An apparatus for tissue regeneration is provided. The apparatus comprises means for generating at least one laser pulse comprising a wavelength; and means for directing the at least one laser pulse onto a tissue surface of a human or animal body, wherein the means for generating comprises control means to ensure that a sum of the pulse energies of the at least one laser pulse is selected so that the corresponding fluence on the tissue surface heats the tissue surface up to a maximal temperature T.sub.max between 70° C. and a tissue boiling temperature T.sub.b. Further, the means for generating of the apparatus are adapted so that a delivery time t.sub.ed of the at least one laser pulse (during which the second half of the pulse energy is delivered) is sufficiently short so that, given the wavelength and thus a corresponding penetration depth δ of the at least one laser pulse, a thermal exposure time t.sub.exp of the tissue surface is shorter than 900 microseconds. Here, the thermal exposure time t.sub.exp of the tissue surface is defined as a time interval in which the temperature of the tissue surface is above T.sub.o+(T.sub.max−T.sub.o)/2, wherein T.sub.o defines the initial temperature of the tissue surface, before the laser pulse arrives.

A tool has a handle and an elongate shaft that extends distally from the handle. A distal portion of the shaft is inserted into a subject during a surgical procedure. An optical fiber delivers laser energy to a tip at the distal portion of the shaft. The tip includes a mechanical cutting mechanism including a moving part that absorbs the laser energy, thermally conducts the absorbed energy to tissue that is disposed between the moving part and another part, and moves with respect to the other part in order to cut tissue that is disposed between the parts using a mechanical force that is lower than a mechanical force that would be required to cut the tissue in the absence of the laser energy. Other embodiments are also described.

A system is provided to treat sleep apnea, with a method of use. The system includes a handpiece which includes at least one penetrating electrode configured to penetrate tissue and one or more temperature sensors. A processor is coupled with the one or more temperature sensors and the at least one penetrating electrode, and a memory is configured to store instructions executable by the processor. The instructions, when executed, are operable to emit, by the at least one penetrating electrode, RF energy from the electrodes to heat a region of a base of a tongue until a target energy is delivered to the region. The instructions are also operable to measure, by the one or more temperature sensors, the temperature of the region.

An apparatus includes a flexible electrically-insulating substrate including an inner surface and an outer surface. The substrate is shaped to define multiple channels passing between the inner surface and the outer surface, at least some of the channels being concave channels. The apparatus further includes an outer layer of an electrically-conducting metal covering at least part of the outer surface, an inner layer of the electrically-conducting metal covering at least part of the inner surface, and respective columns of the electrically-conducting metal that fill the channels such as to connect the outer layer to the inner layer.

Method and apparatus for treating peripheral olfactory dysfunction are described herein. One method may include introducing a treatment device into a nasal cavity of the patient, the treatment device having a proximal end, a distal end, an elongated shaft therebetween, and a treatment end effector disposed on or near the distal end. The distal end of the treatment device may be advanced into proximity of a cribriform plate within the nasal cavity and at least one olfactory neuron may be ablated through the cribriform plate via the treatment end effector to reduce at least one symptom of olfactory dysfunction.

The various embodiments described herein provide devices and methods for neuroablation in the tympanic cavity. Devices include an ablation effector that can be navigated into the tympanic cavity to ablate nerves therein in order to treat diseases caused due to the malfunction of these nerves.

A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending therefrom, an end effector assembly supported by the shaft, a movable handle, and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a translatable drive member for actuating the end effector assembly, and a torsion spring including first and second legs. The first leg is configured to translate through the housing in response to movement of the movable handle relative to the housing. The second leg is configured to translate through the housing in cooperation with the first leg to move the drive member longitudinally when a force acting on the drive member is less than a threshold force, and to remain in fixed position, thereby tensioning the torsion spring and retaining the drive member in fixed position when the force acting on the drive member is equal to or exceeds the threshold force.

Disclosed herein is a method of alleviating symptoms of ocular surface discomfort, the method comprising: topically applying a cold slurry adjacent to a corneal limbus of an eye of a patient, wherein the cold slurry comprises water and a freezing point depressant, wherein the topical application of the cold slurry is configured to cause a degree of numbing of a cornea of the eye for a period of time, and wherein an ocular sensation of the eye is restored following the period of time.

Methods and devices for treating nasal airways are provided. Such devices and methods may improve airflow through an internal and/or external nasal valve, and comprise the use of mechanical re-shaping, energy application and other treatments to modify the shape, structure, and/or air flow characteristics of an internal nasal valve, an external nasal valve or other nasal airways.

Systems and methods are provided for non-destructive inspection of an interior of a vessel filled with a liquid.