Methods and devices described herein facilitate ablation patterns on the heart within a pericardial sac and without opening or deflating the lungs.

A method, system, and device for selective power saving may be used in medical procedures. The device may be configured to receive motion information from a detector and location information from a sensor. A processor may correlate the motion information and the location information to determine whether to maintain power to the sensor. The determination of whether to maintain power to the sensor may be based on the correlation of the motion information and the location information. The processor may determine whether the location of the device has changed and the degree of that change. The processor may also determine whether the motion information is less than a duration threshold. The duration threshold may be a user configurable threshold. The processor may power off the sensor if a duration threshold is met and/or the location of the wireless tool has not changed.

A combined isolator-diplexer device for supplying radiofrequency (RF) energy and microwave energy obtained from separate sources to a probe via a common signal pathway. The invention combines into a single unit all the necessary components to isolate a microwave channel from an RF channel whilst providing a high withstanding voltage (e.g. greater than 10 kV). The device comprises a waveguide isolator for isolating the microwave channel having a pair of DC isolation barriers arranged therein to provide a pair of series-connected capacitive structures between a ground conductor at an output of the combining circuit and a conductive input section of the waveguide isolator.

An end effector of an electrosurgical device may include a discharge port, an aspiration port, two electrodes, and a diverter formed from a porous material. The diverter includes a matrix having voids to receive fluid from the discharge port. A releasable diverter assembly may include an assembly body configured to receive a pair of electrodes and a diverter composed of a porous material. A shaft assembly of an electrosurgical device may include two electrodes and two fluid cannulae. Each cannula may be disposed proximate to a surface of each of the electrodes. An end effector of an electrosurgical device may include a fluid discharge port, two electrodes, and a diverter disposed therebetween. A proximal edge of the diverter may form a secant line with respect to the end of the discharge port so that fluid emitted by the discharge port is disposed on a surface of the diverter.

In general, devices, systems, and methods for fiducial identification and tracking are provided.

An electrosurgical wand is provided and includes a handle and an elongate shaft coupled to the handle and extending distally from the handle along an axis. An active electrode is disposed at a distal end of the electrosurgical wand. A return electrode abuts the elongate shaft and extends along and annularly about the axis. The return electrode has a top side adjacent the active electrode and an opposite bottom side and defines a notch. A support member is disposed in the notch between the electrodes and transitions curvilinearly from the notch to define a front surface extending laterally across and axially from the return electrode. The front surface tapers downwardly from the active electrode to define a first portion defining a first convex outer surface and also extends toward the bottom side of the return electrode to define a second portion defining a second convex outer surface.

An arthroscopic system includes a hand piece with a motor drive. an elongate shaft assembly is detachably secured to a distal end of the hand piece, and the elongate shaft assembly includes an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve rotatably mounted in the outer sleeve. The inner sleeve couples to the motor drive when the elongate shaft assembly is attached to the hand piece, and an inner distal cutting window on the inner sleeve moves in and out of alignment with an outer distal cutting window on the outer sleeve as the motor drive rotates the inner sleeve. A distal electrode is disposed on an outer surface of the outer sleeve at a location opposite to that of the outer distal cutting window, and the outer sleeve member is rotatable relative to the hand piece when the hub is secured to the hand piece such that a user can hold the hand piece in one hand and rotate the outer sleeve to selectively place the outer distal cutting window or the distal electrode in an upward orientation relative to the user while continuing to hold the hand piece in the one hand.

Disclosed is a surgical instrument with a handle and elongate shaft assembly extending distally from the handle. The elongate shaft assembly has a longitudinal axis and is able to articulate between a fully flexed configuration and a lesser flexed configuration. The elongated shaft assembly includes a first tubular member having a first flexible portion with a first preferential bending direction. The elongated shaft assembly also includes a second member including a second flexible portion axially fixed to the first tubular member at a position distal from the first flexible portion. The first flexible portion is defined by a plurality of cutouts, each cutout defining a cutout longitudinal axis transverse the shaft longitudinal axis and wherein the plurality of radial cutouts have an asymmetrical shape about the cutout longitudinal axis.

Ablation systems and methods detect and address distortion caused by a variety of factors. A method includes measuring a temperature curve at target tissue; applying ablation energy to the target tissue; determining a peak temperature on the temperature curve; if the peak temperature is greater than the predetermined peak temperature, determining a time at which the temperature curve crosses to a lower temperature; and if the determined time is greater than a predetermined time, generating a message indicating that the target tissue was successfully ablated. Another method includes determining a distance between a remote temperature probe and an ablation probe, applying ablation energy to target tissue, measuring temperature at the remote temperature probe, estimating ablation size based on the determined distance and the temperature measured by the remote temperature probe, and determining whether the target tissue is successfully ablated based on the estimated ablation size.

An electrosurgical instrument has a hollow shaft portion defining a plurality of fluid ports configured for suction and/or irrigation. The electrosurgical instrument also includes a plurality of different electrode tips configured to detachably couple to the shaft portion. Each of the electrode tips have an active electrode and a return electrode to provide bipolar electrosurgical energy therebetween.