A surgical instrument comprising an end effector is disclosed. The end effector comprises a surgical dissector. The surgical dissector can apply mechanical and/or electrosurgical energy to treated tissue.

A surgical instrument connectable to a surgical energy module that is configured to provide a first drive signal at a first frequency range for driving a first energy modality and a second drive signal at a second frequency range for driving a second energy modality is provided. The surgical instrument can comprise a surgical instrument component configured to receive power from a direct current (DC) power source, an end effector, and a circuit. The circuit can be configured to convert the first electrical signal to a DC voltage, apply the DC voltage to the surgical instrument component, and deliver the second energy modality to the end effector according to the second drive signal. Alternatively, the circuit can be disposed within a cable assembly configured to connect the surgical instrument to the surgical energy module.

An electrosurgical system is provided and includes a bipolar electrosurgical instrument and an electrosurgical generator. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument is arranged to seal and cut tissue captured between jaws of the bipolar electrosurgical instrument. The electrosurgical generator is arranged to supply RF energy through the bipolar electrosurgical instrument, monitor the supplied RF energy, and adjust or terminate the supplied RF energy to optimally seal the tissue.

A surgical instrument that includes a surgical end effector that is articulatable relative to a proximal shaft segment of the surgical instrument. The surgical end effector is attached to the proximal shaft segment by an articulation joint that comprises a plurality of movably interconnected links that interface with a centrally disposed drive member to apply articulation motions thereto and which serve to provide improved lateral stability to the articulation joint.

Apparatus, consisting of a probe configured to be inserted into contact with a myocardium, and an electrode attached to the probe. A temperature sensor, incorporated in the probe, is configured to output a temperature signal. A pump irrigates the myocardium, via the probe, with an irrigation fluid at a controllable rate, and a radiofrequency (RF) signal generator applies RF power via the electrode to the myocardium, so as to ablate the myocardium. The apparatus also has processing circuitry that measures a temperature of the probe, based on the temperature signal, while the RF power is applied and, when the measured temperature exceeds a preset target temperature, iteratively reduces the RF power applied by the signal generator and concurrently iteratively varies a rate of irrigation of the irrigation fluid provided by the pump, until the measured temperature is reduced to the preset target temperature.

A catheter system may include a catheter lumen, first and second electrodes, and a sensor in communication with the first and second electrodes. The sensor may be configured to detect at least one of: a bulk volume of blood within a blood vessel and extravasation of a drug from the blood vessel into soft tissue adjacent the blood vessel. Other catheter systems may include a catheter lumen and a sensing chip coupled to the catheter lumen. The sensing chip may be configured to detect at least one of: a bulk volume of blood within a blood vessel and extravasation of a drug from the blood vessel into soft tissue adjacent the blood vessel.

A method and device for controlling a treatment procedure includes a treatment tool, an energy source, and a controller. The controller controls the energy source such that in a first treatment phase, power fed into the material to be treated is controlled with an increasing course. An impedance detector determines the impedance course and/or the present impedance of the material to be treated, and recognizes the achievement of an impedance minimum. A timer is started upon recognition of an impedance minimum, and upon recognition of a further impedance minimum within the specific time interval, the timer is reset. If no new impedance minimum is detected within the specific time interval and the time interval expires, the controller switches the power control to constant power or to a power course with an altered gradient. Upon fulfilling a specific criterion, there is a switchover from power control to voltage control.

Temperature sensing catheters and systems that can be used during cardiac ablation procedures to measure and monitor temperatures, and the rate and spread of temperature changes in the heart. The temperature data can be used to calculate temperature gradients, which may be used to estimate if and when certain regions of heart may undergo injury due to thermal exposure. The temperature data can be used to limit or cut-off power delivery to an ablation catheter, or otherwise modify the ablation procedure, to prevent injury to certain regions of heart. In some cases, the temperature data is used to control aspects of the ablation in a feedback loop control scheme.

An instrument including working arms and a moveable member. The working arms include a first arm, a second arm, a first electrode located on the first arm, and a second electrode located on the second arm. The moveable member includes a passive circuit element, a first terminal, and a second terminal. The moveable member is moveable to a first position and a second position. In the first position, the first terminal is in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second terminal is in electrical communication with the second electrode so that in the first position an electrical circuit is completed. An impedance is measured of the passive circuit element in the completed electrical circuit. The instrument is adapted to provide a modality based on the measured impedance or a determined position of the moveable member.

An energy source is offset from an elongate probe axis with an extension. The amount of offset of the energy source can be controlled by varying an amount of offset of the extension. The energy source rotated and translated at the offset distance to resect tissue. In some embodiments, the probe is configured to receive a second treatment probe comprising a second energy source, in which the second energy source is rotated and translated relative to the first treatment probe, which can improve positional accuracy and stability. The energy source and the extension can be coupled to a linkage to offset the energy source, and to translate and rotate the energy source with varying amounts of offset. The linkage can be coupled to a processor and one or more of the energy source moved in accordance with a treatment profile.