In some aspects, the present disclosure pertains to hydrogel-securing structures that comprise anchoring element that is configured to anchor the structure to bodily tissue and a hydrogel-retaining element that is configured to retain a hydrogel mass. Other aspects of the present disclosure include kits that contain such hydrogel-securing structures. Other aspects of the present disclosure pertain to methods that comprise (a) delivering a structure that comprises a hydrogel-retaining element in a body of a subject comprising first and second tissues, such that the hydrogel-retaining element may be disposed between the first tissue of tissue and the second tissue and (b) delivering a hydrogel to the structure, such that the hydrogel is loaded onto and/or into the hydrogel-retaining element and retained in place by the hydrogel-retaining element, and such that the hydrogel is disposed between the first and second tissues thereby separating the first tissue from the second tissue.

Some embodiments of a shielding device can include a base and a shield coupled to the base. The shielding device can be used to provide protection for a healthcare worker (e.g., physician, nurse, technician) during a medical procedure.

A surgical instrument includes a body, an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm assembly, and a detent assembly. The clamp arm assembly includes a clamp arm pivotably coupled with the body at a pivot assembly. The clamp arm is operable to compress tissue against the ultrasonic blade. The detent assembly is configured to provide tactile resistance to pivotal movement of the clamp arm relative to the body beyond a predefined pivot angle. The detent assembly is configured to permit pivotal movement of the clamp arm relative to the body beyond a predefined pivot angle upon application of a force sufficient to overcome the tactile resistance.

A first subassembly includes a body and an ultrasonic blade. A second subassembly is configured to removably couple with the first subassembly and includes a first clamp arm and a first clamp arm actuator. The first clamp arm is configured to be located on a first side of the longitudinal axis of the body, and the first clamp arm actuator is configured to be located on a second side of the longitudinal axis, when the second subassembly is coupled with the first subassembly. The third subassembly is similar to the second subassembly except that the second clamp arm of the third subassembly is configured to be located on the second side of the longitudinal axis of the body when the third subassembly is coupled with the first subassembly.

The invention provides a tip that permits therapeutic electromagnetic energy systems to deliver multiple beams of overlapping, partially overlapping, and non-overlapping electromagnetic energy in the treatment of tissue disorders and conditions. The tip finds use with laser systems, intense pulsed light systems, LED systems, radiofrequency systems, and microwave systems.

An intra-oral device for positioning oral tissues during medical treatment, for example, radiation treatment. The device includes upper and lower dental arch members configured to engage the maxillary and mandibular teeth or edentulous arch(es) of a patient, respectively. Moldable material is maintained within channels formed in the dental arch members by partially extruding the material through keyways formed in the arch members during the bite mold process. The upper and lower dental arch members are operatively coupled to provide a dental arch assembly. A protective element to displace or depress a patients tongue is secured at a suitable working position with respect to the dental arch assembly via a threaded strut adjustably coupled between the protective element and a support structure disposed between the dental arch members.

A first subassembly includes a body and an ultrasonic blade. A second subassembly is configured to removably couple with the first subassembly and includes a first clamp arm and a first clamp arm actuator. The first clamp arm is configured to be located on a first side of the longitudinal axis of the body, and the first clamp arm actuator is configured to be located on a second side of the longitudinal axis, when the second subassembly is coupled with the first subassembly. The third subassembly is similar to the second subassembly except that the second clamp arm of the third subassembly is configured to be located on the second side of the longitudinal axis of the body when the third subassembly is coupled with the first subassembly.

Unintended current flow or plasma discharge has been observed in known illuminated electrosurgical devices having a metallic tubular heat sink surrounding a conductive electrode and an illumination element, and having a distal outer edge that abuts against the light emitting element. An insulating, shielding or other isolating element that prevents or discourages unintended plasma formation between the distal outer edge and nearby patient tissue can reduce the potential for tissue damage to a patient or injury to a surgeon.

A vapor delivery needle is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the energy delivery probe is that it can apply condensable vapor energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, or denature tissues of the prostate. Methods associated with use of the energy delivery probe are also covered.

The invention is a system for monitoring and controlling tissue ablation. The system includes a controller configured to selectively control energy emission from an electrode array of an ablation device based on ablation feedback received during an ablation procedure with the ablation device. The controller is configured to receive feedback data from one or more sensors during the ablation procedure, the feedback data comprising one or more measurements associated with at least one of operation of the electrode array of the ablation device and tissue adjacent to the electrode array. The controller is further configured to generate an ablation pattern for controlling energy emission from the electrode array of the ablation device in response to the received feedback data.