An ablation system, configured to create a shunt between a left atrium and a coronary sinus of a patient, includes an ablation device comprising a proximal body defining a distal-facing surface configured to contact the coronary sinus wall, a distal body defining a proximal-facing surface positioned opposite the distal-facing surface and configured to contact the left atrium wall, and first and second heating elements disposed on the distal-facing and proximal-facing surfaces, respectively. The heating elements are configured to ablate tissue between the left atrium and the coronary sinus of the patient to create the shunt. The system further includes an expandable dilation element configured to dilate a puncture formed through the coronary sinus wall and the left atrium wall to facilitate introduction of the distal body of the ablation device into the left atrium.

An electrosurgical instrument has a hollow shaft portion defining a plurality of fluid ports configured for suction and/or irrigation. The electrosurgical instrument also includes a plurality of different electrode tips configured to detachably couple to the shaft portion. Each of the electrode tips have an active electrode and a return electrode to provide bipolar electrosurgical energy therebetween.

An end effector of an electrosurgical device may include a first body, a first electrode on the left side of the first body, and a second electrode on the right side of the first body. The first and second electrodes may be configured to receive electrosurgical energy to treat tissue in a target treatment zone. The end effector may also include a fluid aspiration port in fluid communication with a fluid path. The fluid aspiration port may be configured to remove a material from the target treatment zone.

An electrosurgical probe for ablating tissue includes an elongated shaft having an axis and a distal end. An electrically insulating housing at the distal end of the shaft has a window, and an interior channel in the shaft extends through the housing to the window. The window faces laterally relative to the axis, and a moveable member with a blade-like electrode edge is disposed within the window. A motor drives the energized electrode edge axially in the window to ablate tissue.

Outer jacket support embodiments for laser ablation catheter embodiments are discussed herein. In some cases, such outer jacket support embodiments may be useful for improving the robustness and performance of laser ablation catheters.

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for positioning electrodes within a body. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for slidably moving multiple features relative to a sheath insertable into a body and positionable relative to a reference point includes a primary actuator configured to move a primary electrode to a first position. A secondary actuator is configured to move a secondary electrode to a second position. A shrouding device is configured to selectively prevent access to the secondary actuator until the primary actuator has been manipulated to extend the primary electrode to the first position.

A deployable radio-frequency (RF) ablation needle is provided. The deployable RF ablation needle is used to apply RF energy to hard and/or soft tissues to facilitate ablation thereof. Portions of the deployable RF ablation needle are configured for expansion from an undeployed configuration to a partially or completely deployed configuration via actuation by a user. The undeployed configuration of these portions of the deployable RF ablation needle affords a relatively small insertion size to facilitate insertion thereof into the hard and/or soft tissues, and the expansion of these portions from the undeployed configuration to the partially or completely deployed configuration correspondingly increases the application area of the RF energy to correspondingly increase the ablation zone afforded by use thereof.

A method for tissue coagulation includes using a device that has a plurality of conductive elements and a return electrode which is in the form of a grid. A moving mechanism moves the conductive elements so that the tip of each conductive element protrudes distally through the spaces of the grid of the return electrode into a tissue at a first depth. A first radiofrequency (RF) voltage is applied between the tips of each conductive element, which are at the first depth, and the return electrode. The conductive elements are then moved from the first depth to second depth of protrusion, and a second RF voltage is applied between the tips of each conductive element at the second depth and the return electrode.

An integrated ablation needle (100), comprising a cannula (10) and an electrode needle (20) that is movably and penetratingly installed within the cannula (10); the electrode needle (20) comprises a needle tip (21) located at the far end and a needle rod (23) connected to the near end of the needle tip (21); at least a portion that is near to the needle tip (21) of the needle rod (23) is provided with a sampling groove (231); and the far end of the cannula (10) is provided with a cutting edge (11). The cannula (10) moves along the axial direction relative to the needle rod (23) so as to expose or cover the sampling groove; when the sampling groove (231) is exposed, a tissue portion around the needle rod (23) enters the sampling groove (231); and when the sampling groove (231) is covered, the cutting edge (11) cuts off tissue inside and outside of the sampling groove (231), such that the tissue within the sampling groove (231) is acquired as a biopsy sample. Further provided is an ablation system (1000) comprising an integrated ablation needle (100). The integrated ablation needle (100) and the ablation system (1000) integrate ablation and biopsy functions on the same ablation needle (100), without needing to independently execute a biopsy step, thus avoiding repeated puncturing, reducing damage to the human body, and reducing operation time.

A medical device includes a shaft including a central lumen configured to direct a flow of fluid through the shaft, and an electrode positioned at a distal portion of the shaft. The electrode includes an electrode lumen in fluid communication with the central lumen, and the electrode lumen is configured to receive the flow of fluid from the central lumen. The electrode also includes one or more channels angled relative to the electrode lumen, and the one or more channels are in fluid communication with the electrode lumen to receive the flow of fluid from the electrode lumen. The one or more channels are configured to divert the flow of fluid from the electrode lumen toward one or more outlets laterally offset from the electrode lumen.