A treatment system includes an energy source apparatus and a thermal treatment tool configured to receive electrical energy from the energy source apparatus. The thermal treatment tool includes a thermally conductive member having opposed respective treatment and installation surfaces. A board being disposed on the installation surface and having respective longitudinal and widthwise directions. The board includes an electrically conductive wire having a conductive portion and a heat generating portion for generating heat when supplied with electric energy. The board is folded back at a folded point and is disposed on the thermally conductive member such that the heat generating portion of the electrically conductive wire facing the installation surface.

A treatment system includes an energy source apparatus and a thermal treatment tool configured to receive electrical energy from the energy source apparatus. The thermal treatment tool includes a thermally conductive member having opposed respective treatment and installation surfaces. A board being disposed on the installation surface and having respective longitudinal and widthwise directions. The board includes an electrically conductive wire having a conductive portion and a heat generating portion for generating heat when supplied with electric energy. The board is folded back at a folded point and is disposed on the thermally conductive member such that the heat generating portion of the electrically conductive wire facing the installation surface.

Apparatus and methods for electrosurgery are disclosed. In one arrangement, an electrosurgical element and a control system are provided. The electrosurgical element is electrically driven in a first electrical driving mode. The first electrical driving mode is such as to cause heating of human or animal tissue by the electrosurgical element. The heating contributes to modification or cutting of tissue by the electrosurgical element. The electrosurgical element is electrically driven in a second electrical driving mode. An electrical response of the electrosurgical element is measured during the electrical driving of the electrosurgical element in the second electrical driving mode.

Apparatus and methods for electrosurgery are disclosed. In one arrangement, an electrosurgical element and a control system are provided. The electrosurgical element is electrically driven in a first electrical driving mode. The first electrical driving mode is such as to cause heating of human or animal tissue by the electrosurgical element. The heating contributes to modification or cutting of tissue by the electrosurgical element. The electrosurgical element is electrically driven in a second electrical driving mode. An electrical response of the electrosurgical element is measured during the electrical driving of the electrosurgical element in the second electrical driving mode.

Flexible apparatus for ablating unhealthy spinal tissue. A housing includes a distal end and a proximal end. Multiple thermocouples mounted on the housing measure spinal tissue temperatures at locations between the proximal end and the distal end. A sensor measures spinal tissue impedance. The measured spinal tissue impedance corresponds to various physical state data of the spinal tissue. The spinal tissue impedance and the spinal tissue temperatures are displayed to the surgeon, enabling the surgeon to determine with certainty the location of the unhealthy spinal tissue, and to exercise control over the ablation apparatus. Nerve stimulation by IMP/STM switch system to detect nerve responses before and after treatment.

Flexible apparatus for ablating unhealthy spinal tissue. A housing includes a distal end and a proximal end. Multiple thermocouples mounted on the housing measure spinal tissue temperatures at locations between the proximal end and the distal end. A sensor measures spinal tissue impedance. The measured spinal tissue impedance corresponds to various physical state data of the spinal tissue. The spinal tissue impedance and the spinal tissue temperatures are displayed to the surgeon, enabling the surgeon to determine with certainty the location of the unhealthy spinal tissue, and to exercise control over the ablation apparatus. Nerve stimulation by IMP/STM switch system to detect nerve responses before and after treatment.

A tissue treatment system configured to ablate a tissue, the system comprising: (a) a clamp assembly comprising a first jaw mechanism and a second jaw mechanism configured to receive and compress a tissue therebetween; (b) a first electrode disposed on the first jaw mechanism and configured to contact the tissue; and (c) a second electrode disposed on the second jaw mechanism and configured to contact the tissue, where the first electrode and the second electrode are configured so that at least one of an ablation energy output of the first electrode and an ablation energy output of the second electrode is automatically adjusted to accommodate variable tissue thicknesses between the first electrode and the second electrode.

A tissue treatment system configured to ablate a tissue, the system comprising: (a) a clamp assembly comprising a first jaw mechanism and a second jaw mechanism configured to receive and compress a tissue therebetween; (b) a first electrode disposed on the first jaw mechanism and configured to contact the tissue; and (c) a second electrode disposed on the second jaw mechanism and configured to contact the tissue, where the first electrode and the second electrode are configured so that at least one of an ablation energy output of the first electrode and an ablation energy output of the second electrode is automatically adjusted to accommodate variable tissue thicknesses between the first electrode and the second electrode.

In one embodiment, a medical system includes a catheter configured to be inserted into a body part of a living subject, and including a deflectable element having a distal end, an expandable distal end assembly disposed at the distal end of the deflectable element, and comprising a plurality of electrodes, a distal portion, and a proximal portion, and configured to expand from a collapsed form to an expanded deployed form, and a stretchable irrigation tube disposed between the distal portion and the proximal portion, and comprising a plurality of irrigation holes, and configured to stretch longitudinally when the distal end assembly is collapsed from the expanded deployed form to the collapsed form.

In one embodiment, a medical system includes a catheter configured to be inserted into a body part of a living subject, and including a deflectable element having a distal end, an expandable distal end assembly disposed at the distal end of the deflectable element, and comprising a plurality of electrodes, a distal portion, and a proximal portion, and configured to expand from a collapsed form to an expanded deployed form, and a stretchable irrigation tube disposed between the distal portion and the proximal portion, and comprising a plurality of irrigation holes, and configured to stretch longitudinally when the distal end assembly is collapsed from the expanded deployed form to the collapsed form.