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.

An arthroscopic cutting probe includes an outer sleeve having a longitudinal bore and an outer cutting window at its distal end. An inner sleeve is rotationally disposed in a bore of the outer sleeve, and the inner sleeve has a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal passageway, and an inner cutting window at its distal. An active electrode sleeve is disposed on an outer surface of the inner sleeve in a position opposed to the inner cutting window. Rotation of the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve causes the inner cutting window to rotate past the outer cutting window to resect tissue received through the cutting windows as they pass each other. Radiofrequency current can be applied to the active electrode to enhance tissue cutting then the cutting windows are being rotated or to able or cauterize tissue when the cutting windows are held stationary with the active electrode disposed through the outer cutting window.

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to various robotic and/or in vivo medical devices having compact joint configurations. Other embodiments relate to various medical device components, including forearms having grasper or cautery end effectors, that can be incorporated into certain robotic and/or in vivo medical devices.

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.

A treatment assembly includes: a probe which includes a treatment section at a distal end portion thereof; an inner tube which includes a distal end and into which the probe is inserted in a state that the treatment section of the probe protrudes toward a distal end side with respect to the distal end; an opening which is provided in a side surface of the inner tube and which allows an inner side of the inner tube to communicate with an outer side of the inner tube; a support section which is arranged on the inner side of the inner tube from the outer side of the inner tube through the opening and which is configured to support the probe with respect to the inner tube; and an outer tube which covers the outer side of the inner tube and which is configured to fix the support section.

A flexible endoscope insertion method includes: rotating a hollow organ by changing the body position to semilateral position or lateral position for observing the lateral wall of the lumen; turning the tip of the flexible endoscope to the lateral wall of the lumen by rotating the endoscope in the counter direction of the lumen; and retracting the organ with the endoscope itself by rotating the endoscope in the counter direction of the lumen. In other embodiments, the method includes: rotating a body cavity by changing the body position to the appropriate position for observing the lateral side of the organ; turning the tip of the flexible endoscope to the lateral side of the organ by rotating the endoscope in the direction of the lateral side of the organ; and retracting the organ with the endoscope itself by rotating the endoscope in the direction of the lateral side of the organ.

An arthroscopic or other surgical system includes a handpiece and a probe. The handpiece carries a motor drive, and the probe has a proximal hub and an elongate shaft which extends about a longitudinal axis to a working end of the probe. The hub is configured for detachably coupling to the handpiece, and the motor drive is configured to couple to a rotating drive coupling in the hub when the hub is coupled to the handpiece. A first magnetic component is carried by the hub, and a second magnetic component is coupled to rotate with the rotating drive coupling.

An arthroscopic or other surgical system includes a handpiece and a probe. The handpiece carries a motor drive, and the probe has a proximal hub and an elongate shaft which extends about a longitudinal axis to a working end of the probe. The hub is configured for detachably coupling to the handpiece, and the motor drive is configured to couple to a rotating drive coupling in the hub when the hub is coupled to the handpiece. A first magnetic component is carried by the hub, and a second magnetic component is coupled to rotate with the rotating drive coupling.

A colpotomy system includes an energy source and a uterine manipulator that is electrically coupled to the energy source. The uterine manipulator supports a colpotomy cup and extends to a conductive distal tip portion. The colpotomy cup includes a conductive surface. One or both of the conductive distal tip portion and the conductive surface of the colpotomy cup are configured to return monopolar energy to the energy source.

A surgical device is disclosed that comprises a sleeve member, a shaft member and a pair of electrodes. The shaft member extends distally of the sleeve member and has a pair of electrode channels that open at the distal end of the shaft member, wherein the electrode channels are positioned adjacent to one another. The pair of electrodes are configured to deliver energy, and one of the pair of electrodes are configured to be disposed in each electrode channel such that distal ends of each of the electrodes are arranged to protrude from the distal end of the shaft member. An irrigation annulus is formed about the electrodes. The shaft member further includes at least one lumen opening at the distal end of the shaft member.