An electrosurgical probe includes an elongated shaft assembly having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis. A distal housing is mounted on the distal end of the shaft and optionally includes a laterally open window where a plane of the window is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. An interior channel extends axially through the shaft and further through an interior of the housing to the window in the housing. An electrode member with a serrated or other elongated edge may extend longitudinally across the window and may be configured to reciprocate the elongated edge longitudinally relative to the window.

Tissue treatment systems include an actuator handle assembly coupled with a clamp assembly having a first jaw mechanism and a second jaw mechanism. A first jaw mechanism includes a first flexible boot, a first flexible ablation member coupled with the first flexible boot, and a first rotatable jawbone disposed within the first flexible boot. A second jaw mechanism comprises a second flexible boot, a second flexible ablation member coupled with the second flexible boot, and a second rotatable jawbone disposed within the second flexible boot.

A system comprising a surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handle, a shaft, a plurality of magnets, a plurality of sensors configured to determine a distance away from one or more of the plurality of magnets, and a processor communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors. The processor is configured to determine a three dimensional change in position of the shaft by computing a three dimensional change in position of the one or more magnets, using the change in the distances determined by the one or more plurality of sensors.

An electrosurgical device with an electrode having a first portion whose exterior is electrically uninsulated, a second portion whose exterior is electrically insulated, and a third portion. The device includes an elongated hollow body formed by a first member and a second member. The second member is capable of rotating relative to the first member. The hollow body has an internal cavity, a front end, a rear end, an external surface, and an electrical wire arranged within the body. The hollow body is configured to reversibly receive the third portion of the electrode at the front end of the body such that electrical contact is made between the electrode and the electrical wire and the second portion of the electrode is not surrounded by the hollow body. A first button is provided for controlling a current flow at a first level to the electrode and is arranged on the external surface. A vacuum tube is slidably engaged by the body and has an inlet generally facing the front end and adjacent the electrode. A vacuum outlet port is arranged near the rear end of the body, and the outlet port, internal cavity, and vacuum inlet are in fluid communication with each other.

An arthroscopic cutter according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes an elongated outer sleeve that extends about a longitudinal axis with an interior bore having an open distal end. An inner sleeve is rotatable in the interior bore in the outer sleeve. The inner sleeve carries a distal housing having a longitudinal metal member and a longitudinal ceramic member that respectively form longitudinal-extending sides of the housing around an inner channel that communicates with a negative pressure source. The arthroscopic cutter also includes an electrode that is disposed in an outer surface of the longitudinal ceramic member.

A surgical instrument includes a slip-ring contact assembly. The slip-ring contact assembly includes an insulative housing defining a plurality of slots. A plurality of slip-ring contacts is operably supported in the insulative housing. Each slip-ring contact is configured to engage one or more electrical contacts formed circumferentially around a rotatable shaft of the surgical instrument. Each slip-ring contact includes a tang extending through a corresponding slot defined in the insulative housing and configured to be operably connected to an external wire connection. The plurality of slip-ring contacts is configured to allow unlimited rotation of the rotatable shaft while maintaining continuous electrical contact between each slip-ring contact and the corresponding electrical contact of the rotatable shaft.

A uterine manipulator includes a shaft defining a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a handle operably coupled to the proximal end portion of the shaft, and a distal assembly operably coupled to the distal end portion of the shaft. The distal assembly includes a colpotomy cup and an elongated tip extending distally from the colpotomy cup. At least a portion of the distal assembly is releasable from the distal end portion of the shaft and configured to engage tissue and to operably couple to a surgical tool to enable the surgical tool to perform at least one surgical task on tissue engaged by the at least a portion of the distal assembly.

A medical probe includes a shaft for insertion into a cavity of a patient body, and a distal-end assembly. The distal-end assembly is coupled to a distal end of the shaft and includes a hollow tube having (i) a first opening, located at a first section along a longitudinal axis of the hollow tube, and having a first size that limits bending of the first section by a first local radius of curvature (LROC), and (ii) a second opening, located at a second different section along the longitudinal axis of the hollow tube, and having a second different size that limits bending of the second section by a second different LROC.

Electrical instrument for applying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to tissue, comprising: a distal part comprising an instrument tip for applying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to tissue, the instrument tip comprising first and second conductive elements; a coaxial feed cable comprising an inner conductor, a tubular outer conductor coaxial with the inner conductor, and dielectric material separating the inner and outer conductors, the coaxial feed cable being for conveying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to the distal part; wherein: the inner conductor is electrically connected to the first conductive element and the outer conductor is electrically connected to the second conductive element through a rotatable connection between the distal part and the coaxial feed cable that allows rotation of the distal part relative to the coaxial feed cable; and the instrument comprises an actuator for rotating the distal part in a first rotational direction relative to the feed cable.

An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm assembly. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with an acoustic waveguide of the shaft assembly. The clamp arm assembly is pivotable toward and away from the ultrasonic blade. The clamp arm assembly includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first and second electrodes are operable to cooperate to apply bipolar RF energy to tissue.