Various systems and methods for controlling an ultrasonic surgical instrument according to the location of tissue grasped within an end effector are disclosed. A control circuit can be configured to apply varying power levels, via a generator, to an ultrasonic transducer driving an ultrasonic electromechanical system to oscillate an ultrasonic blade. Further, the control circuit can measure impedances of the ultrasonic transducer corresponding to the varying power levels and determine a location of tissue positioned within the end effector according to a difference between the impedances of the ultrasonic transducer relative to a threshold.

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for positioning electrodes within a body. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for slidably moving multiple features relative to a sheath insertable into a body and positionable relative to a reference point includes a primary actuator configured to move a primary electrode to a first position. A secondary actuator is configured to move a secondary electrode to a second position. A shrouding device is configured to selectively prevent access to the secondary actuator until the primary actuator has been manipulated to extend the primary electrode to the first position.

A generator includes first, second, and third inductors and a capacitor. The first inductor is formed by a primary coil of a transformer. The second inductor is formed by a first secondary coil of the transformer. The second inductor is connected between a first contact and a second contact. The first and the second contacts are connected to a surgical instrument. The third inductor is formed by a second secondary coil of the transformer continuously connected to the first secondary coil. The third inductor is connected between the first contact and a third contact. A polarity of the second contact with respect to the third contact coincides with a polarity of the first contact with respect to the second contact of the second inductor. The capacitor is connected between the third contact and ground. An inductance of the third inductor and a capacitance of the capacitor are adjusted.

A method for authenticating an electrosurgical system accessory comprising initiating a surgical procedure through a user interface on an electrosurgical generator, automatically determining whether an electrosurgical accessory is plugged into a generator receptacle, activating an RFID reader connected to the generator in response to a determination that an accessory is plugged into a receptacle, transmitting through the RFID reader to an RFID tag in the accessory a privacy password, transmitting a unit identification code from the RFID tag to the generator, displaying a device type associated with the transmitted unit identification code, checking a status of the accessory, unlocking a tag memory management if the read status code indicates the accessory has not previously been used, reading encoded data from the tag memory, computing a device authentication code from tag memory encoded data, transmitting the computed authentication code to the tag, and enabling the accessory in response to a match.

Ultrapolar non-telescopic electrosurgery pencil with argon beam capability which is capable of using monopolar energy in a bipolar mode for cutting and coagulation and which is also capable of using an ionized gas for cutting and coagulation.

Methods and devices for performing ablation using time multiplexed waveforms are disclosed. The increased efficacy of monophasic waveforms is combined with the reduced side effects of biphasic waveforms by distributing components of the waveform across over a broader time interval than that typically used in a conventional biphasic waveform. Charge balancing occurs upon completion of therapy delivery within a time period that avoids muscle stimulation, while allowing unbalanced waveforms to be delivered during stimulation.

Methods and devices for performing ablation. In some examples an ablation delivery system is configured to allow separate voltage levels of a capacitor stack to be accessed for use in therapy delivery. Ablation therapy systems switchable between current and voltage controlled output are described. Methods of treating a patient using adjustable interphase or interpulse delay are disclosed as well.

The present invention is a minimally invasive articulating configured to be advanced through tortuous anatomy, particularly within a lung, and subsequently deliver at least two separately deployable ablation devices to a target site located at a bifurcated section of the lung (i.e., at a bronchial airway bifurcation). The pair of ablation devices are separately steerable towards respective first and second pathways extending from the bifurcation, such that each of the ablation devices can be positioned on either side of a target tissue proximate the bifurcation. The first and second ablation devices include expandable distal tips configured to transition to a deployed configuration, in which each expands in diameter and is configured to apply a degree of compression and/or RF energy emission to target lung tissue (i.e., diseased tissue, such as cancer or emphysema-related damaged tissue) for subsequent ablation thereof.

A surgical safety system for use in connection with a powered surgical instrument can be a standalone device or can be incorporated into existing electrosurgical instruments and generators. The system employs a controller connected to one or more sensors that are monitoring an aspect of a patient undergoing surgery. The controller is also in electrical communication with the powered surgical instrument and is configured to disable the instrument if movement or impending movement is detected.

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for positioning electrodes within a body. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for slidably moving multiple features relative to a sheath inserted into a body and positioned relative to a reference point includes a primary actuator configured to move a primary electrode, a secondary actuator configured to move a secondary electrode, and a control mechanism. The control mechanism is configured to selectively prevent movement of at least one of the primary actuator based on a position of the secondary actuator and of the secondary actuator based on a position of the primary actuator and lock positions of the primary actuator and the secondary actuator.