Body tissue ablation is carried out by inserting a probe into a body of a living subject, urging the probe into contact with a tissue in the body, generating energy at a power output level, and transmitting the generated energy into the tissue via the probe. While transmitting the generated energy the ablation is further carried out by determining a measured temperature of the tissue and a measured power level of the transmitted energy, and controlling the power output level responsively to a function of the measured temperature and the measured power level. Related apparatus for carrying out the ablation is also described.

Devices and methods are provided for performing procedure on tissue with flow monitoring using flow sensors. The devices include an elongated member, and at least one flow sensor disposed on the elongated member. The flow sensor includes at least one temperature sensor and at least one heating element having a cavity. At least a portion of the at least one temperature sensor is housed in the cavity. A temperature measurement of the temperature sensor provides an indication of the flow rate of a fluid proximate to the flow sensor.

Devices and methods are provided for performing procedure on tissue with flow monitoring using flow sensors. The devices include an elongated member, and at least one flow sensor disposed on the elongated member. The flow sensor includes at least one temperature sensor and at least one heating element having a cavity. At least a portion of the at least one temperature sensor is housed in the cavity. A temperature measurement of the temperature sensor provides an indication of the flow rate of a fluid proximate to the flow sensor.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) during ophthalmic surgery. In some embodiments, a method for measuring IOP is provided. The method includes measuring fluid pressure in a fluid flow path of a handpiece device using a pressure sensor disposed therein to obtain a fluid pressure measurement, determining a sensor temperature measurement of the pressure sensor, determining a predicted sensor zero offset based on the sensor temperature measurement using a determined zero offset correlation function, and adjusting the fluid pressure measurement with the predicted sensor zero offset to obtain an adjusted fluid pressure measurement.

Apparatus, consisting of a power supply having a first electrical connection to a relatively high voltage source and connectable to ablation circuitry in a catheter via a second electrical connection. There are rechargeable first and second subsidiary power sources in the power supply. The apparatus also has a control unit, and a first switch alternately connecting the ablation circuitry to the first and second subsidiary power sources responsively to control signals from the control unit. The apparatus also has a second switch alternately connecting one of the first and second subsidiary power sources to the high voltage source for recharging thereof responsively to the control signals while the one of the first and second subsidiary power sources is disconnected from the ablation circuitry and another of the first and second subsidiary power sources is connected to the ablation circuitry by the first switch.

A surgical instrument includes a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency. An ultrasonic end effector extends along a longitudinal axis and is coupled to the transducer. The ultrasonic end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade and a clamping mechanism. A controller receives a feedback signal from the ultrasonic end effector and the feedback signal is measured by the controller. A lumen is adapted to couple to a pump. The controller is configured to control fluid flow through the lumen based on the feedback signal, and the lumen is located within the ultrasonic end effector.

A catheter guidance system and method for guiding a catheter through the bloodstream of the patient's cardiovascular system in a medical procedure. The catheter has a front tip with a heating element for slightly heating a media surrounding the front tip in a blood vessel of the patient's cardiovascular system, and two temperature measuring elements located adjacent to and in front and behind the heating element respectively for measuring temperatures in the media at their respective locations. A guidance device is coupled to the catheter for converting the heating power and temperature measurement signals to digital signals, processing the digital signals, and displaying guidance information indicative of the location of the front tip of the catheter relative to the blood vessel wall of the patient's cardiovascular system. The guidance information may be shown by an intuitive traffic light type display.

An ablation method according to the present invention includes: a step I of observing a target region in a tissue of a subject and a conservation region that should not be ablated, the conservation region being adjacent to the ablation target region, using an observation unit; a step II of placing a thermal monitoring instrument that deforms if a temperature thereof exceeds a predetermined temperature, in a boundary between the ablation target region and the conservation region under the observation using the observation unit; a step III of heating the ablation target region using an ablation instrument while observing the ablation target region using the observation unit; and a step IV of stopping the heating at a stage where deformation of the thermal monitoring instrument is confirmed.

Electrosurgical systems and methods are described herein in which the temperature of a fluid within a body or joint space is determined and/or monitored despite the energy generated during treatment by an ablation probe. One or more temperature sensors are positioned along the probe proximally of the electrode assembly and measure the temperature of an electrically conductive fluid without being overly influenced by the surgical effect occurring proximate the electrode assembly. A controller automatically suspends energy delivery for one or more periods of time while the temperature is monitored.

Electrosurgical systems and methods are described herein in which the temperature of a fluid within a body or joint space is determined and/or monitored despite the energy generated during treatment by an ablation probe. One or more temperature sensors are positioned along the probe proximally of the electrode assembly and measure the temperature of an electrically conductive fluid without being overly influenced by the surgical effect occurring proximate the electrode assembly. A controller automatically suspends energy delivery for one or more periods of time while the temperature is monitored.