shaft, at least one electrode operably coupled to the end effector and adapted to couple to a source of electrosurgical energy, a titanium nitride coating covering at least a portion of the electrode, a chromium nitride coating covering at least a portion of the electrode and/or titanium nitride coating, and a hexamethyldisiloxane plasma coating covering at least a portion of the chromium nitride coating.

Medical devices and methods for puncturing tissue in a patient. The devices include a needle with a rigid proximal shaft, a flexible distal shaft, and a distal tip. The distal tip includes an electrode for delivering energy to puncture a tissue. In some embodiments, the distal shaft includes a superelastic material. In other embodiments, the distal shaft includes both a superelastic material and a non-superelastic material. The distal shaft includes shape memory enabling formation of an anchor within the patient.

Systems, devices and methods of determining orientation of a distal end of a medical instrument (e.g., electrode-tissue orientation of an RF ablation catheter) are described herein. One or more processors may be configured to receive temperature measurements from each of a plurality of temperature-measurement devices distributed along a length of the distal end of the medical instrument and determine the orientation from a group of two or more possible orientation options based on whether temperature measurement values or characteristics of temperature response determined from the temperature measurement values satisfy one or more orientation criteria.

A coating for the electrode of an electrosurgical instrument that increases the capacitance of the electrode. The coating comprises a high permittivity material such as barium titanate, lead zirconate titanate, calcium copper titanate, or a conjugated polymer. The coating may have a thickness of 0.0016 inches and can be included with one of more insulative layers.

In an example, an electrode includes an elongated body, a conductive layer, and an insulator layer. The elongated body includes a first conductive material and extends in an axial direction from a proximal end to a distal end. The proximal end is configured to receive electrosurgical energy from the electrosurgical tool. The elongated body includes a blade for at least one of cutting or coagulation of tissue by the electrosurgical energy received from the electrosurgical tool. The conductive layer includes a second conductive material coupled to the blade of the elongated body. The second conductive material is different than the first conductive material. The insulator layer includes a non-conductive material and is coupled to the conductive layer. The insulator layer covers a first portion of the conductive layer, and does not cover a second portion of the conductive layer such that the conductive layer is exposed at the second portion.

An electrosurgical instrument includes a jaw member having an electrically conductive tissue sealing plate configured to operably couple to a source of electrosurgical energy for treating tissue. A non-stick coating formed front a liquidphobic structure is deposited to at least a portion of the electrically conductive sealing plate to reduce tissue adherence during application of electrical energy to tissue.