Electrosurgical systems and components thereof configured to deliver RF energy to a target site of a human or other animal patient with selectable RF energy delivery profiles, temperature sensors and controls, and/or electrodes configured to more uniformly or effectively delivery energy to target tissue.

Methods, systems and devices for endometrial ablation. In accordance with a method, a working end of an RF ablation device is positioned in a patient uterus to contact endometrial tissue, the working end comprising a dielectric wall capable of non-expanded and expanded shapes. An indicator mechanism is operatively coupled to the wall and configured to indicate non-expanded and expanded shapes of the wall.

A plasma treatment unit having a high-voltage stage (5, 6), arranged in a housing, for generating high-voltage signals suitable for the generation of a plasma, and having a head part (2) which is connectable to the high-voltage stage (5, 6) and in which there is situated an electrode arrangement (13) shielded by a dielectric (9), is suitable for plasma treatments in particular in the body interior by virtue of the fact that the head part (2) has an elongate transition piece (10) which is attachable to the housing and on that end of which which is not connectable to the housing there is arranged a treatment head (16, 16′), the dimensions of which perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the transition piece (10) greatly exceed the dimensions of the transition piece (10), and that, in the treatment head (16, 16′), the electrode arrangement (13) forms a spatially closed flexible sheath (12) around a resiliently elastic core (14) and is covered at its outer lateral surface by a thin layer (15) of the flexible dielectric (9), such that the treatment head (16, 16′) can, as it is inserted into a body interior, assume the shape of the surrounding tissue in the body interior.

Various aspects of the invention relate to methods and devices for treating diseases and conditions including atherosclerosis and endocarditis using low-temperature, non-equilibrium plasmas. A device may be, for example, a catheter that carries electrodes and a dielectric material for generating a localized, non-equilibrium plasma in a bodily fluid such as blood.

A tissue resecting or other medical device includes a handle coupled to an elongated shaft. A radiofrequency (RF) electrode is carried at a distal end of the elongated shaft, and the electrode is moveable across a window in a sleeve or other component of the shaft. The shaft has an interior channel connectable to a negative pressure source to remove debris from the channel. A motor is carried by the handle and operatively coupled to the electrode for moving the electrode relative to the window. An electronic image sensor and lens are disposed at a distal end of the shaft, and a plurality of conductors may extend through the shaft to the image sensor. The image sensor, lens and sensor conductors are disposed within a first tubular member, and an LED or other light source is also positioned at a distal end of the shaft with LED conductors or leads extending through a second tubular member of the shaft to the LED.

Methods, systems and devices for endometrial ablation. In accordance with a method, a working end of an RF ablation device is positioned in a patient uterus to contact endometrial tissue, the working end comprising a dielectric wall capable of non-expanded and expanded shapes. An indicator mechanism is operatively coupled to the wall and configured to indicate non-expanded and expanded shapes of the wall.

A coating for the electrode of an electrosurgical instrument that increases the capacitance of the electrode. The coating comprises a high permittivity material such as barium titanate, lead zirconate titanate, calcium copper titanate, or a conjugated polymer. The coating may have a thickness of 0.0016 inches and can be included with one of more insulative layers.

In some aspects, a surgical system configured to limit or prevent capacitive coupling and its effects is presented. The surgical system may include: an energy generator; a surgical instrument electrically coupled to the energy generator and configured to transmit electrosurgical energy to tissue of a patient at a surgical site; at least one sensor configured to detect energy an energy anomaly; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, and configured to: receive data from the at least one sensor that energy is being emitted at an unintended location within the surgical system; transmit an alert indicating that parasitic capacitive coupling is occurring; and transmit an interrupt to the energy generator to temporarily interrupt energy generation.

Various aspects of the invention relate to methods and devices for treating diseases and conditions including atherosclerosis and endocarditis using low-temperature, non-equilibrium plasmas. A device may be, for example, a catheter that carries electrodes and a dielectric material for generating a localized, non-equilibrium plasma in a bodily fluid such as blood.

A device for treating a surface with a dielectric harrier plasma, wherein the surface functions as a counterelectrode, has an electrically insulating housing and a housing head. A rotatable electrode connected to a high-voltage feed line is shielded by a dielectric and protrudes out of the housing head. The configuration has fundamentally unrestricted movement of the electrode over the surface to be treated in that the electrode has rotary bearing elements which are arranged in a center axis and a rotation axis is at an angle to the center axis.