An electrode assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument includes a base portion, a return lead adapted to be electrically coupled to a return terminal of an electrosurgical generator, an electrical insulator supported on a distal portion of the return lead, a tensioning mechanism, and an active lead adapted to be electrically coupled to an active terminal of the electrosurgical generator. The tensioning mechanism includes a slider slidably disposed in the base portion, a rotation rod threadably coupled to the slider, and a spring proximally biasing the slider. The active lead having a first end portion securely fixed to the base portion and a second end portion slidably coupled to the rotation rod of the tensioning mechanism. A portion of the active lead extends around the electrical insulator. Rotation of the rotation rod causes axial displacement of the second end portion of the active lead to tension the active lead about the electrical insulator.

A surgical system is disclosed including impedance sensors and a control circuit. The impedance sensors are configured to apply a therapeutic level of RF energy to tissue, sense a real time impedance of the tissue, sense a first tissue impedance based on an initial contact with the tissue, sense a second tissue impedance of the tissue without applying a therapeutic amount of RF energy to the tissue. The control circuit is configured to determine a control parameter of a motor based on the first tissue impedance and the second tissue impedance, determine a percentage of use of an end effector, detect a change of the real time impedance of the tissue, adjust the control parameter of the motor based on the change of the real time impedance and the percentage of use of the end effector, and control delivery of a therapeutic energy application to the tissue.

Forceps including a housing, a first body, a second body and a drive shaft. The first body has a passageway extending therethrough. The drive shaft extending through the passageway and connected to the first body such that the first body and the drive shaft are slidable with respect to the housing to drive jaws located at a distal portion of the drive shaft between an open position and a closed position. The second body having a second passageway. The drive shaft extending through the second passageway such that the second body is guided by the drive shaft and is slidable relative to the first body and the drive shaft to displace a blade shaft between a retracted position and an extended position.

A medical system includes an insertion device including a handle and a delivery portion, a laser fiber, a conductive wire, and a lock. The laser fiber extends through the insertion device and is coupled to a laser slider to control a position of the laser fiber relative to a distal end of the delivery portion. The conductive wire extends through the insertion device and is coupled to a wire slider to control a position of the laser fiber relative to a distal end of the delivery portion. The lock is positioned within the handle and is movable in order to selectively lock either the movement of the laser slider or lock the movement of the wire slider.

A forceps having a first jaw and a second jaw, where at least one of the first and second jaws is capable of moving between an open position and a closed positions. The forceps including an inner shaft located within an outer shaft and extending along the longitudinal axis, and a drive bar coupled to and extending distally from the inner shaft. The drive bar including a pair of drive bar struts extending from a distal portion of the inner shaft and positioned laterally inward of at least one of first and second set of flanges of the first and second jaws. A drive pin is securable to the pair of drive bar struts and the drive bar is translatable within the outer shaft to translate the drive pin to move the first jaw and/or the second jaw between open and closed positions.

One embodiment of the present invention relates to an electrosurgical handpiece that has a first main body and a second main body. A squeezable handle connects to and across the first main body and the second main body such that, when the handle is unsqueezed, the first main body and the second main body assume a first position relative to one another. When the handle is squeezed, the first main body and the second main body assumes a second position relative to one another. An active electrosurgical electrode is slidingly mounted within the second main body and extends from the second end. A spacer is positioned around and in sliding engagement with the smaller diameter region of the first main body.

Methods, apparatuses and systems for ablation therapy. A configurable ablation probe includes at least two electrodes, the surface areas of which can be manipulated and then fixed by the user. Some methods include adjusting the relative surface areas during a sequence of ablation steps to preferentially create lesions closer to one electrode or the other. Some methods include adjusting the position of one of the electrodes during therapy delivery to create elongated lesions.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for therapeutically modulating nerves in or associated with a nasal region of a patient for the treatment of a rhinosinusitis condition.

A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a handle assembly, and an electrode activation assembly. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw, a knife, and an electrode assembly. The handle assembly includes a housing, and an arm. The arm can pivot the second jaw between the open position and the closed position. The arm can pivot relative to the housing between a first position, a second position, and a third position. The electrode activation assembly includes an activation button associated with the handle assembly, a resilient body, and a detent associated with either the housing or the arm. The activation button can activate the electrode assembly in response to the arm pivoting to the third position. The resilient body includes a first cam feature. The detent can engage the first cam feature as the arm pivots between the first position and the second position.

A surgical device is disclosed that comprises a sleeve member, a shaft member and a pair of electrodes. The shaft member extends distally of the sleeve member and has a pair of electrode channels that open at the distal end of the shaft member, wherein the electrode channels are positioned adjacent to one another. The pair of electrodes are configured to deliver energy, and one of the pair of electrodes are configured to be disposed in each electrode channel such that distal ends of each of the electrodes are arranged to protrude from the distal end of the shaft member. An irrigation annulus is formed about the electrodes. The shaft member further includes at least one lumen opening at the distal end of the shaft member.