A catheter includes a shaft, a distal-end assembly, and a plurality of electrodes mounted on the distal-end assembly. The shaft is configured for insertion into an organ of a patient. The distal-end assembly is coupled to a distal end of the shaft and configured to make contact with tissue in the organ. At least an electrode among the electrodes is (i) electrically exposed on at least a portion of a surface of the electrode that makes contact with the tissue and (ii) electrically insulated on at least a portion of the surface of the electrode that faces away from the tissue.

A surgical instrument end effector assembly includes a first jaw member defining an insulative tissue-contacting surface and first and second electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces disposed on either side of the insulative surface. A second jaw member of the end effector assembly includes an ultrasonic blade body positioned to oppose the insulative surface of the first jaw member, and first and second electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces disposed on either side of the ultrasonic blade body and positioned to oppose the first and second electrically-conductive surfaces, respectively, of the first jaw member. The first jaw member is movable relative to the second jaw member between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position to grasp tissue therebetween. The first and second electrically-conductive surfaces of the second jaw member are movable, independent of the first jaw member, relative to the first jaw member and the ultrasonic blade body between a retracted position and an extended position.

A medical instrument includes a housing, a movable handle, and a spring. The movable handle is configured to move between a first position as an opened position and a second position as a closed position with respect to the housing. The spring is provided between the housing and the movable handle. The spring is configured to apply a biasing force to the housing or the movable handle. The spring is provided to alleviate an increase in the biasing force generated in the spring in response to the movable handle moving from the first position to the second position.

A forceps includes an end effector assembly having a stop and a plurality of overmold teeth within at least one jaw member. One (or both) of the jaw members is moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. One (or both) of the jaw members includes a stop molded within an insulative housing, and an insulator plate with the overmold teeth formed from plastic. The overmold teeth extend through openings within a sealing plate and protrude past the tissue sealing surface of the sealing plate. The stop primarily controls the gap distance between opposing jaw members by bearing most of an applied load and the overmold teeth assist in controlling the gap distance by bearing the remaining applied load.

The present disclosure relates to the field of microwave ablation treatment devices, and in particular, to a microwave ablation needle head and a microwave ablation needle. A microwave ablation needle head, comprising an outer tube, a cooling tube, a coaxial cable, and an electrode. The outer tube comprises a first branch tube and a second branch tube which are sequentially provided in a direction from the distal end to the proximal end of the outer tube, and the end of the first branch tube away from the second branch tube forms the distal end of the outer tube, and the material of the first branch tube is a ceramic material or a polymer material. The cooling tube is provided within the outer tube, the cooling tube and the outer tube are spaced apart from each other, and a first cooling flow channel is formed between the cooling tube and the outer tube, the material of the cooling tube is a polymer material, and the distal end of the cooling tube is located inside the distal end of the first branch tube, so as to form a mounting space in a distal end region of the cooling tube. The microwave ablation needle head can effectively suppress induced currents, and eliminate the effect of induced currents on ablation shapes.

A self-contained, battery powered transseptal crossing system is disclosed. An elongate, flexible electrically conductive needle body has a proximal end and a distal end. An insulation layer surrounds the sidewall and leaves exposed a distal electrode tip. A generator is configured to deliver RF energy to the electrode tip, and includes a processor configured to take impedance measurements at the tip to confirm contact with the intra atrial septum and/or confirm entry into the left atrium.

An electrosurgical system includes an RF current generator, a handle body, and an end effector. The end effector may include a first and a second energy delivery surface. At least a portion of either first or second energy delivery surfaces, or both, may include one or more patterned coatings of an electrically non-conducting non-stick material. The material may be deposited on a surface of, within a depression in, or on features extending from the energy surfaces, or through an overmolding process. The patterned coating may be formed from a coating of the material from which portions have been removed. An energy delivery surface has a first area, and the patterned coating has a second area. A ratio of the second area to the first area may be less than or equal to about 0.9, less than or equal to about 0.7, or less than or equal to about 0.5.

An electrosurgical device includes an elongated shaft, an active electrode, and a return electrode. The elongated shaft has an end effector that is operably engaged with a distal portion thereof and a channel defined therethrough. The distal portion of the elongated shaft includes a distal tip that is configured to provide suction from a suction surface to the distal tip through the channel. The end effector may include a flare a proximal end thereof. The active electrode is positioned adjacent the distal tip of the elongated shaft and is configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue. The return electrode is positioned on an outer surface of the end effector proximal of the active electrode. The return electrode is configured to provide a return path for the electrosurgical energy.

A tissue resecting device includes an outer sleeve having an axial bore extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end and opening to an outer window near the distal end. An inner sleeve is rotatably received in the axial bore of the outer sleeve and has an axial channel adapted for communication with a negative pressure source. A distal housing is attached to a distal end of the inner sleeve and has an annular dielectric portion and a circumferentially adjacent annular metal portion having an inner window with circumferentially spaced-apart sharp cutting edges that opens to the axial channel. An active electrode is carried by the annular dielectric portion, and the inner window is circumferentially spaced-part from the active electrode so that the inner window and the active electrode rotate alternately into alignment with the outer window as the inner sleeve is rotated within the outer sleeve.

A novel cardiac ablation catheter is based on the principle that the field gradient near the electrode surface is reduced by a truncated dome shape which reduces the ratio of the current magnitude near the electrode-tissue interface to that in the tissue. Thus, for a given power, a deeper lesion can be created at a lower applied power reducing the risk of steam pop and overheating of the surrounding blood pool. The result is a reduction in spurious current which does not contribute to tissue ablation but undesirably increases heating of the blood pool near the ablation site. Methods of use are also described.