A vapor delivery system and method is provided that includes a number of features. In one embodiment, a method comprises inserting a vapor delivery needle into tissue of a patient, activating a flow of vapor from a vapor generator through vapor delivery ports of the vapor delivery needle to cause condensed liquid to exit vapor delivery ports of the vapor delivery needle, generating vapor in the vapor generator, delivering a dose of vapor through the vapor delivery ports of the vapor delivery needle into the tissue, and after the dose of vapor is delivered, re-activating the flow of vapor from the vapor generator through the vapor delivery ports of the vapor delivery needle to prevent a vacuum from forming in the vapor delivery needle. Vapor therapy systems are also provided.

Aspects of the present disclosure include control systems of an electrosurgical system for managing the flow of fluid, such as saline, and rates of aspiration or suction, in response to various states of conditions at a surgical site. The control system(s) may monitor and adjust to impedance at the surgical site, temperature of the surgical tissue, and/or RF current of electrodes, and may account for certain undesirable conditions, such as the electrodes sticking. The control systems may include various automatic sensing scenarios, while also allowing for several manual conditions.

An end effector of an electrosurgical device may include a first body, a first electrode on the left side of the first body, and a second electrode on the right side of the first body. The first and second electrodes may be configured to receive electrosurgical energy to treat tissue in a target treatment zone. The end effector may also include a fluid aspiration port in fluid communication with a fluid path. The fluid aspiration port may be configured to remove a material from the target treatment zone.

An end effector of an electrosurgical device may include a fluid discharge port, a fluid aspiration port, and at least two electrodes, in which the electrodes are disposed on a surface of a body of the end effector. The end effector body may include channels fluidically coupled to the fluid discharge port. The end effector body may also include channels to receive the electrodes. The electrodes may be helically wound about the end effector body. The electrodes may interdigitate. An electrosurgical device may include the end effector which is fluidically, mechanically, and electrically coupled to a handle assembly by a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly may be bendable and assume a bent configuration upon the application of a force orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly may retain the bent configuration until the application of a countering force.

An end effector of an electrosurgical device may include a discharge port, an aspiration port, two electrodes, and a diverter formed from a porous material. The diverter includes a matrix having voids to receive fluid from the discharge port. A releasable diverter assembly may include an assembly body configured to receive a pair of electrodes and a diverter composed of a porous material. A shaft assembly of an electrosurgical device may include two electrodes and two fluid cannulae. Each cannula may be disposed proximate to a surface of each of the electrodes. An end effector of an electrosurgical device may include a fluid discharge port, two electrodes, and a diverter disposed therebetween. A proximal edge of the diverter may form a secant line with respect to the end of the discharge port so that fluid emitted by the discharge port is disposed on a surface of the diverter.

A method of reducing visceral fat in the body of a patient comprises thermally treating the visceral fat sufficient to form a liquid-fat mixture or emulsion. The liquid-fat emulsion is then aspirated. Thermally treating can be performed by cooling according to a temperature profile causing the cell membranes to be disrupted. The visceral fat cells are warmed with a warming liquid immediately following cooling. The warming liquid, along with the contents of the fat cells that mix with the warming liquid, are withdrawn by aspiration.

An apparatus includes a shaft assembly and an end effector. The shaft assembly includes an outer sheath, at least one irrigation conduit, and at least one suction conduit. The end effector includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a web. The electrodes extend distally relative to a distal end of the outer sheath. The electrodes are operable to apply bipolar RF energy to tissue. The web extends laterally between the first and second electrodes. The web is positioned distal to the distal end of the outer sheath.

A bipolar resectoscope (1) has a shaft (2, 2) with an insulating insert (8) at its distal end (7). A working element (3) is mountable in the shaft (2, 2) and a cutting electrode (4) is longitudinally displaceable in the shaft (2, 2). The insulating insert (8) has an exposed conductive area of a neutral electrode (5, 5). The area of the passive neutral electrode (5, 5) exposed transverse to the longitudinal axis (34) forms an electrically conductive roof of the insulating insert (8, 8). An inlet area (26) of the insulating insert (8, 8) has an inner wall (38, 38) with two opposing electrically conductive contact surfaces (39, 39) of the neutral electrode (5, 5) that are parallel to the longitudinal axis (33) and contact two parallel electrically conductive contact tubes (24) of a fork (26) and opening a cutting loop (25) of the cutting electrode (4).

A treatment system includes a fluid cooling supply system for chilling and delivering liquid coolant to a patient. The fluid cooling supply system includes a cooling device and a heat exchanger device. The heat exchanger device is biased to the cooling device and is in fluid communication with a treatment device in a patient. The fluid cooling supply system includes at least one biasing mechanism to provide a given biasing force between the heat exchanger device and the cooling device to effectuate and improve heat transfer. The liquid coolant may be circulated through an energy delivery device positioned in an airway of a patient to preserve tissue. The system is controlled to circulate liquid coolant at a given temperature and pressure for a selected amount of time during pulmonary treatment of a patient.

A surgical instrument is configured to concurrently dissect and coagulate tissue. The surgical instrument includes a handle and a shaft extending distally from the handle. The shaft includes an outer hypotube, a lumen coaxially-disposed within the hypotube and extending beyond a distal end thereof, a coaxial feedline coaxially-disposed within the lumen, and having an inner conductor and an outer conductor disposed coaxially about the inner conductor, and a coolant tube coaxially-disposed between the lumen and the coaxial feedline to form an inflow conduit and an outflow conduit. The instrument further includes a dissecting head assembly coupled to a distal end of the shaft. The dissecting head assembly includes a dielectric core having a substantially planar radiating surface and at least one non-radiating surface, a reflective coating disposed on the at least one non-radiating surface of the dielectric core, and a blade extending from the radiating surface.