An electrosurgical electrode for coagulating and cutting tissue includes a main body fabricated from a conductive material, and a conductive blade extending inwardly from an inner surface of the main body. The blade has an edge configured to concentrate RF for cutting tissue.

A colpotomy device includes a shaft assembly having a hollow outer shaft and an inner shaft disposed within, and rotatable and translatable relative to, the outer shaft, a handle assembly operably coupled to a proximal end of the shaft assembly, and configured to selectively rotate the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft, a colpotomy cup assembly including an outer cup and an inner cup disposed within the outer cup, wherein the inner cup is fixedly coupled to a distal end of the inner shaft, and the outer cup is fixedly coupled to a distal end of the outer shaft, and a cutting element coupled to the inner cup, such that the inner shaft the shaft assembly, inner cup, and cutting element rotate together relative to the outer shaft.

Pericardiotomy devices are disclosed. An example pericardiotomy device includes an elongated shaft and an end effector disposed distally on the shaft. The end effector includes a tip portion and a penetrating element. The tip portion includes an opening configured to engage a target portion of a pericardium and is configured, upon application of vacuum to the tip portion, to separate the target portion of the pericardium from an external surface of a heart. The penetrating element is disposed within the tip portion so that, with vacuum applied to the tip portion, the penetrating element is operative to create an opening in the target portion of the pericardium.

Medical devices are disclosed having improved visualization of a portion of the medical device insertable into a patient's body while minimizing obstruction of fluid flow through a lumen of the device and while minimizing an increase in the outer diameter of the device attributable to the feature providing improved visualization. The device can include, for example, an imaging marker distal to lumen openings (exit ports), or, where the device comprises a tube, such as a metallic tube, an imaging marker embedded into a wall of the tube. Another embodiment includes attaching a marker to the surface on the inside of a lumen of a medical device without embedding the marker. Various alternative embodiments, methods and applications of using such devices are disclosed as well.

An effector includes a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end. The effector holds a plug or closure at the distal end of the tubular body; an active electrode at the distal end of the body; an insulator on the body; and one or more return electrodes on the insulator. The body dissipates heat generated by the one or more return electrodes from the distal end of the body to the proximal end of the body.

An electrosurgical pencil includes a housing having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end adapted to connect to an energy source and the distal end adapted to receive an end effector assembly therein, the end effector assembly defining a surface area along a length thereof. An activation switch is operably associated with the housing and is configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to the end effector assembly upon actuation thereof. An air control valve is operatively coupled to the activation switch and is configured to simultaneously deliver a gas from a gas source to the surface area around the end effector upon actuation of the activation switch. One or more vents are defined in the distal end of the housing and are configured to direct the gas towards the surface area of the end effector.

Instruments having a hood that defines and surrounds a flow chamber. The flow chamber can serve for suction of emissions that are produced due to influence of an electrode supplied with high frequency voltage on biological tissue. For elimination of tissue deposition and other clogging from the flow chamber the electrode is surrounded by a movable hood that can be transitioned for cleaning purposes out of its operating position into a cleaning position.

The present invention relates to systems for use for radio frequency ablation. The systems can include one or more of an ablation tool, power source for use with the ablation tool and a backstop for use in conjunction with the ablation tool during surgical procedures. Preferred ablation tools comprise a series of three or more blade-shaped electrodes disposed in a linear, curved, curvilinear or circular array. The backstops are useful for reducing direct physical and thermal heat transfer injuries to the patient or surgeon during procedures using radiofrequency (RF) ablation devices.

An ultrasonic device may include an electromechanical ultrasonic system that includes an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. A method of delivering energy to the ultrasonic device may include sensing a vessel type in contact with the blade, determining that the vessel type is either a vein or an artery, and delivering power to the transducer based on the vessel type. Power may be applied to the transducer at a power level P that differs from a nominal power level Pn for a period T that differs from a nominal period Tn based on the vessel. The power level P may be lower than Pn for a period T that is longer than Tn when the vessel is a vein. Alternatively, the power level P my be greater than Pn for a period T that is shorter than Tn when the vessel is an artery.

Forceps including a housing, a first body, a second body and a drive shaft. The first body has a passageway extending therethrough. The drive shaft extending through the passageway and connected to the first body such that the first body and the drive shaft are slidable with respect to the housing to drive jaws located at a distal portion of the drive shaft between an open position and a closed position. The second body having a second passageway. The drive shaft extending through the second passageway such that the second body is guided by the drive shaft and is slidable relative to the first body and the drive shaft to displace a blade shaft between a retracted position and an extended position.