Impedance systems and methods of use. The impedance systems include only one electrode positioned upon an elongate body, and at least two external electrodes. The only one electrode is configured to both excite an electric field and detect the electric field. The only one electrode works with a first external electrode to generate an electric field and works with a second external electrode to obtain conductance measurements from the electric field. In other embodiments the first external electrode and/or the second external electrode may also be configured to both excite an electric field and detect the electric field. In other embodiments, both the first external electrode and the second external electrode can work with the only one electrode to both generate an electric field and obtain at least one conductance measurement.

An electrosurgical treatment system includes an output section that supplies a high-frequency output to a treatment instrument, a detecting section that detects a voltage and an electric current of the high-frequency output in the output section, a phase-difference detecting section that calculates a phase difference between the detected voltage and electric current, and a control section that switches, on the basis of a change in the phase difference, a first phase for drying a biological tissue by applying the high-frequency output to the biological tissue while increasing the voltage to a second phase for coapting the biological tissue by performing, with a set value of a voltage determined according to a voltage value of the high-frequency output at an end point in time of the first phase, constant voltage control.

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.

A method of treating or preventing acute respiratory distress syndromes (ARDS) includes advancing a cryogenic treatment element into a target bronchus of a mammal and exchanging cryogenic energy between the target bronchus and the cryogenic treatment element for a predetermined period of time until a target temperature of the target bronchus is reached to cause neuropraxia of nerves within the target bronchus.

The invention provides a therapeutic system comprising: a console, wherein the console comprises a controller and an energy generator; a therapeutic device comprising: an operational head configured for transmitting the energy output from to a biological tissue; and a memory device comprising control instructions, wherein said control instructions comprise instructions for controlling the console; a reversible memory operable linkage linking the memory device to the controller; and a reversible connector configured for operably linking the energy generator to the operational head. Optionally, the energy generator is a generator of ablation energy or heat energy (e.g. RF generator) and the control instructions comprise instructions for controlling the output of the energy generator. Optionally, the control instructions comprise one or more parameters of energy output or an algorithm configured for controlling the energy output. Optionally, the system further comprises one or more secondary therapeutic devices and the control instructions comprise instructions for controlling the one or more secondary therapeutic devices. Optionally, the system further comprises one or more sensors configured for sensing parameters of energy output or biological or environmental effects of the energy output and the control instructions comprise instructions for controlling the energy output and/or secondary therapeutic devices based on the parameters of energy output or biological or environmental effects. In some embodiments, one advantage provided by the present invention is the use of a single console with a plurality of interchangeable reversibly connected therapeutic devices.

A method for operating an electrosurgical generator is disclosed, including receiving a high level algorithm at an electrosurgical generator including a processor, a power supply, and a radio frequency amplifier, the high level algorithm including an interpreted language script, processing the interpreted language script through an interpreter engine executed by the processor, selecting at least one of a plurality of configuration files stored in the electrosurgical generator based on the interpreted language script to effect a desired mode of operation, and executing the interpreted language script based on the selected one of the plurality of configuration files to generate instructions which cause the electrosurgical generator to control at least one of the power supply and the radio frequency amplifier to generate radio frequency energy according to the selected one of the plurality of configuration files.

A system for ablating or monitoring a zone of the heart, includes a system to measure the heart electrical activity; a phased array for generating a beam of focussed ultrasound signals on a targeted zone of the heart; an imaging system determining an image of a transcostal wall projected in an image plane of the phased array by taking into consideration a position and direction of the phased array and making it possible to deactivate elements of the phased array in accordance with the position of the elements with regard to the position of the projected image of the transcostal wall; a positioning system to control the position of a focussed zone of a beam of focussed ultrasound signals on the targeted zone, a monitoring system to measure a temperature and tissue deformation in the targeted zone; and a device for measuring a level of cavitation in the targeted zone.

According to an aspect, there is provided a method of determining a position and/or orientation of a hand-held device with respect to a subject. The hand-held device is for use on a body of the subject. The method comprises receiving (101) images from an imaging unit arranged in or on the hand-held device; receiving (103) a displacement signal from a displacement sensor that is arranged in or on the hand-held device to measure displacement of the hand-held device along the body when the hand-held device is in contact with the body; processing (105) the received images to determine whether a body part of the subject can be identified in the received images; determining (107) whether the hand-held device is in contact with the body; determining (109) a mode of operation to use to determine a position and/or orientation of the hand-held device based on whether a body part can be identified and whether the hand-held device is in contact with the body; wherein the mode of operation to use is determined as (i) a first mode when a body part can be identified, (ii) a second mode when a body part cannot be identified and the hand-held device is not in contact with the body, and (iii) a third mode when the hand-held device is in contact with the body; and determining (111) the position and/or orientation of the hand-held device with respect to the body of the subject using the received images and/or received displacement signal according to the determined mode of operation.

A system includes signal acquisition circuitry, an oscillator circuit, and a processor. The signal acquisition circuitry is configured to receive from an intra-cardiac probe multiple intra-cardiac signals acquired by multiple electrodes of the probe, and to further receive a common ground signal for the multiple intra-cardiac signals. The signal acquisition circuitry is further configured to digitize the intra-cardiac signals relative to the common ground signal so as to produce multiple digital signals. The oscillator circuit is configured to generate an Alternating Current (AC) signal and to apply the AC signal to the common ground signal provided to the signal acquisition circuitry. The processor is configured to detect the AC signal in the multiple digital signals, and to assess, based on the detected AC signal, respective qualities of physical contact between the electrodes and cardiac tissue.

Body tissue ablation is carried out by inserting a probe into a body of a living subject, urging the probe into contact with a tissue in the body, generating energy at a power output level, and transmitting the generated energy into the tissue via the probe. While transmitting the generated energy the ablation is further carried out by determining a measured temperature of the tissue and a measured power level of the transmitted energy, and controlling the power output level responsively to a function of the measured temperature and the measured power level. Related apparatus for carrying out the ablation is also described.