Prostate treatment using fluid stream to resect prostate tissue, thereby relieving symptoms of conditions such as BPH, prostatitis, and prostatic carcinoma. A device having a fluid delivery element is positioned within a lumen of the urethra within the prostate. A fluid stream is directed outwardly from the fluid delivery element toward a wall of the urethral lumen. The fluid delivery element is moved to scan the fluid stream over the wall to remove a volume of tissue surrounding the lumen. The fluid may be combined with therapeutically active substances or with substances that increase resection efficiency. Fluid force may be adjusted to provide selective tissue resection such that soft tissue is removed while harder tissue is left undamaged. In order to gain a working space within the urethra, another fluid may be introduced to insufflate the urethra in the region of treatment.

A device or scope device is disclosed. The device may comprise: a handle body extending along an axis between first end and a second end; an actuator at the first end of the handle body; a catheter at the second end of the handle body; and a processing unit communicable with a plurality of devices to: switch-in the actuator for control of one device of the plurality of devices; configure, with the actuator, a setting of the one device, control, with the actuator, the one device based on the setting, and switch-in the actuator for control of another one of the plurality of devices. Related devices and methods also are disclosed.

A forceps having at least a first jaw with a longitudinal axis is disclosed. The first jaw can include a body portion, a first flange, a second flange and a cam pin. The first flange can define a first cam slot with a longitudinal extent along the longitudinal axis. The second flange can be spaced from the first flange a distance transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first jaw and can have a second cam slot. The cam pin, with a longitudinal axis, can be moveably secured within the first cam slot and the second cam slot. A diameter of the cam pin can be less than a width between a first longitudinal edge that defines a first side of each of the first cam slot and the second cam slot and a second longitudinal edge that defines a second opposing side of each of the first cam slot and the second cam slot so that the cam pin is moveably received by both the first cam slot and the second cam slot. With the first jaw pivoted to at least a first position, the cam pin and first flange can be configured such that the first longitudinal edge is contacted by the cam pin but the second longitudinal edge is spaced from the cam pin. The cam pin and second flange can be configured such that the first longitudinal edge is spaced from the cam pin but the second longitudinal edge is contacted by the cam pin.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved surgical instrument having an end effector mounted on the end of an elongate shaft extending from a handle. The end-effector is capable of several different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a trigger mechanism contained within the handle. In some embodiments, the end effector includes a pair of curved jaw members and a blade assembly having a cutting blade at its distal end. The trigger mechanism is arranged to drive the blade assembly longitudinally within the elongate shaft such that the cutting blade protrudes between the jaw members. In order to help the trigger mechanism push the blade assembly around the curved jaws, the distal end of the blade has a graduated flexibility such that it can more easily bend to the shape of the jaw members. The distal end of the blade may also be provided with a low friction coating so that it can more easily slide between the jaw members.

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.

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for positioning electrodes. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a primary electrode defining a lumen, an elongated secondary electrode slidably receivable within the lumen, and a sheath configured to slidably receive the electrodes and to convey the electrodes toward a target region. A housing is coupled with the sheath and movably mounted to motivate the sheath relative to the target region. A primary actuator is coupled with the primary electrode and slidably coupled with the housing to motivate the primary electrode relative to the sheath. A secondary actuator is coupled with the secondary electrode and movably coupled with the primary actuator to be slidable with the electrodes in concert. The secondary actuator is rotatable independently of the primary actuator to travel along a helical path to motivate the secondary electrode to move relative to the target region independently of the primary electrode.

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for coupling devices. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a locking body defining an opening with a first section having a first width and a second section having a second width smaller than the first width. The locking body is slidably mountable on a first device with a first coupling to receive a second coupling having a flange with a width that is smaller than the first width and larger than the second width. A slidable mounting mechanism slidably secures the locking body on the first device. The locking body slides between an open position, in which the first section is positionable to enable the first coupling to receive the second coupling, and a closed position in which an edge of the locking body around the second section abuts the flange to prevent withdrawal of the second coupling.

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for guiding a rotatable actuator along a helical path with a varied pitch to motivate an attached implement. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes an elongated implement movable along an axis and a rotatable actuator operably coupled with a proximal end of the implement to motivate the implement to move along the axis in response to rotation of the rotatable actuator. A guide is operably coupled with rotatable actuator, where the guide defines a generally helical channel around the axis to direct movement of a rotatable actuator, and wherein a pitch of the helical channel is varied to reduce a distance of travel of the actuator along the axis per unit of rotation of the actuator.

The coagulation arrangement (10) according to the invention comprises an instrument (11) having a tool (17) comprising coagulating electrodes (22, 23, 27, 28), as well as a dissecting electrode (36). The electrodes are powered by a circuit (44) that comprises a coagulating voltage source (54) and a dissecting voltage source (55), or that can be connected to such sources. The device comprises a dissection actuating switch (60) and a coagulation actuating switch (59). The former is connected to a power switch (58) that—in dissecting mode—connects the current path from the dissecting voltage source (55) to the dissecting electrode (36), before the dissecting voltage source (55) or the HF output voltage source (47) and the coagulating voltage source (54) are actuated. Thus, the user is presented with a reliable means in a simple manner in order to be able to more flexibly perform more complex operations.

A surgical instrument includes a housing having a rounded barrel with a distal end and proximal end configured to seat within a palm of a user. A shaft extends from the distal end of the barrel and supports an end effector at a distal end thereof including first and second jaw members. A rotating assembly is disposed on the barrel and is actuatable to rotate the jaw members. A jaw actuation assembly is disposed on the barrel and is actuatable to move the jaw members between open and closed positions. An energy activation assembly is disposed on the barrel and is actuatable to supply electrosurgical energy to the jaw members. A knife actuation assembly is disposed on the barrel and is actuatable to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members.