Even when an insertion object is inserted to a deep position of a subject or even when the insertion object is inserted into the subject at an angle close to a right angle, it is possible to confirm the position of the insertion object in a photoacoustic image. The insertion object is, for example, a hollow puncture needle 15 that includes an opening at a tip thereof. The puncture needle 15 includes a light guide member 152 that guides light emitted from a first light source to the vicinity of the opening, and a light emitting portion 153 that is provided in the vicinity of the opening and emits the light. First photoacoustic waves, which are caused by the light emitted from the light emitting portion 153, are generated in the puncture needle 15. A first photoacoustic image is generated on the basis of the first photoacoustic waves.

A medical imaging system comprising: a microwave antenna array comprising a transmitting antenna and a plurality of receiving antennae, wherein the transmitting antenna is configured to transmit microwave signals so as to illuminate a body part of a patient and the receiving antennae are configured to receive the microwave signals following scattering within the body part; a processor configured to process the scattered microwave signals and generate an output indicative of the internal structure of the body part to identify a target within the body part; and an ablation probe comprising an ablation needle movable relative to the microwave antenna array; wherein the receiving antennae are further configured to receive microwave signals scattered or emitted by the ablation needle and the processor is further configured to monitor a position of the ablation needle and to guide the ablation needle to the identified target within the body part which it can be used to perform an ablation procedure.

An intravascular catheter for nerve activity ablation and/or sensing includes one or more needles advanced through supported guide tubes (needle guiding elements) which expand to contact the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the needles to be advanced though the vessel wall into the extra-luminal tissue including the media, adventitia and periadvential space. The catheter also includes structures which provide radial and lateral support to the guide tubes so that the guide tubes open uniformly and maintain their position against the interior surface of the vessel wall as the sharpened needles are advanced to penetrate into the vessel wall. Electrodes at the distal ends of the guide tubes allow sensing of nerve activity before and after attempted renal denervation. In a combination embodiment ablative energy or fluid is delivered to ablate nerves outside of the media.

Disclosed herein are devices, systems, and methods for monitoring a formation of an iceball at a cryoablation needle. An example method includes receiving an impedance from at least one electrode in an electrode arrangement that is disposed at a cryoablation needle distal portion. The electrode arrangement is configured to engage the iceball as the iceball is formed over the cryoablation needle distal portion so as to cause a change in the impedance. The example method includes determining one or more physical attributes of the iceball based on a rate of the change in the impedance.

Disclosed are a medicine injection tip that may smoothly insert and discharge a needle into and from skin, a hand piece, and a skin treatment device.

A system for controlling operation of a radiofrequency treatment device to apply radiofrequency energy to tissue to heat tissue to create lesions without ablating the tissue. The system includes a first treatment device having at least one electrode for applying radiofrequency energy to tissue, a controller including a connector to which a first treatment device is coupled for use, and a generator for applying radiofrequency energy to the electrodes. The controller controls application of energy so that the tissue is thermally treated to create lesions but preventing thermal treatment beyond a threshold which would ablate the tissue.

The position and orientation of an ultrasound probe is tracked in three dimensions to provide highly-accurate three-dimensional bone surface images that can be used for anatomical assessment and/or procedure guidance. The position and orientation of a therapy applicator can be tracked in three dimensions to provide feedback to align the projected path of the therapy applicator with a desired path for the therapy applicator or to provide feedback to align the potential therapy field of a therapy applicator with a target anatomical site. The three-dimensional bone surface images can be fit to a three-dimensional model of the anatomical site to provide or display additional information to the user to improve the accuracy of the anatomical assessment and/or procedure guidance.

Even when an insertion object is inserted to a deep position of a subject or even when the insertion object is inserted into the subject at an angle close to a right angle, it is possible to confirm the position of the insertion object in a photoacoustic image. The insertion object is, for example, a hollow puncture needle 15 that includes an opening at a tip thereof. The puncture needle 15 includes a light guide member 152 that guides light emitted from a first light source to the vicinity of the opening, and a light emitting portion 153 that is provided in the vicinity of the opening and emits the light. First photoacoustic waves, which are caused by the light emitted from the light emitting portion 153, are generated in the puncture needle 15. A first photoacoustic image is generated on the basis of the first photoacoustic waves.

A medical device system for the delivery of energy to a region of a patient's anatomy is provided. An introducer tube defines a lumen therein and bears a first electrode. A second electrode is movable within the lumen between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the second electrode is substantially disposed within the lumen. In the extended position, the second electrode extends at least partially beyond the distal end of the introducer tube. In one form, the introducer tube is configured to substantially hold the second electrode within the lumen in a predetermined orientation in the extended position, and the introducer tube prevents the second electrode from substantially rotating within the lumen of the introducer tube during movement into the extended position. In one form, the introducer tube is more flexible in a first plane than in a second plane.

A medical RF apparatus using an RF pulse and a method of controlling the medical RF apparatus are provided. The medical RF apparatus includes an RF generator, which generates a test pulse for detecting characteristics of tissue, a monitoring unit, which monitors the change in the information on the tissue state while the test pulse is transmitted to the tissue, and a measurement unit, which determines the tissue characteristics of a patient by comparing the values monitored in the monitoring unit with the reference data.