An ablation device having an electrode control system configured to adjust an output of an active electrode and a variable aspiration control system configured to control aspiration in an aspiration system based upon the output of the active electrode is disclosed. In particular, the variable aspiration control system may adjust the aspiration within the aspiration system between at least a zero aspiration setting corresponding to a low ablation power setting and a high aspiration setting corresponding to a high ablation power setting, whereby a plasma field developed at the active electrode at the high ablation power setting is greater than a plasma field developed at the active electrode at the low ablation power setting. By reducing, if not, ceasing the aspiration provided by the aspiration system for the low ablation power setting, the variable aspiration control system is able to reduce the likelihood that the plasma field will be disturbed.

An end effector assembly adapted to couple to an electrosurgical instrument, the end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members pivotably attached about a pivot member and moveable from a first spaced position to a second grasping position. Each jaw member includes a jaw housing and a seal plate formed on an inner surface of the jaw member including at least two seal plate segments extending along a substantial portion of the length of the jaw members. An insulating member is positioned between adjacent seal plate segments and configured to provide electrical isolation between adjacent seal plate segments. Each sealing plate segment is adapted to selectively connect to an electrosurgical energy source and form part of an electrosurgical energy delivery circuit.

Systems and methods for treating a patient's mucus hypersecretion condition are disclosed herein. Certain implementations may involve a method for reducing mucus secretion in an upper airway of a patient to treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough. The method may include advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient. The treatment delivery portion may contact mucosal tissue of the upper airway without piercing the mucosal tissue. The treatment delivery portion may deliver treatment to at least one tissue selected from the group of the mucosal tissue and another tissue underlying the mucosal tissue to modify a property of the at least one tissue and thus treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough in the patient.

A method of improving efficiency of an electrosurgical generator is presented, the method including controlling an output of an electrosurgical generator by converting a direct current (DC) to an alternating current (AC) using an inverter, and sensing a current and a voltage at an output of the inverter. The method further includes the steps of determining a power level based on the sensed voltage and the sensed current, determining an efficiency of the electrosurgical generator, and inserting a predetermined integer number of off cycles when the efficiency of the electrosurgical generator reaches a threshold power efficiency.

An electrosurgical device is disclosed. The electrosurgical device includes a handle, a shaft extending distally from the handle, and an end effector coupled to a distal end of the shaft. The end effector comprises a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode includes a first position and a second position. The second electrode is configured to move from the first position to the second position when a force is applied to the end effector by a tissue section. The first electrode and the second electrode define a treatment area when the second electrode is in the second position.

An electrosurgical generator includes: a power supply configured to output a DC waveform; a power converter coupled to the power supply and configured to generate a radio frequency waveform based on the DC waveform; an active terminal coupled to the power converter and configured to couple to a first electrosurgical instrument and a second electrosurgical instrument; at least one sensor coupled to the power converter and configured to sense at least one property of the radio frequency waveform; and a controller coupled to the power converter. The controller is configured to: determine a first impedance associated with a first electrosurgical instrument and a second impedance associated with a second electrosurgical instrument based on the at least one property of the radio frequency waveform; and adjust at least one parameter of the radio frequency waveform based on the first impedance and the second impedance.

A method of testing a therapeutic pulse generator circuit is disclosed. The method includes charging the pulse generator circuit to a first charge voltage, with the pulse generator circuit, delivering a first voltage pulse to a load through an electrode, and determining an impedance of the load with the first voltage pulse. The method also includes comparing the impedance with an expected impedance, as a result of the comparison, determining to deliver a second voltage pulse to the load based, and delivering the second voltage pulse to the load, where at least one of the first and second voltage pulses is therapeutic to the load.

Provided is a medical system comprising a medical device, a feature sensor and a logic controller or processor wherein the logic controller is configured to monitor or control an operation of the medical device in response to the input of the feature sensor. Also provided is a method of monitoring or controlling an operation of a medical device by a logic controller through a plurality of sensors. Further provided is a method of minimizing or preventing tissue sticking of an electrosurgical device during a medical procedure on a patient.

A system for producing specific field distributions in a defined volume or region comprises: an array of electromagnetic field generating elements each with an integrated sensor for measuring the phase and amplitude of the current flowing in a metallic element or the field in a slot based element; a measurement device to enable measurement of both phase and amplitude of the electrical signals from the sensors with sufficient dynamic range for quantification of the signal; a multi channel radio frequency power source with individually controllable amplitude and phase to excite each of the electromagnetic field generating elements, and a feedback controller enabling controlled adjustment of the amplitude and phase of the radio frequency power source based on the signals from the sensors. The superposition of the fields produced by each electromagnetic field generating element produces a desired electromagnetic field distribution in the defined volume or region.

A method of a soft tissue treatment comprises placing an applicator adjacent to a surface of a body part, the applicator including at least one electrode, providing a fastening mechanism fixing the applicator in contact with the body part, providing a radiofrequency energy by the at least one electrode causing a heating of the soft tissue, providing an electric current to the soft tissue by the at least one electrode causing a muscle contraction, and controlling heating of the soft tissue by the radiofrequency energy and parameters of the electric current provided by the at least one electrode via a control unit, wherein an energy flux density of the radiofrequency energy is in a range of 0.01 mW.Math.mm.sup.−2 to 10 W.Math.mm.sup.−2 and a frequency of the radiofrequency energy is in a range of 0.1 MHz to 25 GHz, and wherein the body part comprises a face or a chin.