A system that automatically detects a myocardial barotrauma (i.e., tissue pop) event so that proper post-procedure care can be given includes an electronic control unit (ECU), a computer-readable memory coupled with the ECU, and detection logic stored in the memory configured to be executed by the ECU. The detection logic is configured to receive a signal generated by an electro-acoustic transducer related to acoustic activity within the patient, monitor the signal for a pre-determined indication of a barotrauma event, and output a notification when the pre-determined indication is detected. The transducer can be integrated with an extra-body patch that includes one or more electrodes for use with a medical device navigation system.

Apparatus and methods for treating and monitoring conditions such as rhinitis are disclosed herein. The technology utilizes ultrasound scans to identify target treatment sites, and monitor the treatment of a patient undergoing a treatment. The treatment may be an ablation treatment of a nasal nerve, for example the PNN for the treatment of nasal conditions, such as rhinitis. The ultrasound scans are performed within the nasal cavity with an ultrasound probe or a combined ultrasound and ablation probe and may use Doppler, A-mode, B-mode, M-mode or other ultrasound and non-ultrasound modalities to detect and monitor the target treatment sites.

Embodiments of the present invention facilitate real-time ablation lesion characteristic analysis. In an embodiment, an electrophysiology system comprises a catheter, a signal generator and a mapping processor. The catheter includes a flexible catheter body having a distal portion and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal portion. The signal generator is configured to generate an electrical signal by driving one or more currents between a first set of the plurality of electrodes, wherein a second set of the plurality of electrodes is configured to obtain an impedance measurement based on the electrical signal. Furthermore, the mapping processor configured to: receive the impedance measurement from the second set of electrodes; determine at least one impedance metric; and determine, based on the at least one impedance metric, a likelihood of an occurrence of a steam pop.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method for identifying tissue state and energizing the surgical instrument includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade and an RF electrode, a shaft assembly, a body, and a power controller. A first ultrasonic energy input is configured to be actuated from a first unactuated energy input state to a first actuated energy input state. A trigger input is configured to be actuated from an unactuated trigger input state to an actuated trigger input state. The power controller is operatively connected to the ultrasonic blade, the RF electrode, the first ultrasonic energy input, and the trigger input and configured to direct at least one of the ultrasonic blade or the RF electrode to be selectively driven according to a predetermined drive function based on the tissue impedance, the state of the first energy input, and the state of the trigger input.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of sealing tissue includes interrogating the tissue with an electrical signal and adjusting an electrical parameter of at least one of the ultrasonic energy or the RF energy in response to the tissue feedback to inhibit transecting the tissue. The ultrasonic surgical instrument has an end effector, a shaft assembly, a body, and a power controller. The power controller is operatively connected to the ultrasonic blade and the RF electrode and configured to direct activation of the ultrasonic blade or the RF electrode. The power controller is further configured to interrogate the tissue with the electrical signal via the ultrasonic blade or the RF electrode to provide a tissue feedback and adjust an electrical parameter of the ultrasonic energy or the RF energy in response to the tissue feedback to inhibit transecting the tissue.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of sealing a tissue based on a production clamp force includes determining an ultrasonic seal process with the controller based on the production clamp force between an upper jaw and a lower jaw of an end effector and activating the ultrasonic energy or RF energy according to the determined ultrasonic seal process. The ultrasonic surgical instrument further includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, a jaw, an RF electrode, and a controller. The jaw is movably positioned relative to the ultrasonic blade and configured to move between an open position and a closed position and clamp together with a production clamp force in the closed position. The controller operatively connects to the ultrasonic blade and the RF electrode and includes the ultrasonic seal process based on the production clamp force stored thereon for driving the ultrasonic blade or the RF electrode.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of limiting an ultrasonic blade temperature includes adjusting at least one power parameter of the ultrasonic energy in response to reaching a predetermined frequency parameter change threshold in the ultrasonic blade limiting the temperature of the ultrasonic blade to an upper temperature limit. The ultrasonic surgical instrument further includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, a jaw, and a controller. The jaw is movably positioned relative to the ultrasonic blade and configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The controller operatively connects to the ultrasonic blade and is configured to measure an ultrasonic frequency of the ultrasonic blade. The controller has a memory including a plurality of predetermined data correlations that correlate changes in measured ultrasonic frequency of the ultrasonic blade to a blade temperature of the ultrasonic blade.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of sealing a tissue includes measuring a first measured termination parameter with a controller and terminating an ultrasonic energy and an RF energy when the first measured termination parameter reaches a set one of a first smaller tissue predetermined termination parameter or a first larger tissue predetermined termination parameter to thereby inhibit transecting the tissue. The ultrasonic surgical instrument further includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, an RF electrode, and a controller. The controller operatively connects to the ultrasonic blade and the RF electrode and is configured to terminate the ultrasonic energy and the RF energy when the first measured termination parameter reaches the set one of the first smaller tissue predetermined termination parameter or the first larger tissue predetermined termination parameter to thereby inhibit transecting the tissue.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of sealing a tissue includes generating a desired burst pressure in the tissue, sealing the tissue, verifying that the tissue is sealed with further application of at least one of the ultrasonic energy and the RF energy. The ultrasonic surgical instrument further includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, an RF electrode, and a controller. The controller operatively connects to the ultrasonic blade and the RF electrode and is configured to direct application of ultrasonic and RF energies according to an initial phase, a power phase, and a termination phase for respectively generating a desired burst pressure in the tissue, sealing the tissue, and verifying the sealing of the tissue while inhibiting transection of the tissue.

Methods and systems enabling the real-time monitoring of a light-induced procedure in a biological medium, and/or the acquisition of information related to this biological medium are provided. In some implementations, the light beam used for the procedure is modulated at a modulation frequency selected in view of the photoacoustic frequency response associated with the procedure. The photoacoustic feedback signal from the medium during the procedure is then monitored. This monitoring may involve filtering the photoacoustic feedback signal around the selected feedback modulation frequency. Ratiometric comparisons of the contribution of different frequencies to the photoacoustic feedback signal are also considered.