An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical instrument includes a pair of opposing jaw members each having a jaw housing supporting an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface thereon. The tissue engaging surfaces are disposed in opposition relative to one another and one or both of the jaw members are movable relative to one another to grasp tissue therebetween. First, second and third thermal cutting elements are disposed on one or both of the tissue engaging surfaces. Each thermal cutting element is independently activatable (or activatable in pairs) relative to the tissue engaging surfaces and each thermal cutting element connects to an electrosurgical energy source. The first thermal cutting element is exposed along the length of the tissue engaging surface, the second thermal cutting element surrounds the distal tip of the jaw member and the third thermal cutting element is disposed on the back of the jaw housing.

A surgical device and procedure are provided for performing microsurgery, including a capsulotomy of a lens capsule of an eye. The device has an elastically deformable cutting element mounted within an elastomeric suction cup. The suction cup is attached to an arm for manipulating the device. The device can be inserted into the anterior chamber of the eye, through a corneal incision, to cut a piece from the anterior portion of the lens capsule of the eye. The device is secured against the lens capsule using suction applied by one or more suction elements. The device is then removed from the eye, with the cut piece of membrane retained within the device by suction.

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 treatment system comprises a treatment tool and an energy source apparatus is used to electrically communicate with the treatment tool. The energy output source is configured to output high-frequency electric power to the bipolar electrodes so as to cause a high-frequency current to flow through a treatment target between the bipolar electrodes. A processor is used to control the energy output source. The processor performs an output control process on the heater electric power so that the heater reaches a target temperature and maintains at the target temperature. The processor detects a parameter related to the heater from the heater in the output control process based on the target temperature. The processor sets a threshold value used to determine to stop or to lower the output to the bipolar electrodes while the treatment target is being modified by the high-frequency current applied thereto based on the detected parameter.

A treatment system includes a treatment tool and an energy source apparatus used to supply electrical energy to the treatment tool. The treatment tool includes a heater and bipolar electrodes to grip a treatment target. The energy source apparatus includes a processor to control the output to the bipolar electrodes and the heater, respectively. The processor directs the output to the bipolar electrodes and detects an initial value of the impedance of the treatment target. The processor determines whether or not the impedance has reached a minimum value and then retrieves a parameter that is detected before the minimum value of the impedance is detected. The processor performs a first process and/or a second process based on the acquired parameter after the minimum value is detected. The first process determines whether or not the output to the heater is required. The second process sets a target value.

A gearbox assembly for a surgical instrument includes an articulation sub-assembly and a jaw drive sub-assembly. The articulation sub-assembly is configured to articulate an end effector of the surgical instrument and the jaw drive sub-assembly is configured to move jaw members of the end effector between an open and closed position. The articulation sub-assembly includes two input shafts, a proximal plate, a middle plate, two center gears, and four lead screws with four nuts. The jaw drive sub-assembly includes a drive rod coupled to at least one of the jaws and a spring force assembly to maintain a force between the jaws.

A surgical device and procedure are provided for performing microsurgery, including a capsulotomy of a lens capsule of an eye. The device has an elastically deformable cutting element mounted within an elastomeric suction cup. The suction cup is attached to an arm for manipulating the device. The device can be inserted into the anterior chamber of the eye, through a corneal incision, to cut a piece from the anterior portion of the lens capsule of the eye. The device is secured against the lens capsule using suction applied by one or more suction elements. The device is then removed from the eye, with the cut piece of membrane retained within the device by suction.

A forceps includes a pair of shaft members, a pair of jaw members each including a distal body and a proximal flange, and a pair of electrode plates. The proximal flanges are engaged with the respective shaft members and pivotably coupled to each other such that pivoting the shaft members pivots the distal jaw bodies. The electrode plates each includes a tissue-contacting portion disposed on the distal body of the respective jaw member and a proximal extension portion extending at least partially through the proximal flange of the respective jaw member. The tissue-contacting portion and proximal extension portion of the first electrode plate are disposed in perpendicular planes relative to each other. Likewise, the tissue-contacting portion and proximal extension portion of the second electrode plate are disposed in perpendicular planes relative to each other.

An energy treatment instrument includes a pair of grasping pieces, and the grasping pieces grasp a treated target therebetween by closing relative to each other. At least one of the grasping pieces includes an energy applying portion which treats the treated target by applying treatment energy to the grasped treated target. At least one of the grasping pieces includes a hauler hauling the treated target toward an inside in a width direction of the grasping pieces, when the grasping pieces close relative to each other in a state that the treated target is disposed between the grasping pieces.