Tumor ablation devices and related systems and methods are disclosed. Some tumor ablation devices include an RF energy delivery probe with two conductors and one or more thermocouples. The thermocouple measures a temperature at a location on one of the conductors. A generator can produce a current to be conducted between the first conductor and the second conductor via tissue within a desired ablation region. The ablation regions created by the RF energy delivery probe are symmetric about poles of the first conductor and the second conductor. A distal portion of the RF energy delivery probe may articulate, enabling a user to position the RF energy delivery probe in a proper position to ablate the tumor. The thermocouples may be disposed on a flexible or wired thermocouple circuit that is disposed between insulators.

An electrosurgical generator comprising two HF generator units, two output transformers, and at least four output terminals for connecting electrosurgical instruments. Together with the associated output transformer and corresponding output terminals, each HF generator unit forms an HF generator module. The electrosurgical generator comprises a control unit connected to two HF generator modules and configured to provide the following operating modes: parallel mode in which two output transformers are connected in parallel so that an electrosurgical instrument can be operated with higher output current, series mode in which two output transformers are connected in series so that, via the output terminals, an electrosurgical instrument can be operated with higher output voltage, and multi-instrument mode in which output transformers are each connected independently to pair of output terminals for respectively one electrosurgical instrument in which output terminal of generator module is electrically connected to output terminal of respective other generator module.

A microcatheter with a guidewire therein can be steered to target tissue, then the target tissue can be punctured with the guidewire to create a transseptal puncture. The microcatheter can have a diameter substantially smaller than known sheaths which are typically used to guide a needle to a target puncture site in known transseptal puncture treatments. The guidewire can have an atraumatic, electrically conductive distal end that can be electrically energized to puncture the target tissue. Once the guide wire is across, ancillary devices such as a dilator and sheath can be delivered over the guide wire across the transseptal puncture. The microcatheter can include one or more location sensors. A navigation module can use the electrically conductive distal end as a reference electrode to the location sensor(s) of the microcatheter.

A catheter device for renal denervation ablation includes a flexible catheter shaft having an electrically insulating expandable member in its distal portion with at least one electrode located proximal to the member, at least one electrode located distal to the member, and with openings in the distal shaft with at least one opening proximal to the proximal electrode and one opening distal to the distal electrode of said electrode pair, said openings connected through an inner lumen in the catheter that provides a path for blood to flow through the expandable member. In one embodiment, the device comprises a flexible catheter shaft with a multiplicity of recessed paired electrodes disposed in recessed spaces in its distal portion, such that an electrically conducting portion of each electrode is exposed to the exterior of the catheter within a recessed space, and with an electrical insulator separating the electrodes of each pair.

Apparatus, systems, and methods of controlling energy delivered to electrodes used in electrically and/or thermally induced neuromodulation are provided to improve neuromodulation. In particular, a catheter treatment device having a control algorithm that regulates current or current density delivered to an electrode is provided. The electrode may maintain a known and consistent electrode contact surface area with the vessel. The control algorithm controls energy delivery to provide consistent current or current density to the treatment site, even though the tissue impedance Z may vary from patient to patient and vessel to vessel, and despite changes in impedance of the treatment, site during the course of the treatment. The controlled delivery of energy can be used to control and maintain placement of the zone of thermal treatment and reduce undesirable energy delivery to unwanted locations near the treatment site.

A method and apparatus that utilizes a force-time integral for real time estimation of steam pop in catheter-based ablation systems. The apparatus measures the force exerted by a contact ablation probe on a target tissue and an energization parameter delivered to the ablation probe. The exerted force and energization parameter can be utilized to provide an estimation of the probability of steam pop. In one embodiment, the force and energization metrics can be used as feedback to establish a desired contact force and energization level combination to prevent steam popping.

A system for controlling operation of a radiofrequency treatment device to apply radiofrequency energy to tissue to heat tissue to create lesions without ablating the tissue. The system includes a first treatment device having at least one electrode for applying radiofrequency energy to tissue, a controller including a connector to which a first treatment device is coupled for use, and a generator for applying radiofrequency energy to the electrodes. The controller controls application of energy so that the tissue is thermally treated to create lesions but preventing thermal treatment beyond a threshold which would ablate the tissue.

A pump system for pumping a coolant fluid for cooled radiofrequency ablation treatment includes a housing having a front, a back, a right side, a left side, a top surface, and a bottom surface, and a plurality of peristaltic pump assemblies. The top surface of the housing includes a central channel between at least two of the peristaltic pump assemblies configured to drain fluid away from the front of the housing. A cooled radiofrequency ablation system additionally includes a pump system and a generator having mating surfaces such that the pump system can sit stably on top of the generator.

A catheter ablation system includes: a catheter probe having distal end including: a temperature sensor; a plurality of irrigation holes; and an ablating electrode; a radiofrequency (RF) heating controller coupled to the catheter probe and configured to supply RF energy to the ablating electrode to control the ablating electrode to emit heat at a target power; an irrigation controller coupled to the catheter probe and configured to supply an irrigation fluid at a continuously adjustable irrigation flow rate through the catheter probe to exit through the irrigation holes; and an operating console having a processor and memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the irrigation controller to set the irrigation flow rate based on the target power and a target average temperature.

A surgical system includes an active terminal, a return terminal, an active electrode, a return electrode, an active plug configured to connect to the active terminal, and a return plug configured to connect to the return terminal. The return plug is coupled to the return electrode and coupled between the active plug and the active electrode. The return plug is configured to break an electrical connection between the active plug and the active electrode when the return plug is not connected to the return terminal and to establish an electrical connection between the active plug and the active electrode when the return plug is connected to the return terminal.