An electrosurgical instrument having jaws is energized and actuated using a length of cable. The cable is formed of a conductive inner portion coated with a dielectric polymer. The cable extends through a pass-through in a portion of the jaw and is crimped to create a mechanical and electrical connection between the conductive inner portion and the conductive jaw material.

In a manufacturing of a grasping device that is openable and closable and includes a first jaw having a first hole and a second jaw having a second hole larger than the first hole, the first jaw is arranged in between protruding portions of the second jaw. The second hole is located outside the first hole in a width direction of the grasping device, and a cross-sectional area of the second hole is larger than the first hole. A pin member is inserted through both the first hole and the second hole. The positions of the first jaw and the pin member are adjusted relative to the second jaw to predetermined positions. The pin member is fixed to the second jaw upon positioning the first jaw and the second jaw at the predetermined positions.

A treatment system includes an energy source apparatus and a thermal treatment tool configured to receive electrical energy from the energy source apparatus. The thermal treatment tool includes a thermally conductive member having opposed respective treatment and installation surfaces. A board being disposed on the installation surface and having respective longitudinal and widthwise directions. The board includes an electrically conductive wire having a conductive portion and a heat generating portion for generating heat when supplied with electric energy. The board is folded back at a folded point and is disposed on the thermally conductive member such that the heat generating portion of the electrically conductive wire facing the installation surface.

A thermal element configured for thermally treating tissue includes a substrate, an insulating layer disposed on the substrate, and a resistive trace circuit disposed on the insulating layer and including first and second ends adapted to connect to a source of energy for energizing the resistive trace circuit, thereby heating the thermal element. The resistive trace circuit: includes at least first and second sections defining different configurations and disposed between the first and second ends; is configured to maintain a temperature variation of no greater than about 25° C. along at least a majority of a length of the thermal element; and/or is configured to define a temperature gradient profile that varies at least about 50° C. along a length of the thermal element at a target operating temperature thereof.

Methods and devices for treating nasal airways are provided. Such devices and methods may improve airflow through an internal and/or external nasal valve, and comprise the use of mechanical re-shaping, energy application and other treatments to modify the shape, structure, and/or air flow characteristics of an internal nasal valve, an external nasal valve or other nasal airways.

A method for reshaping a nasal airway in a patient involves advancing an inflatable balloon of a reshaping device in an uninflated configuration into a nostril of the patient and between a nasal septum and a lateral wall of the nasal airway. The method then involves inflating the inflatable balloon to an inflated configuration to cause the inflatable balloon to contact nasal mucosa covering the nasal septum and the lateral wall, delivering energy from an energy delivery member attached to or inside of the inflatable balloon, and removing the reshaping device from the nasal airway.

A surgical instrument includes a housing having an elongated shaft extending distally therefrom configured to support an end effector at a distal end thereof. A handle operably couples to a drive assembly and is moveable to actuate the end effector. The drive assembly includes: front and rear drive tubes, the rear drive tube including a front washer disposed at a distal end thereof, the front drive tube including a rear washer disposed at a proximal end thereof; a stopper slidably disposed atop the front tube, the stopper and the rear washer defining a dead space therebetween; and a spring operably associated with the stopper. Initial actuation of the handle moves the front and rear drive tubes to close the end effector to grasp tissue and, once closed, further movement of the handle moves the rear drive tube to slide the stopper to eliminate the dead space.

A surgical device includes a housing, an elongated shaft, an end effector, and an actuation mechanism. The housing pivotally supports a movable handle between unactuated, first actuated, and a second actuated positions. The elongated shaft extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. The end effector has a pair of opposed jaw members that are movable between an open configuration in which the jaw members are spaced apart from one another and a closed configuration in which the jaw members are closer together. The actuation mechanism is configured to transition the end effector between the open and closed configurations as the movable handle is pivoted between the unactuated and first actuated positions and to maintain the end effector in the closed configuration when the moveable handle is between the first and second actuated positions.

Tissue treatment systems include an actuator handle assembly coupled with a clamp assembly having a first jaw mechanism and a second jaw mechanism. A first jaw mechanism includes a first flexible boot, a first flexible ablation member coupled with the first flexible boot, and a first rotatable jawbone disposed within the first flexible boot. A second jaw mechanism comprises a second flexible boot, a second flexible ablation member coupled with the second flexible boot, and a second rotatable jawbone disposed within the second flexible boot.

In a treatment system, an energy treatment instrument includes a pair of grasping pieces closing with respect to each other. An energy output source outputs electric energy to the energy treatment instrument, thereby applying treatment energy to a treatment target grasped between the grasping pieces. A processor creates an optical flow of the treatment target observed by an observation element, and switches an actuation state of the energy treatment instrument between a first mode for treating the treatment target and a second mode for treating the treatment target that is different from the first mode, based on the optical flow.