Electrosurgical probes for treating tissue, and surgical procedures that make use of such probes. Such a probe includes a working element having a core member, a sheath secured to the working element, and a conductor disposed in a first internal longitudinal channel of the core member and having an active electrode coupled thereto. The sheath has a passage in which the core member is disposed, and the passage has an opening at a distal end of the sheath. The conductor is reciprocable within the sheath and adapted to carry a radio frequency current to and from the active electrode, which extends from the opening at the distal end of the sheath. An irrigation channel is defined by a second internal longitudinal channel of the core member. The electrosurgical probe is marked as disposable and not for reuse in a medical procedure performed on more than one patient.

An intravascular catheter for peri-vascular and/or peri-urethral tissue ablation includes multiple needles advanced through supported guide tubes which expand around a central axis to engage the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the injection an ablative fluid for ablating tissue, and/or nerve fibers in the outer layer or deep to the outer layer of the vessel, or in prostatic tissue. The system may also include a means to limit and/or adjust the depth of penetration of the ablative fluid into and beyond the tissue of the vessel wall. The catheter may also include structures which provide radial and/or lateral support to the guide tubes so that the guide tubes expand uniformly and maintain their position against the interior surface of the vessel wall as the sharpened injection needles are advanced to penetrate into the vessel wall.

A medical system for use in a lithotripsy procedure may include a processor configured to receive input from a first imaging device, wherein the first imaging device may be configured to send image data representative of an image captured in a lumen of a kidney, bladder, or ureter to the processor. The processor may be configured to display the image on a display device coupled to the processor, and analyze the image to sense the presence of an object within the image. If an object was sensed within the image, the processor may analyze the image to estimate a size of the object, and display the estimate on the display device.

Aspects of stone identification methods and systems are described. According to one aspect, an exemplary method comprises: transmitting to a processing unit, with an imaging element mounted on a distal end of a scope, image data about a stone object inside a body cavity; generating from the image data, with the processing unit, a visual representation of the stone object and the body cavity; establishing from a user input, with the processing unit, a scale for the visual representation; determining from the visual representation, with the processing unit, a size of the stone object on the scale; comparing, with the processing unit, the size of the stone object with a predetermined maximum size to determine a removal status; and augmenting, with the processing unit, the visual representation to include an indicator responsive to the removal status. Associated systems are also described.

Apparatus and methods are provided to concentrate energy delivery in non-superficial target tissue within a trigone region of a human bladder wall to modulate bladder function.

An endoscopic deployment device includes a body mountable on an endoscopic device, the body having a movable carrier couplable to an end effector device, the end effector device having an end effector shaft covered by an outer sheath and an end effector extending from a distal end of the end effector shaft, the outer sheath being sized and shaped for insertion through a working channel of the endoscopic device, the body having a carrier channel for the carrier to slide therein, wherein the end effecter is actuatable between an open position and a closed position; and a motor having a drive shaft coupled to the carrier, rotation of the drive shaft sliding the carrier in the carrier channel and actuating the end effector in response to a signal from one or more actuation buttons; wherein at least one vibration motor generates vibrations as an angular position of the motor changes.

An instrument for endoscopic applications, including urology. The instrument may include both irrigation and aspiration channels, effective attraction and suction of tissue and body stone fragments, enhanced viewing clarity of the operational area, illumination fibers with steering function for flexible version of the scopes. In some embodiments, a distal head is configured to locate a mouth of the working channel within a viewing angle of the visualization system. In some embodiments, a transparent cap is disposed at the distal end of endoscope to provide an enhanced view of the operational area. Irrigation and aspiration channels may be arranged so that consistent water flow will attract tissue and body stone particles and remove heated liquid. Illumination fibers may be utilized as pull linkages or push-pull linkages for deflection and steering of flexible embodiments of the scope.

Systems, devices, and methods for identifying a target in a body using a spectroscopic feedback from the target are disclosed. An exemplary surgical feedback control system comprises a feedback analyzer configured to receive a reflected signal from a target in response to electromagnetic radiation directed at a target, and a controller in operative communication with the feedback analyzer. The controller can generate a control signal to a surgical system to perform a predetermined operation based upon the received reflected signal, including determining a composition of the target, or programming a laser setting to direct laser energy to the target.

A vapor delivery system and method is provided that is adapted for ablating bladder tissue to treat overactive bladder (OAB). The vapor delivery system includes an anchor tip configured anchor the system in the bladder while condensable vapor is delivered to target tissue. In one method, the vapor delivery system is advanced transurethrally into the patient to access the target tissue of the bladder, which can include a surface sensor of the bladder responsible for creating an urge incontinence sensation. The vapor delivery system includes a vapor source that provides a high quality vapor for delivery to tissue.

Apparatus and methods are provided to concentrate energy delivery in non-superficial target tissue within a trigone region of a human bladder wall to modulate bladder function.