A surgical instrument comprising a waveguide, an end effector, and an electrical switch is disclosed. The waveguide comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to couple to an ultrasonic transducer and one output of a radio frequency (RF) generator. The end effector may comprise an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The ultrasonic blade is mechanically coupled to the distal end of the waveguide and electrically coupled to the waveguide. The clamp arm comprises a movable jaw member electrically coupled to another output of the RF generator. The electrical switch is operable to cause the surgical instrument to deliver electrical current from the RF generator to the movable jaw member for a first period, and to cause the surgical instrument to deliver ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade for a second period.

Thermal cutting surgical instruments incorporate a blade incorporating a first substrate of high thermal conductivity material in the heated portion of the blade and a support and, the first substrate of high thermal conductivity material joined to a second substrate of low thermal conductivity material in the support region of the blade; an electrically insulative dielectric layer disposed on the first surface of the first substrate and on the first surface of second substrate; an electrically resistive heating element disposed on the electrically insulative dielectric; electrically conductive power leads and electrically conductive sense leads disposed on the electrically insulative dielectric layer and that are in electrical communication with the electrically resistive heating element; and an electrically insulative dielectric overcoat layer disposed on the electrically resistive heating element and on the distal portion of the electrically conductive power leads and electrically conductive sense leads.

A branch of an instrument comprising a metal part, which is embodied in one piece seamlessly, which comprises the electrode support as well as the electrode plate and connection webs. Preferably, this metal part is produced in an additive production method, for example selective laser melting (SLM). The branches are suitable for instruments for open surgery as well as for laparoscopic and flexible endoscopic instruments.

An ablation probe having a separable outer sleeve and a freezing function, comprising: an inner probe (101, 201, 301, 401), an outer sleeve (102, 202, 302, 402), and a handle (105, 205, 305, 405). The inner probe (101, 201, 301, 401) is slidably connected to the outer sleeve (102, 202, 302, 402); one end of the inner probe (101, 201, 301, 401) is fixed to one end of the handle (105, 205, 305, 405); said ablation probe further comprises a separating assembly; the separating assembly comprises a first separable member (103) and a second separable member (104); the first separable member (103) and the second separable member (104) are detachably connected; the first separable member (103) is fixed to the outer sleeve (102, 202, 302, 402); the second separable member (104) is fixed to the handle (105, 205, 305, 405); the outer sleeve (102, 202, 302, 402) is a heat-insulating tube. The slide of the outer sleeve (102, 202, 302, 402) on the surface of the inner probe (101, 201, 301, 401) can change the size and distribution of the ablation area of the inner probe (101, 201, 301, 401); the separable structure can form a channel between the outside of the body and the target area of treatment by means of the outer sleeve (102, 202, 302, 402) for biopsy, drug delivery, and hemostasis; the separable structure can be designed into a non-reusable structure for one-time use only to improve the safe usage of the ablation probe.

The present disclosure relates to a surgical tool for cutting and hemostasis of biological tissues. The surgical tool includes a hollow blade comprising a cutting implement residing within a hollow cavity configured to provide high-pressure steam through an apical surface. The cutting implement can operate independently or in cooperation with the provided high-pressure steam. The surgical tool of the present disclosure applies a directionally-controlled, high-pressure steam flow to a tissue region of interest. A control unit provides temperature-controlled steam at a flow-rate determined in accordance with tissue type and intended procedure.

Medical retractors for providing access to a natural or clinician-formed body cavity are provided. An example of such a medical retractor may include an elongated handle member having a distal end and a proximal end, the elongated handle member configured to be held in a clinician's hand, a retractor blade configured for insertion into a body cavity and blade-handle coupling mechanism that rotatably couples a distal end of the elongated handle member and to a proximal end of the retractor blade. The elongated handle member can be rotated to improve access to the body cavity. Related medical retractor kits and methods are operation are also provided.

A microstrip impedance transformer that permits efficient (i.e. low loss) coupling of a microwave feed line (e.g. a conventional 50Ω coaxial cable) to an instrument cable, where the instrument cable has a lower impedance (e.g. in the range 12 to 14Ω) and includes an internal passageway. The microstrip impedance transformer is configured to perform impedance matching between the microwave feed line and the instrument cable in a manner that does not adversely affect a separate feed, e.g. for delivering fluid, into the internal passageway.

Nasal airway reshaping is accomplished using a fractional treatment device applied externally to the nose to insert needle electrodes into nasal tissue to be reshaped. Energy is applied via the electrodes to cause at least partial coagulation of the nasal tissue within zones around each of the plurality of needle electrodes while pressure is applied internally to achieve the desired reshaping.

The invention relates to ablation catheter electrodes that solve in part the problem of tissue charring during radiofrequency ablation. The electrode assemblies of the invention include passageways that lead from the inner lumen of the assemblies to the surface of the assemblies, wherein the passageways have a smooth conjunction with the outer surface. These smooth conjunctions comprise rounded edges or are chamfered. In the case of rounded edges, the rounded edges can have fixed radii of about 0.002″ to about 0.008″.

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.