An improved surgical instrument having an end effector mounted on the end of an elongate shaft extending from a handle. The end-effector is capable of several different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a trigger mechanism contained within the handle. The end effector includes a pair of curved jaw members and a blade assembly having a cutting blade at its distal end. The trigger mechanism is arranged to drive the blade assembly longitudinally within the elongate shaft such that the cutting blade protrudes between jaw members. In order to help trigger mechanism push the blade assembly around the curved jaws, the distal end of the blade has a graduated flexibility such that it can more easily bend to the shape of the jaw members. The distal end of blade may also be provided with a low friction coating.

An electromagnetic surgical ablation probe having a tunable helical antenna element includes a coaxial feedline having an inner conductor coaxially disposed within a dielectric, and an outer conductor coaxially disposed around the dielectric. The inner conductor and dielectric extend distally beyond a distal end of the outer conductor. A helical antenna element is operably coupled to a distal end of the inner conductor. During use, the antenna may be tuned by changing at least one dimension of the helical antenna element. Embodiments are presented wherein a dimensions of the helical antenna element is changed by state change of a shape memory alloy, by a change in temperature, by activation of a piston by fluidic pressure, by linear motion of a conical tip, and by a manual screw-type adjustment.

An electrosurgical apparatus for coagulating tissue comprises an elongated tube (6) having a tubular wall (13) and a proximal end and a distal end, and an elongate sheath (3) into which the tube (6) is inserted. The tube constites a conduit (11) though which ionisable gas can be supplied to the distal end of the tube. The tube includes one or more apertures (20) in the tube such that the ionisable gas is capable of exiting the tube in the region of the distal end of the tube. An intermediate sleeve (14) is provided into which the elongated tube (6) is inserted, and a tube handle (17) is attached to the proximal end of the tube. A sleeve handle (18) prevents the sleeve (14) from rotating, such that actuation of the handle (17) causes the flexible elongated tube to rotate within the intermediate sleeve (14).

Device and method for sub-xiphoid ablation of patient tissue. A sub-xiphoid access clamp has a handle, an elongate neck coupled to the handle and first and second opposing jaws. The first and second opposing jaws have first and second opposing relief segments being generally co-planar and concave with respect to one another to form a void therebetween, and first and second opposing elongate ablation elements positioned along the first and second opposing jaws and distal of the first and second opposing relief segments relative to the handle. The first and second opposing jaws are articulate between a closed position and an open position to admit, at least in part, a second portion of tissue of the patient within the void created by the first and second opposing relief segments while the first portion of tissue is positioned between the first and second ablation elements in the closed position.

A treatment tool comprising, a probe including a first surface that carries out incision of the living tissue with the ultrasonic vibrations, a second surface that carries out coagulation of the living tissue, and an insulation portion that covers the first surface, and a jaw which is engageable with the probe and disengageable from the probe, the jaw including a third surface facing the first surface in an engaging state and a fourth surface facing the second surface in the engaging state.

Various high-strength microwave antenna assemblies are described herein. The microwave antenna has a radiating portion connected by a feedline to a power generating source, e.g., a generator. The antenna is a dipole antenna with the distal end of the radiating portion being tapered and terminating at a tip to allow for direct insertion into tissue. Antenna rigidity comes from placing distal and proximal radiating portions in a pre-stressed state, assembling them via threaded or overlapping joints, or fixedly attaching an inner conductor to the distal portion. The inner conductor is affixed to the distal portion by, e.g., welding, brazing, soldering, or by adhesives. A junction member made from a hard dielectric material, e.g., ceramic, can be placed between the two portions and can have uniform or non-uniform shapes to accommodate varying antenna designs. Electrical chokes may also be used to contain returning currents to the distal end of the antenna.

An electrosurgical device for puncturing tissue comprises an electrically conductive elongate member which is capable of force transmission from a distal portion of the electrosurgical device to a proximal portion of the electrosurgical device to thereby provide tactile feedback to a user. The proximal portion comprises a connector system for connecting a source of energy and a source of fluid to an electrosurgical device. The connector system includes a hub which includes an electrically conductive lengthwise member having a lengthwise member distal region and a lengthwise member proximal region. The lengthwise member defines a hub lumen therebetween and is configured to be operatively coupled to an electrosurgical device.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for targeting of specific tissue(s) of interest in a sino-nasal region of a patient for the treatment of a rhinosinusitis condition. A device of the present invention includes an end effector comprised of one or more segments, each segment comprising one or more struts which can be in the form of loop-shaped struts or independent struts and each comprising a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) member for delivering energy to one or more target sites within the sino-nasal cavity of the patient while minimizing or avoiding collateral damage to surrounding or adjacent non-targeted tissue, such as blood vessels, bone, and non-targeted neural tissue.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for therapeutically modulating nerves in or associated with a sino-nasal region of a patient for the treatment of headache disorders.

Various high-strength microwave antenna assemblies are described herein. The microwave antenna has a radiating portion connected by a feedline to a power generating source, e.g., a generator. The antenna is a dipole antenna with the distal end of the radiating portion being tapered and terminating at a tip to allow for direct insertion into tissue. Antenna rigidity comes from placing distal and proximal radiating portions in a pre-stressed state, assembling them via threaded or overlapping joints, or fixedly attaching an inner conductor to the distal portion. The inner conductor is affixed to the distal portion by, e.g., welding, brazing, soldering, or by adhesives. A junction member made from a hard dielectric material, e.g., ceramic, can be placed between the two portions and can have uniform or non-uniform shapes to accommodate varying antenna designs. Electrical chokes may also be used to contain returning currents to the distal end of the antenna.