Devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure can overcome physical constraints associated with catheter introduction to facilitate the use of a catheter with a large distal portion as part of a medical procedure benefitting from such a large distal portion, such as, for example, cardiac ablation. More specifically, devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure can compress an expandable tip of a catheter from an expanded state to a compressed state along a tapered surface of an insertion sleeve for advancement of the expandable tip into vasculature of a patient. The tapered surface of the insertion sleeve can, for example, apply compressive forces at an angle against the advancing expandable tip. As compared to other approaches to the application of compressive force to an expandable tip, compressing the expandable tip using an angled force can reduce the likelihood of unintended deformation of the expandable tip.

A system includes a switching assembly and a processor. The switching assembly is connected to multiple electrodes that are disposed on an expandable distal end of a catheter, and is configured to switch the electrodes between a position tracking system, an electrophysiological (EP) sensing module and a generator of an ablative power. The processor is configured to control the switching assembly to switch the electrodes.

Ablation systems of the present disclosure facilitate the safe formation of wide and deep lesions. For example, ablation systems of the present disclosure can allow for the flow of irrigation fluid and blood through an expandable ablation electrode, resulting in efficient and effective cooling of the ablation electrode as the ablation electrode delivers energy at a treatment site of the patient. Additionally, or alternatively, ablation systems of the present disclosure can include a deformable ablation electrode and a plurality of sensors that, in cooperation, sense the deformation of the ablation electrode, to provide a robust indication of the extent and direction of contact between the ablation electrode and tissue at a treatment site.

Ablation systems and methods of the present disclosure control lesion depth and width such that, for example, wide and shallow lesions can be formed in target tissue in an anatomic structure of a patient during a medical procedure. Such wide and shallow lesions can be useful for treating, for example, thin tissue such as atrial tissue in atria of the heart of the patient.

An electrosurgical tool includes an electrically powered handpiece with a detachable electrode at one end and a power connection at the other. A mechanism for connecting the detachable electrode to the handpiece includes a keyed electrical connection to power the electrode. The handpiece includes a feedback controller incorporated in the tool to adjust operational characteristics of the electrosurgical tool.

Disclosed is a plasma treatment apparatus that includes a cover attached to a body part, a plasma generation unit that generates plasma and provides the plasma to the cover, a gas supply unit that supplies a source gas for generating the plasma to the plasma generation unit, and an exhaust unit that exhausts an exhaust gas from the cover.

In one exemplary mode, a system includes a progressive cavity pump (PCP) comprising a housing, a rotor, a stator, and ports, one port being configured to be connected to an irrigation reservoir, an ablation catheter comprising at least one ablation electrode, at least one irrigation hole, and an irrigation channel having a distal end connected to the irrigation hole(s), and a proximal end configured to be connected to another port of the PCP, a motor comprising a drive shaft which is configured to be connected to the PCP, and drive rotation of, the rotor of the progressive cavity pump, and a controller configured to control a rotatory speed of the motor to control a flow rate of the PCP so as to pump irrigation fluid from the irrigation reservoir into the irrigation channel and out of the irrigation hole(s) of the ablation catheter.

The disclosed technology includes a spine member for an end effector, the spine member extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end. The spine member includes a unidirectional proximal stop member to allow an electrode to slide in a direction distally but not proximally and a distal stop member to prevent an electrode from sliding past.

A system includes a switching assembly and a processor. The switching assembly is connected to multiple electrodes that are disposed on an expandable distal end of a catheter, and is configured to switch the electrodes between a position tracking system, an electrophysiological (EP) sensing module and a generator of an ablative power. The processor is configured to control the switching assembly to switch the electrodes.

A surgical spray instrument is disclosed comprising a main body connectable to a transfer tube; a propellant actuator for selectively releasing propellant from the main body and along the transfer tube and out through a distal end thereof. An ion emitter is arranged along the tube, the ion emitter having an ion emission zone. This enables the directed and concentrated delivery of therapeutic, pharmacological and diagnostic agents to tissues inside or outside of the body. There is further disclosed a surgical assembly for enabling uniform deposition of a particulate material to a surface of an intracorporeal cavity of a patient. The surgical assembly comprises an ion emitter; a dispenser having an outlet locatable within the cavity and for dispensing the particulate material therefrom, and a processor for determining a location of the ion emission zone of the ion emitter in dependence upon the position of the outlet of the distributor within the cavity to provide for the uniform deposition.