A method of detecting a leakage current in an electrosurgical system operating at a high frequency includes: coupling an RF generator to a pair of RF output leads via an electrical interface, the RF generator having an operating frequency; inducing a test signal at an output of the electrical interface, the test signal having a test signal frequency that is less than the operating frequency; and monitoring for a presence of an induced common mode current that would indicate the presence of leakage current.

A tissue removal system for extracting a tissue specimen from a patient and a related method are disclosed. The system has a flexible container with an opening associated with a proximal end, and a distal end. The system also has a plurality of wires removably coupled to an interior of the flexible container in a pre-collection configuration wherein the plurality of wires form a receiving space for receiving the tissue specimen and wherein the plurality of wires are positioned in a pattern. The pattern is selected to divide the tissue specimen into at least four pieces in response to at least one pulling force on the plurality of wires.

An electrosurgical apparatus and method for cutting and resecting a tissue volume is described. The apparatus includes one or more electrosurgical filaments and capture components deployable by forward extension at or near a forward tip of an elongated shaft of the apparatus to form an elliptical path that defines, with the other capture components, a spheroidal receptacle configured to surround a tissue volume for resection. The elliptical path is formable by a first extension followed by a second extension, said first extension having a first axial component and a radial expansion component, and said second extension having a second axial component and a radial contraction component, where at least one of the capture components is of varying stiffness.

Disclosed is a multifunctional medical device, apparatus or system that is capable of performing a surgical procedure or operation and also capable of removing or reducing smoke particles generated by the surgical procedure or operation on a subject, the apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes, two of which are configured to be in electrical communication with or being electrically connectable to opposite poles of a source of high voltage dc electricity to ionize, and remove or reduce smoke particles, and at least one of which is also configured to be part of a RE circuit to perform a surgical procedure or operation such as tissue cutting, cauterization, tissue sealing or coagulating at a surgical site on the subject. Also disclosed is a method of employing the above disclosed device, apparatus or system or variations thereof to perform a surgical procedure or operation at a surgical site and to remove or reduce smoke particles generated during the surgical procedure or operation.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for an RF guidewire for applying RF energy to create a channel through a region of tissue within a patient's body. The RF guidewire is configured to have a hydrophilic coating disposed thereon to reduce friction to facilitate traversal through vasculature while maintaining its mechanical, electrical and thermal properties.

Controlling a level of electrosurgical energy provided to tissue based on detected arcing patterns or impedance changes. The drag force imposed on an electrode or blade of an electrosurgical instrument may be controlled by adjusting the level of electrosurgical energy based on the arcing patterns or impedance changes. The arcing patterns or impedance changes may be detected by sensing and analyzing voltage and/or current waveforms of the electrosurgical energy. The current and/or voltage waveform analysis may involve calculating impedance based on the voltage and current waveforms and calculating changes in impedance over time. The waveform analysis may involve detecting harmonic distortion using FFTs, DFTs, Goertzel filters, polyphase demodulation techniques, and/or bandpass filters. The waveform analysis may involve determining a normalized difference or the average phase difference between the voltage and current waveforms.

An electrosurgical device for recognizing tissue by means of spectral analysis of the light generated at an electrode. An acoustic or optical indicator device displays the tissue type permanently or when detecting certain tissue. Indicators, in particular optical indicators, are arranged in the application field of view, so as to support the user in response to making an incision.

The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical systems and methods for controlling electrical treatment energy in connection with electrical arcs. A method in accordance with the present disclosure includes providing electrical treatment energy to an instrument based on an indicated electrical energy level, accessing voltage signal values over time relating to voltage of the electrical treatment energy and/or current signal values over time relating to current of the electrical treatment energy, determining whether an arc generated by the instrument is an arc to be maintained or an arc to be extinguished based on a threshold value and at least one of the voltage signal values or the current signal values, and controlling the electrical treatment energy based on determining that the arc is an arc to be extinguished.

An electrosurgical generator includes an electrosurgical energy output configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to a bipolar end effector assembly in a conductive fluid environment for treating tissue. A controller having a processor is configured to control a waveform of the electrosurgical energy such that the waveform oscillates between a cut phase for initiating and sustaining tissue cutting, wherein the waveform includes a cut energy greater than the energy needed to create and sustain arcing, and a hemostasis phase, for desiccating/coagulating tissue, wherein the waveform includes a hemostasis energy less than the energy needed to sustain arcing.

A tissue cutting device has an outer sleeve with a distal window and an inner cutting sleeve which moves past the window to cut tissue. The inner cutting sleeve has a lumen which may have a larger proximal diameter than distal diameter. A perimeter of the window may comprise a dielectric material. A distal edge of the inner sleeve may be displaced inwardly.