An electrosurgical instrument, comprising: an elongate probe comprising a coaxial cable for conveying radiofrequency (RF) and/or microwave frequency electromagnetic (EM) energy, and a probe tip connected at the distal end of the coaxial cable for receiving the RF and/or microwave energy; a gas passage for conveying gas to the probe tip; and an apparatus for debriding biological tissue. The coaxial cable comprises an inner conductor, outer conductor and dielectric material separating the conductors. The probe tip comprises a first electrode connected to the inner conductor of the coaxial cable and a second electrode connected to the outer conductor. The first electrode and the second electrode are arranged to produce an electric field from the received RF and/or microwave frequency EM energy across a flow path of gas received from the gas passage to produce a thermal or non-thermal plasma in an area outward from the probe tip.

A device for enhancement of visual appearance including a first applicator to be coupled to a first area of a body region, with a first magnetic field generating device and a first radiofrequency electrode, a second applicator to be coupled to a second area of the body region, with a second magnetic field generating device. The device further includes a first energy storage device, a second energy storage device, and a first switching device to discharge energy from the first energy storage device to the first magnetic field generating to generate a first time-varying magnetic field to cause muscle contraction, and a second switching to discharge energy from the second energy storage device to the second magnetic field generating device to generate a second time-varying magnetic field. The first radiofrequency electrode may provide first radiofrequency waves causing heating of tissue within the first area of the body region.

A system including a catheter navigable to a location within a patient, a lumen extending through the catheter and ending at the distal end in an orifice, a fluid controller in fluid communication with the lumen of the catheter and capable of supplying a fluid to or removing a fluid from an area proximate the desired location. The control of the fluid in the area proximate the desired location affecting a dielectric constant of the area proximate the desired location. The system includes a microwave energy source, and a microwave ablation probe connected to the microwave energy source, the microwave ablation probe being navigable to a desired location within the patient. Application of energy from the microwave energy source to the microwave ablation probe in an area proximate the desired location having the affected dielectric constant results in a substantially spherical tissue effect in the area proximate the desired location.

A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a vessel wall (108A) or a heart valve includes a light source (124), a first light guide (122A), a second light guide (122A), and a guide bundle (152). The light source (124) generates light energy. The first light guide (122A) receives the light energy from the light source (124) and has a guide proximal end (122P). The second light guide (122A) receives the light energy from the light source (124) and has a guide proximal end (122P). A guide bundle (152) is in optical communication with the light source (124). The guide bundle (152) bundles the first light guide (122A) and the second light guide (122A). The guide bundle (152) includes a first ferrule (778) that engages the guide proximal end (122P) of the first light guide (122A) and a second ferrule (778) that engages the guide proximal end (122P) of the second light guide (122A). At least one of the ferrules (778) can be formed at least partially from a ceramic material or a metallic material.

Disclosed embodiments provide systems and methods for preventing unintentional laser emission via an integrated foot controller having an electronic shroud that is implemented using electronics and software. The risk of unintentional laser emission is reduced by permitting laser emission via the pedal of the foot controller only at defined stages of surgical procedures, and by requiring that the user initiate control of laser emission by actuating existing switches on the foot controller in a specified sequence, such as a passcode unique to a particular user. Additionally, disclosed embodiments include one more proximity sensors useful to detect data indicative of the presence of the user's foot on the foot controller. Such data may be useful in determining whether the system should remain in a ready state for laser emission or whether the system should be taken out of ready state to reduce the risk of unintentional laser emission when the user's foot is not present.

A system includes a focus optic configured to converge an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) beam to a focal region located along an optical axis. The system also includes a detector configured to detect a signal radiation emanating from a predetermined location along the optical axis. The system additionally includes a controller configured to adjust a parameter of the EMR beam based in part on the signal radiation detected by the detector. The system also includes a window located a predetermined depth away from the focal region, between the focal region and the focus optic along the optical axis, wherein the window is configured to make contact with a surface of a tissue.

Systems and methods for dynamically modulating aspiration in response to sensed conditions. An aspiration system can include a catheter configured to be inserted within a vasculature of the subject, a canister coupled to the catheter, a pressure source that generates a vacuum pressure through the catheter for aspirating the fluid, a sensor configured to sense a parameter associated with at least one of the catheter, the canister, or the pressure source, and a computer system coupled to the sensor. The computer can cause the pressure source to initiate the vacuum pressure throughout the catheter, receive a measurement of the parameter from the sensor, determine whether the measurement violates a threshold associated with the parameter, and modulate the vacuum pressure at the catheter tip in response to a determination that the measurement violates the threshold.

A catheter system (100) includes a light guide (122A) and a light source (124). The light guide (122A) is configured to selectively receive light energy. The light source (124) generates the light energy. The light source (124) is in optical communication with the light guide (122A). The light source can include (i) a seed source (260) that outputs the light energy, (ii) a pre-amplifier (262) that receives the light energy from the seed source (260), the pre-amplifier (262) being in optical communication with the seed source (260), and (iii) an amplifier (264) that receives the light energy from the pre-amplifier (262), the amplifier (264) being in optical communication with the pre-amplifier (262) and the light guide (122A).

A system includes a laser catheter and a rotating optical member to receive a laser beam along an optical path and rotate to a selected position to redirect the laser beam from the optical path onto one or more selected optical fibers of a laser catheter, wherein a distal end of the laser catheter irradiates an endovascular structure.

According to an aspect, there is provided a system (40) configured to perform a personal care operation on skin of a subject. The system (40) comprises a processing unit (46) and a personal care device (2). The personal care device (2) comprises a housing (4) having an aperture (10) that is arranged in the housing (4) such that the aperture (10) is adjacent to the skin when the personal care device (2) is in contact with the skin and is to be used to perform the personal care operation on the skin. The personal care device (2) also comprises an imaging unit (44) disposed in the housing (4) and arranged to obtain images of the skin adjacent to the aperture (10) using light passing through the aperture (10) into the personal care device (2), wherein, in a skin contact detection mode of the system (40), a focal plane (66) of the imaging unit (44) is aligned with the aperture (10). The processing unit (46) is configured to receive, in the skin contact detection mode, one or more images obtained by the imaging unit (44) in the skin contact detection mode, and to process the one or more images to determine whether the personal care device (2) is in contact with the skin.