An arthroscopic cutting probe includes an elongated shaft assembly having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween. A working end at the distal end of the elongated shaft assembly includes a first active electrode and a second active electrode The shaft assembly is rotates the first electrode relative to the second electrode about the longitudinal axis, and a return electrode is carried on the shaft assembly proximal of the working end. The first and second active electrodes are electrically coupled to each other and electrically isolated from the return electrode.

An endoscope system having: an endoscope having: an endoscope insertion section configured to be inserted into a subject, wherein the endoscope insertion section defines a channel having a distal opening; and a power transmission electrode arranged to the endoscope insertion section and electrically connected to a power source configured to output a high-frequency power; and a treatment tool having: an electrically powered treatment device; a treatment tool insertion section attached to the electrically powered treatment device, wherein the treatment tool insertion section is configured to be arranged in the channel of the endoscope; and a power reception electrode arranged to the treatment tool insertion section, wherein the power reception electrode is separated from the power transmission electrode to form a capacitor to transfer power from the power source through an electric field between the power transmission electrode and the power reception electrode to power the electrically powered treatment device.

An electrosurgical generator which outputs high-frequency AC voltage for an electrosurgical instrument includes a leakage current detecting device for the connected electrosurgical instrument. The leakage current detecting device is embodied as a voltage measuring device, the inputs of which are connected in each case via a capacitive coupling to an active and a neutral line of the output line and which has a bipolar voltage divider having a predetermined fixed ratio. An asymmetry detector connected via a capacitive coupling compares upper and lower voltage at the voltage divider, and outputs a fault signal for leakage current in the case of deviation of the ratio of upper to lower voltage from the predetermined fixed ratio.

An electrosurgical generator which outputs high-frequency AC voltage for an electrosurgical instrument includes a leakage current detecting device for the connected electrosurgical instrument. The leakage current detecting device is embodied as a voltage measuring device, the inputs of which are connected in each case via a capacitive coupling to an active and a neutral line of the output line and which has a bipolar voltage divider having a predetermined fixed ratio. An asymmetry detector connected via a capacitive coupling compares upper and lower voltage at the voltage divider, and outputs a fault signal for leakage current in the case of deviation of the ratio of upper to lower voltage from the predetermined fixed ratio.

An access and radio-frequency (RF) ablation system and method for use thereof is provided. The access and RF ablation system can include an RF ablation probe, a stylet, a cannula, a needle, and a drill. The method of using the access and radio-frequency ablation system can include inserting portions of a combined stylet into a patient's body to create a pathway therethrough and position a distal end of the stylet and a distal end of the cannula adjacent hard and/or soft tissues requiring ablation or tissues adjacent thereto; pushing portions of the needle into, through, and out of an interior cavity of the cannula to position a curved distal end of the needle adjacent the distal end of the cannula in the pathway; lengthening the pathway in an angled and curved direction relative to a mid-longitudinal axis of the cannula by pushing the curved distal end portion of the needle further into the hard and/or soft tissues requiring ablation or the tissues adjacent thereto; guiding a drill using the needle to enlarge and/or further lengthen the pathway in the hard and/or soft tissues requiring ablation or the tissues adjacent thereto in an angled and curved direction relative to the mid-longitudinal axis of the cannula; pushing portions of the RF ablation probe into, through, and out of the cannula and into and through the pathway to position a distal end portion of the RF ablation probe adjacent the hard and/or soft tissues requiring ablation; and activating the RF ablation probe to ablate all or portions of the hard and/or soft tissues requiring ablation.

An access and radio-frequency (RF) ablation system and method for use thereof is provided. The access and RF ablation system can include an RF ablation probe, a stylet, a cannula, a needle, and a drill. The method of using the access and radio-frequency ablation system can include inserting portions of a combined stylet into a patient's body to create a pathway therethrough and position a distal end of the stylet and a distal end of the cannula adjacent hard and/or soft tissues requiring ablation or tissues adjacent thereto; pushing portions of the needle into, through, and out of an interior cavity of the cannula to position a curved distal end of the needle adjacent the distal end of the cannula in the pathway; lengthening the pathway in an angled and curved direction relative to a mid-longitudinal axis of the cannula by pushing the curved distal end portion of the needle further into the hard and/or soft tissues requiring ablation or the tissues adjacent thereto; guiding a drill using the needle to enlarge and/or further lengthen the pathway in the hard and/or soft tissues requiring ablation or the tissues adjacent thereto in an angled and curved direction relative to the mid-longitudinal axis of the cannula; pushing portions of the RF ablation probe into, through, and out of the cannula and into and through the pathway to position a distal end portion of the RF ablation probe adjacent the hard and/or soft tissues requiring ablation; and activating the RF ablation probe to ablate all or portions of the hard and/or soft tissues requiring ablation.

A method for constructing a modular surgical system is disclosed. The method comprises providing a header module comprising a first power backplane segment, providing a surgical module comprising a second power backplane segment, assembling the header module and the surgical module to electrically couple the first power backplane segment and the second power backplane segment to each other to form a power backplane, and applying power to the surgical module through the power backplane.

A method for constructing a modular surgical system is disclosed. The method comprises providing a header module comprising a first power backplane segment, providing a surgical module comprising a second power backplane segment, assembling the header module and the surgical module to electrically couple the first power backplane segment and the second power backplane segment to each other to form a power backplane, and applying power to the surgical module through the power backplane.

Systems and methods for monitoring and performing tissue modulation are disclosed. An example system may include an elongate shaft having a distal end region and a proximal end and having at least one modulation element and one sensing electrode disposed adjacent to the distal end region. The sensing electrode may be used to determine and monitor changes in tissue adjacent to the modulation element.

Systems and methods for monitoring and performing tissue modulation are disclosed. An example system may include an elongate shaft having a distal end region and a proximal end and having at least one modulation element and one sensing electrode disposed adjacent to the distal end region. The sensing electrode may be used to determine and monitor changes in tissue adjacent to the modulation element.