An electrode includes separate first and second electrical contacts to contact the skin of a subject. A charge-holding structure is electrically connected between the first and second contacts. An indicator is operatively coupled to the charge-holding structure so that the indicator changes visibly in response to a change in the charge stored in the charge-holding structure. The electrode can include a rectifier across the contacts. A container for electrodes includes an electrical supply and a plurality of receptacles for electrodes so that a voltage difference is maintained across conductors of each receptacle (and contacts of an electrode therein) for at least one week. A method of making electrodes includes arranging the contacts over a support, connecting the charge-holding structure between them, arranging the indicator over the support, and charging the charge-holding structure so that the indicator has a first visual appearance.

A system and method for detecting faults within an electrosurgical instrument having a shield and an active electrode uses multiple possible fault conditions. In one embodiment the monitoring system comprises an electrosurgical generator coupled to the electrosurgical instrument and adapted to deliver power to the active electrode of the electrosurgical instrument, monitoring circuitry coupled to the electrosurgical generator and the electrosurgical instrument.

A system and method for performing a radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedure with a cooled RF probe includes measuring one or more local perfusion characteristics at an ablation site within a patient. The method also includes determining a heat transfer due to local perfusion at the ablation site based on the one or more local perfusion characteristics. Further, the method includes determining an operating threshold for the cooled RF probe based, at least in part, on the heat transfer. Moreover, the method includes controlling the cooled RF probe based on the operating threshold to create a lesion at the ablation site within the patient.

In an example, an electrosurgical generator includes a power converter configured to convert a supply power received from a power source to an output power. The output power is suitable for delivering electrosurgical energy. The electrosurgical generator also includes a current sensor configured to sense a current of the output power and generate a logarithmic and analog representation of the current, and a voltage sensor configured to sense a voltage of the output power and generate a logarithmic and analog representation of the voltage. The electrosurgical generator further includes a controller configured to: (i) receive the logarithmic and analog representation of the current sensed by the current sensor, (ii) receive the logarithmic and analog representation of the voltage sensed by the voltage sensor, and (iii) adjust, based on the logarithmic and analog representation of the current and the voltage, a voltage

A system for monitoring tissue lesion development during a medical ablation process applied to a patient, the system comprising a catheter ablation device having at least one catheter electrode, the device connectable via an electrical feedline to a source of electrical energy and configured to apply ablation energy to ablate tissue in a target region, a plurality of external electrodes for application to the body of the patient, measurement circuitry for determining an electrical characteristic of a current path between the at least one catheter electrode and the external electrodes in the absence of said application of ablation energy, and an electrical controller. The system can be used for monitoring the size of a lesion during a catheter ablation process applied to the tissue of a subject, comprising alternating between an ablation phase involving delivery of ablation energy to a catheter electrode and a measure phase involving measuring an electrical characteristic of a current path passing through a lesion area formed by the ablation, in which the two phases are sequentially repeated until analysis of the measurement results indicate attainment of a desired lesion size.

Described herein are various implementations of systems and methods for accessing and modulating tissue (for example, systems and methods for accessing and ablating nerves or other tissue within or surrounding a vertebral body to treat chronic lower back pain). Assessment of vertebral endplate degeneration or defects (e.g., pre-Modic changes) to facilitate identification of treatment sites and protocols are also provided in several embodiments. Several embodiments comprise the use of biomarkers to confirm or otherwise assess ablation, pain relief, efficacy of treatment, etc. Some embodiments include robotic elements for, as an example, facilitating robotically controlled access, navigation, imaging, and/or treatment.

Described herein are various implementations of systems and methods for accessing and modulating tissue (for example, systems and methods for accessing and ablating nerves or other tissue within or surrounding a vertebral body to treat chronic lower back pain). Assessment of vertebral endplate degeneration or defects (e.g., pre-Modic changes) to facilitate identification of treatment sites and protocols are also provided in several embodiments. Several embodiments comprise the use of biomarkers to confirm or otherwise assess ablation, pain relief, efficacy of treatment, etc. Some embodiments include robotic elements for, as an example, facilitating robotically controlled access, navigation, imaging, and/or treatment.

Apparatus and methods related to an underbody support for supporting a body of a being, such as during surgery to prevent contact pressure injuries. In certain embodiments, the underbody support may include one or more inflatable chambers enclosing a volume. At least one of the inflatable chambers may include one or more compression sensitive switches for monitoring the volume of the inflatable chamber, and the one or more compression sensitive switches may be located within the inflatable chamber. In some embodiments the one or more compression sensitive switches are sized to close when the said inflatable chamber is deflated to a desired residual volume.

Apparatus and methods related to an underbody support for supporting a body of a being, such as during surgery to prevent contact pressure injuries. In certain embodiments, the underbody support may include one or more inflatable chambers enclosing a volume. At least one of the inflatable chambers may include one or more compression sensitive switches for monitoring the volume of the inflatable chamber, and the one or more compression sensitive switches may be located within the inflatable chamber. In some embodiments the one or more compression sensitive switches are sized to close when the said inflatable chamber is deflated to a desired residual volume.

Embodiments described herein provide various examples of mitigating electrical burn risks when using a monopolar electrosurgery tool on a patient in an electrosurgery procedure. In one aspect, a process receives an electrode configuration of the monopolar electrosurgery tool which includes a location of an active electrode of the monopolar electrosurgery tool at a surgical site on the patient's body and a location of a return electrode of the monopolar electrosurgery tool elsewhere on the patient's body. The process further obtains information of a metal implant inside the patient's body. Next, the process computes a plurality of potential current paths between the locations of the active electrode and the return electrode. The process then determines if one or more current paths in the plurality of computed potential current paths flow through the metal implant. If so, the process informs a surgical staff of potential electrical burn injuries associated with the electrode configuration.