An ablation instrument (e.g., an ablation balloon catheter system) includes an elongate catheter having a housing with a window formed therein. An energy emitter is coupled to the elongate catheter and is configured to deliver ablative energy. A controller is received within the window and is coupled to the energy emitter such that axial movement of the controller within the window is translated to axial movement of the energy emitter and rotation of the controller within the window is translated into rotation of the energy emitter. The instrument includes a motor that is at least partially disposed within the housing of the catheter; a first gear that is operatively connected to and driven by the motor; and a second gear that is coupled to the energy emitter and is driven by the first gear to cause rotation of the energy emitter, while allowing the energy emitter to move axially.

A microwave amplifier having a load network which provides more efficient amplification of a low power microwave frequency signal. The amplifier comprises a transistor and a load network coupled to the transistor output to shape a waveform of an amplified microwave signal at the transistor current source plane. The load network comprises: a fundamental matching network to provide impedance matching at a fundamental frequency; a half-wave transmission line for a second harmonic frequency disposed between the transistor output and the fundamental matching network; a quarter-wave stub and a five-quarter-wave stub for a third harmonic frequency arranged on the half-wave transmission line to provide an open circuit condition at the third harmonic; and a quarter-wave stub for the second harmonic frequency and a quarter-wave stub for the fundamental frequency, arranged on the half-wave transmission line to provide a short circuit condition at the second harmonic frequency.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for therapeutically modulating nerves in or associated with a nasal region of a patient for the treatment of a rhinosinusitis condition.

Various embodiments provide a microwave amplification apparatus for an electrosurgical instrument. The microwave amplification apparatus comprises: a cable assembly; a proximal launch portion, and a distal amplification portion. The proximal launch portion is connected to a proximal end of the cable assembly, and comprises: a DC source configured to launch a DC signal along the cable assembly, and a microwave source configured to launch a microwave signal along the cable assembly. The distal amplification portion is connected to a distal end of the cable assembly, and comprises: a power amplifier configured to receive the microwave signal as an input signal to be amplified. The distal amplification portion is configured to apply the DC signal as a drain voltage across the power amplifier. The power amplifier has an output that is connectable to deliver an amplified microwave signal to a structure that is configured to deliver microwave energy into biological tissue.

An electrosurgical instrument with a radiating tip portion having a relative permeability and/or relative permittivity that is selected to provide an electrical length for the radiating tip portion that enables effective delivery into biological tissue of microwave EM energy supplied thereto, at two or more frequencies of choice. The instrument has a radiating tip portion disposed to receive microwave EM energy from a coaxial cable, the radiating tip portion having a first effective relative permeability at a first frequency and a second effective relative permeability at a second frequency.

An electrosurgical vessel sealing device that can seal biological vessels using a confined microwave field that yields a well-defined seal location with low thermal margin. The device comprises a pair of jaws that are movable relative to each other to grip biological tissue. A blade for cutting the gripped tissue is slidable between the jaws. A coplanar microstrip antenna is mounted on the inner surface of one or both of the pair of jaws to emit microwave energy into the gap therebetween. The device may comprise a separate dissector element to enable fine tissue cutting and dissection to be performed.

Various embodiments provide an electrosurgical system for treating biological tissue. The system comprises: an electrosurgical generator configured to supply pulsed microwave energy; and an electrosurgical instrument. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a flexible coaxial cable arranged to convey the pulsed microwave energy; and a radiating tip portion connected at a distal end of the coaxial cable and configured to receive the pulsed microwave energy. The radiating tip portion has a maximum outer diameter that is 1.0 mm or less, and wherein the maximum outer diameter of the radiating tip portion is smaller than an outer diameter of the coaxial cable. Also, the radiating tip portion comprises: a proximal coaxial transmission line for conveying the pulsed microwave energy; and a distal needle tip mounted at a distal end of the proximal coaxial transmission line, the distal needle tip being arranged to deliver the pulsed microwave energy into biological tissue.

Energy delivery devices with a flexible circuit. The energy delivery devices may be used in the treatment of human tissue, and the flexible circuit move or flex during use. The flexible circuit may include an electronic component and a trace connected with the electronic component. The trace may have a plurality of sections that provide parallel current paths over a portion of the trace. Alternatively, the flexible circuit may include a plurality of traces that are connected with the terminal of the electronic component to provide parallel current paths over their entire length to the terminal of the electronic component. These redundant parallel current paths improve device reliability.

A microwave ablation system comprises a generator, a generator cable, and a microwave ablation device. The generator comprises a generator output port having a generator output port impedance. The generator cable has a generator cable impedance that is matched to the generator output port impedance within a degree of tolerance within a predetermined frequency range. The microwave ablation device comprises a coaxial cable that has a coaxial cable impedance and is coupled to the generator output port by way of the generator cable. Within the predetermined frequency range, the coaxial cable impedance is lower than at least one of the generator output port impedance or the generator cable impedance by at least a predetermined amount that exceeds the degree of tolerance.

An ablation instrument (e.g., an ablation balloon catheter system) includes an elongate catheter having a housing with a window formed therein. An energy emitter is coupled to the elongate catheter and is configured to deliver ablative energy. A controller is received within the window and is coupled to the energy emitter such that axial movement of the controller within the window is translated to axial movement of the energy emitter and rotation of the controller within the window is translated into rotation of the energy emitter. The instrument includes a motor that is at least partially disposed within the housing of the catheter; a first gear that is operatively connected to and driven by the motor; and a second gear that is coupled to the energy emitter and is driven by the first gear to cause rotation of the energy emitter, while allowing the energy emitter to move axially.