There are many devices that are used to deliver electromagnetic energy to biological tissues. However, physical properties of current techniques limit the strength and efficacy of the applied field. This invention introduces a new apparatus for the application of evanescent waves into biological tissue. The apparatus is planar, conformal, and electrically insulated and is comprised of two or more conductive regions spatially separated by a non-conductive gap insulated by low-dielectric constant, non-conductive material. The apparatus is powered by one or more RF/voltage sources that can be applied to individual or several conductive regions to create voltage differentials that generate evanescent waves. The apparatus can be used for treating cancer tumors, deep brain stimulation, and other therapeutic purposes.

A fluid source on a carrier is configured to rotate relative to a probe to direct a fluid stream from the source toward an opening of an evacuation lumen. This may help to remove material that may collect near the opening, such as blood clots and tissue. Also, directing the fluid stream toward the evacuation lumen can draw flowable material from the surgical site toward the evacuation lumen to improve removal of material from the surgical site.

We provide a novel technique for coupling focused ultrasound into the brain. The ultrasound beam can be used for therapy or neuro-modulation. We excite a selected Lamb wave mode in the skull that mode converts into longitudinal waves in the brain. The benefits of our approach is in improved efficiency, reduction in heating of the skull, and the ability to address regions in the brain that are close or far from the skull.

A tissue cutting device is disclosed and described. The device includes a handpiece and an outer cannula in which a reciprocating inner cannula is disposed. A delivery sleeve may be selectively provided that is configured to be disposed about the outer cannula for delivery of a variety of devices.

In one embodiment, a medical system includes a medical instrument includes an elongated shaft having a distal end, at least one cutting element disposed at a distal end of the shaft, a position-tracking transducer disposed at the distal end of the shaft, and electrically insulated from the shaft and the at least one cutting element, and at least one metal coagulation electrode disposed at least partially over the position-tracking transducer, which electrically isolates the at least one metal coagulation electrode from the shaft, a signal generator coupled to apply an electrical current to the at least one metal coagulation electrode, and processing circuitry configured to receive signals generated by the position-tracking transducer, and track a location of the distal end responsively to the received signals.

A cannula system and method for accessing a blood mass in the brain. The system comprises a cannula with a camera mounted on the proximal end of the cannula with a view into the cannula lumen and the surgical field below the lumen. A prism, reflector or other suitable optical element is oriented between the camera and the lumen of the cannula to afford the camera a view into the cannula while minimizing obstruction of the lumen. The system may also include an obturator with a small diameter shaft and a large diameter tip which is optically transmissive, so that a surgeon inserting or manipulating the assembly can easily see that the obturator tip is near brain tissue (which is white) or blood (which is red).

Disclosed is a surgical tool. The surgical tool comprises a surgical tool head (11) and a rod shaft (12). The surgical tool head (11) is connected with the shaft (12). The shaft (12) is a flexible shaft and comprises a flexible core and a flexible sleeve. The flexible sleeve has an inner cavity, and the flexible core is slidably disposed in the inner cavity. The surgical tool head (11) comprises two jaws (111, 112). The flexible core and the flexible sleeve are respectively connected with the two jaws (111, 112), and the flexible core is able to slide relatively to the flexible sleeve to drive the two jaws (111, 112) to make relative opening and closing movements. The shaft (12) of the surgical tool can be bent freely into any shape, and thus can be integrated into a flexible surgical tool and applied in a wider range.

A nerve mapping system includes an energy based dissection device, a plurality of beacons, and a processing device. The plurality of beacons are disposed in a tissue of a patient. Each beacon is adapted to transmit one or more first electrical signals within the body and receive one or more second energy signals. The processing device is adapted to determine first locations associated with the plurality of beacons, a second location associated with the energy based dissection device, and a third location associated with a nerve within the tissue, based on the one or more second signals, generate a mapping of the first locations, second location, and third location, and cause the first locations, second location, and third location to be displayed on a display device.

Current cancer treatments such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy have significant side-effects for the patients. New treatments are being developed to reduce these side-effects while giving doctors alternative methods to treat patients. This invention introduces a new apparatus for treatment of malignant tumors including brain cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. The apparatus couples RF power into the tumor using evanescent waves. The evanescent waves disrupt the division of cancer cells causing the cancer cells to die and shrink the size of the tumor. Due to the targeted approach of the evanescent waves, less RF energy is wasted in healthy cells.

A cannula system and method for accessing a blood mass in the brain. The system comprises a cannula with a camera mounted on the proximal end of the cannula with a view into the cannula lumen and the surgical field below the lumen. A prism, reflector or other suitable optical element is oriented between the camera and the lumen of the cannula to afford the camera a view into the cannula while minimizing obstruction of the lumen. The system may also include an obturator with a small diameter shaft and a large diameter tip which is optically transmissive, so that a surgeon inserting or manipulating the assembly can easily see that the obturator tip is near brain tissue (which is white) or blood (which is red).