The present disclosure provides electroporation systems, methods of controlling electroporation systems to limit electroporation arcs through intracardiac catheters, and catheters for electroporation systems. One method of controlling an electroporation system including a direct current (DC) energy source, a return electrode connected to the DC energy source, and a catheter connected to the DC energy source is disclosed. The catheter has a at least one catheter electrode. The method includes positioning the return electrode near a target location within a body and positioning the catheter electrode adjacent the target location within the body. A system impedance is determined with the return electrode positioned near the target location and the catheter electrode positioned within the body. The system impedance is adjusted to a target impedance to arcing from the catheter electrode.

A pulse generator for use with an electroporation system is provided. The pulse generator is configured to be coupled to a catheter including a plurality of electrodes and is configured to generate a waveform to be delivered using at least one of the plurality of electrodes. The waveform includes a pulse train having positive and negative pulses, wherein an average charge over the pulse train is zero.

Techniques for detecting leakage current of an electrosurgical instrument are provided. In an example, a method of operating an electrosurgical instrument can include applying a radio frequency (RF) signal to electrode conductors of the electrosurgical instrument, determining leakage current of an leakage conductor coupled to the electrosurgical instrument exceeds a first threshold, and providing a first indication in response to the determining the leakage current of the leakage conductor exceeds the first threshold.

A surgical instrument is disclosed comprising a housing and a control circuit mounted to and/or embedded in the housing.

A method, consisting of ablating tissue for a time period, measuring a contact force applied during the time period, and measuring a power used during the time period. The method further includes ceasing ablating the tissue when a desired size of a lesion produced in the tissue, as estimated using an integral over the time period of a product of the contact force raised to a first non-unity exponent and the power raised to a second non-unity exponent, is reached.

A bipolar surgical instrument comprises a body, first and second opposed jaws located at the distal end of a shaft, the first jaw being movable with respect to the second jaw between an open position in which the first and second jaws are spaced apart from one another, and a closed position in which the first and second jaws are adjacent one another. The first and second elongate jaw members have respective first and second electrodes. A controller is operable to determine a boiling point for tissue between the jaws using a measure of impedance therebetween.

An electrosurgical forceps comprising: (a.) a pair of working arms comprising; (i.) a first working arm and a second working arm, each of the first working arm and the second working arm having an inner surface; (ii.) one or more electrodes located on the inner surface of the first working arm, the second working arm, or both; and (b.) a selectively engageable activation system comprising; (i.) a control unit; (ii.) an activation switch; and (iii.) a disengagement mechanism; wherein the first working arm and the second working arm are laterally movable relative to each other so that the activation switch is actuated when the disengagement mechanism is in an engaged position by closing the first working arm and the second working arm together, sending a signal to the control unit, which in turn sends a therapy signal to the one or more electrodes; wherein when the disengagement mechanism is in a disengagement position and the working arms are closed, the therapy signal is prevented from being sent from the control unit to the one or more electrodes.

Described herein are apparatuses (e.g., systems and devices) and methods of delivering nanosecond pulsed electrical fields (nsPEF). In particular, these apparatuses and methods may provide enhanced safety and robust operation over even very short (e.g., nanosecond and sub-nanosecond pulses) and high voltage pulsing; these benefits may be accomplished by multi-functional isolation of various subsystems and components of the apparatus, even including the low-voltage, control and command portions of the apparatus with extremely low capacitance, high voltage isolation.

An electrosurgical system monitors and visually indicates a degree of contact between a return electrode and a patient's skin. The system includes an electrosurgical generator and a return pad. The return pad includes a return electrode, a lighting element, and a cable electrically and mechanically coupling the return electrode to the generator. The lighting element is configured to emit light based on the degree of contact between the return electrode and the patient's tissue (e.g., skin).

An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of sealing a tissue includes measuring a first measured termination parameter with a controller and terminating an ultrasonic energy and an RF energy when the first measured termination parameter reaches a set one of a first smaller tissue predetermined termination parameter or a first larger tissue predetermined termination parameter to thereby inhibit transecting the tissue. The ultrasonic surgical instrument further includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, an RF electrode, and a controller. The controller operatively connects to the ultrasonic blade and the RF electrode and is configured to terminate the ultrasonic energy and the RF energy when the first measured termination parameter reaches the set one of the first smaller tissue predetermined termination parameter or the first larger tissue predetermined termination parameter to thereby inhibit transecting the tissue.