A method of recanalizing a lumen of a vessel includes positioning an ultrasonic device having a distal end in a first position within the lumen of the vessel; transmitting pulsed ultrasonic vibrations though the ultrasonic device to the distal end; and advancing the distal end through the lumen to recanalize the vessel.

A modular surgical system for use in a surgical procedure is disclosed. The modular surgical system includes a control module, a first surgical module arrangeable in a stack configuration with the control module, and a second surgical module arrangeable in a stack configuration with the control module and the first surgical module. The first surgical module includes a first counter module, a first stop-counter module configured to receive a sequence signal that causes the first stop-counter module to disable the first counter module from incrementing at a first final count, and a first delay module. The second surgical module includes a second counter module and a second stop-counter module configured to receive the sequence signal from the first surgical module after a predetermined delay. The sequence signal causes the second stop-counter module to disable the second counter module from incrementing at a second final count.

Disclosed herein is a system for treating skin and/or nails with cold plasma. The system includes a discharge device, which includes a handle and an applicator mounted thereon, and control infrastructure, which includes a waveform generator. The applicator includes an elongated tube housing therein a cathode. The handle includes a flyback amplifier. The waveform generator is configured to induce the flyback amplifier to establish a voltage at the cathode. The voltage produced by the flyback amplifier is configured to generate a self-sustaining Townsend avalanche when a distal end of the tube is positioned sufficiently near a target site on a skin surface or a nail of a subject, such that a cold plasma discharge is produced and directed at the target site and having an average power between about 0.1 .Math.W and about 10 .Math.W, so that the target site is not heated.

A medical drill assembly includes a probe connectable at a proximal end to an electromechanical transducer for generating mechanical vibration of an ultrasonic frequency. The probe has a shaft with a central lumen or channel, the shaft being formed at a distal end with a head having a tapered distal side. A source of pressurized liquid communicates with the lumen or channel of the probe, and a translatory or linear drive is operatively connected to the probe for applying a distally directed force to the probe. A controller is operatively connected to the translatory or linear drive for periodically at least reducing the magnitude of the distally directed force.

An apparatus for aiding the removal of cataracts in which an optical fiber delivers sufficient optical energy of the correct wavelength, pulse duration to achieve controlled non-thermal and non-acoustic dissolution of hard cataract tissue.

A medical apparatus for a patient comprises an external system and an implantable system. The external system is configured to transmit one or more transmission signals, each transmission signal comprising at least power or data. The implantable system is configured to receive the one or more transmission signals from the external system, and to deliver stimulation energy to the patient. Methods of delivering stimulation energy are also provided.

Retrieval of material from vessel lumens can be improved by electrically enhancing attachment of the material to the thrombectomy system. The system can include a catheter having a distal portion configured to be positioned adjacent to a thrombus in a blood vessel, an electrode disposed at the distal portion of the catheter, and an interventional element configured to be delivered through a lumen of the catheter. The electrode and the interventional element are each configured to be electrically coupled to an extracorporeal power supply.

A surgical instrument includes a body having a firing actuator, a shaft, a motor, an end effector, and a control circuit. The motor is configured to activate in response to a firing actuation of the firing actuator. The end effector is operable to staple and sever tissue and includes a cutting edge configured to selectively translate longitudinally between a proximal position and a distal position in response to an activation of the motor. The control circuit is configured to generate a forward motor control signal to pulsate the cutting edge. The forward motor control signal includes a first time duration including movement of the cutting edge distally from the proximal position to a second longitudinal position, a second time duration including ceased movement of the cutting edge, and a third time duration including movement of the cutting edge distally from the second longitudinal position toward the distal position.

Described herein are methods and apparatuses for reducing or eliminating skin glands (e g , sebaceous, eccrine and apocrine) with an electric treatment. Also described herein are methods for treating and/or preventing a disorder of a skin gland. For example, described herein are methods of treating sebaceous hyperplasia.

Disclosed are a method for increasing the viability of cells by ultrasound irradiation and an ultrasound irradiation apparatus using same. The method comprises: applying a drug and an epidermal drug delivery system onto the epidermis of a subject; and, with ultrasound parameters each being preset within a certain range, an ultrasound irradiation apparatus irradiating ultrasound onto the epidermis of the subject through an ultrasound generation unit placed within a critical range from the epidermis of the subject, wherein the epidermal drug delivery system induces the formation of cavities, i.e., cavitation around the epidermis of the subject when the ultrasound is irradiated, the ultrasound parameters at least include an ultrasound pressure and an ultrasound duty percentage, the ultrasound pressure is 0.5-1 MPa, and the ultrasound duty percentage is 1-5%.