Systems, devices and methods for performing medical procedures in the intestine of a patient are provided. A medical device for performing a treatment and/or a diagnostic procedure can include an elongate shaft assembly comprising at least a shaft assembly first section comprising a distal section of the shaft assembly, and a shaft assembly second section proximal to the first section, and a functional assembly positioned on the shaft assembly first section. Additional sections of the shaft assembly can be included, and each section can comprise a different construction, such as to achieve a different stiffness as described herein. Variable stiffness along the length of the shaft assembly can be provided to aid in translation of the device through the patient's GI tract (e.g. through the stomach and into the small intestine), as described herein.

Provided are systems for performing a medical procedure in the intestine of a patient. The system comprises an elongate device and a console. The elongate device comprises a proximal portion, a middle portion, and a distal portion. The elongate device further comprises a functional assembly positioned on the distal portion, the functional assembly being configured to treat and/or diagnose target tissue. The console comprises a human interface device and a controller. The console is configured to robotically manipulate one or more portions of the elongate device, and/or the functional assembly.

An electrosurgical device (10) operable to deliver microwave energy to cause targeted tissue ablation is provided. The electrosurgical device (10) comprises an antenna (26), a reflector (30), and a dielectric material (34) disposed therebetween. The selection of the dielectric material (30) and the relative positioning of the antenna (26) and the reflector (30) provide impedance matching between the antenna (26) and a transmission line (12) so as to minimize heating along the length of the device (10) during use.

Systems, methods and devices for the treatment of tissue are disclosed. A system includes an elongate tube with a distal portion. A treatment element is positioned on the elongate tube distal portion, the treatment element constructed and arranged to treat target tissue. In one embodiment, gastrointestinal tissue is modified for the treatment of diabetes.

A device for cold plasma endoscopy may include a cold plasma generating system, a catheter and electrically conductive means. The cold plasma generating system includes a gas source, an electrical source, a dielectric chamber, a first electrode surrounding the dielectric chamber and electrically connected to the electrical source. The catheter has a first lumen for carrying the cold plasma fluidly connected to the dielectric chamber at a proximal end and having an opening at a distal end for delivering the cold plasma. The electrically conductive means extend inside the first lumen. The electrical source is configured to apply a pulsed excitation signal to the first electrode. The device includes remotely actuated deployable confinement means for creating a confined space, wherein the opening of the first lumen is arranged in the confined space, the deployable confinement means allowing for confining the plasma substantially within the confined space.

A flexible endoscope insertion method includes: rotating a hollow organ by changing the body position to semilateral position or lateral position for observing the lateral wall of the lumen; turning the tip of the flexible endoscope to the lateral wall of the lumen by rotating the endoscope in the counter direction of the lumen; and retracting the organ with the endoscope itself by rotating the endoscope in the counter direction of the lumen. In other embodiments, the method includes: rotating a body cavity by changing the body position to the appropriate position for observing the lateral side of the organ; turning the tip of the flexible endoscope to the lateral side of the organ by rotating the endoscope in the direction of the lateral side of the organ; and retracting the organ with the endoscope itself by rotating the endoscope in the direction of the lateral side of the organ.

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.

An ablation assembly includes a handle, a catheter assembly and a connector locking assembly. The catheter assembly includes: a catheter shaft, a balloon and a connector at the distal and proximal ends of the catheter shaft, and a delivery tube extending between there between. The connector includes a connector body secured to the proximal end and a plug secured to the delivery tube, the plug and delivery tube movable axially and rotationally. The handle includes an open portion receiving the plug and the connector body. The connector locking assembly includes: means for simultaneously automatically connecting the plug and the connector body to the handle to place the connector in a load state prior to use, and means for automatically releasing the connector body and thereafter the plug from the handle to place the connector in an eject state to permit the connector to be removed from the handle.

Medical devices utilizing shape memory alloys and associated methods are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed toward a treatment element configured to be positioned within a body lumen and coupled to an energy source. At least a portion of the treatment element may be made of a shape memory alloy, and wherein application of thermal energy to the treatment element from the energy source transforms the treatment element from the martensitic state to the austenitic state in which the treatment element is configured to cut, ablate, resect, and/or cauterize tissue.

A gas-enhanced electrosurgical generator. The gas-enhanced generator has a housing, a first gas control module in the housing and configured to control flow of a first gas, a second gas control module in the housing and configured to control flow of a second gas, a high frequency power module, and a controller, processor or CPU within the housing and configured to control the first gas control module, the second gas control module and the high frequency power module. The first gas and second gas may be any of CO.sub.2, argon and helium or another gas. The gas-enhanced electrosurgical generator may have a third gas control module in the housing and configured to control flow of a third gas and a third connector secured on an exterior of the housing.