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 intravascular catheter for nerve activity ablation and/or sensing includes one or more needles advanced through supported guide tubes (needle guiding elements) which expand to contact the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the needles to be advanced though the vessel wall into the extra-luminal tissue including the media, adventitia and periadvential space. The catheter also includes structures which provide radial and lateral support to the guide tubes so that the guide tubes open uniformly and maintain their position against the interior surface of the vessel wall as the sharpened needles are advanced to penetrate into the vessel wall. Electrodes near the distal ends of the needles allow sensing of nerve activity before and after attempted renal denervation. In a combination embodiment ablative energy or fluid is delivered from the needles in or near the adventitia to ablate nerves outside of the media while sparing nerves within the media.

A coaxially-driven tissue aspiration instrument having a hand-supportable housing with a stationary tubing connector provided at the rear of the housing and receiving a length of flexible tubing connected to a vacuum source. A twin cannula assembly is coupled to a an electromagnetic cannula drive mechanism disposed within a guide tube structure mounted in the hand-supportable housing and powered by electrical power signals so as to periodically exert forces on the a front-loaded cannula base device slidably supported within the guide tube structure, and to which the inner cannula is releasably connected. The coaxially exerted forces cause the front-loaded cannula base device, and thus inner cannula, to reciprocate within the guide tube structure, while tissue is being aspirated along the inner cannula lumen, through the reciprocating front-loaded cannula base device, and through the stationary tubing connector, and along the flexible tubing towards the vacuum source.

Example apparatuses and systems are disclosed for providing controlled delivery of electrolysis products to a site which may be used for treatment of infection and ablation of undesirable cells and tissue. A system disclosed may include a power supply, two electrodes, an aqueous matrix that may close the electric circuit between the electrodes at the treated site, and a controller. The controller may control the electrical circuit to induce a direct current through the electrodes and an aqueous matrix to produce electrolysis products. The duration and magnitude of the charge applied may determine the dose of the products applied to the treatment site. The composition of the electrodes and the aqueous matrix may be chosen to produce desired products. An apparatus is disclosed that may be in the form of a pad for applying to a wound. An apparatus is disclosed that may be used for treating internal tissue.

A laceration device for use in medical procedures includes a shaft having a proximal portion defining a proximal end, and an opposed distal portion defining a distal end. A perforation electrode is at the distal end, and a first electrical connector extends proximally from the perforation electrode for connection to a power source. An outwardly extending barb is positioned proximal of the distal end. The barb has an inner end proximate the shaft and an outer end opposite the inner end. A laceration electrode is proximal of and adjacent the inner end of the barb, and a second electrical connector extends proximally from the laceration electrode for connection to the power source.

An apparatus is disclosed for an optimized transseptal procedure that reduces the number of devices that are used in order to minimize procedural time, complexity and cost. The apparatus comprises a hybrid dilator that comprises the combined functionality of a transseptal sheath and dilator assembly. The hybrid dilator comprises: a dilator shaft defining a lumen for receiving a crossing device therethrough, a distal tip having an outer diameter which tapers down to an outer diameter of the crossing device for providing a smooth transition and a hub coupled with a side arm coupled to the dilator shaft.

An elongated medical needle includes an electrically-insulated elongated body having an outer surface extending between an electrically-insulated distal section and an electrically-insulated proximal section. An insulated electrically-conductive wire is aligned proximately along the outer surface between the electrically-insulated distal section and the electrically-insulated proximal section. An exposed electrically-conductive portion is mounted at the electrically-insulated distal section. The exposed electrically-conductive portion is electrically connected to the insulated electrically-conductive wire.

Methods, apparatuses and systems for ablation therapy. A configurable ablation probe includes at least two electrodes, the surface areas of which can be manipulated and then fixed by the user. Some methods include adjusting the relative surface areas during a sequence of ablation steps to preferentially create lesions closer to one electrode or the other. Some methods include adjusting the position of one of the electrodes during therapy delivery to create elongated lesions.

The present invention relates to systems and devices for delivering energy to tissue for a wide variety of applications, including medical procedures (e.g., tissue ablation, resection, cautery, vascular thrombosis, treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and dysrhythmias, electrosurgery, tissue harvest, etc.). In particular, the present invention relates to systems and devices for the delivery of energy with a linear array of antenna components having optimized energy delivery characteristics. In certain embodiments, methods are provided for treating a tissue region (e.g., a tumor) through application of energy with the systems and devices of the present invention.

Systems, devices, and methods for endoscopically retracting a target tissue. The device includes a first shaft and a second shaft slidably coupled thereto. An internal member extends in a transverse direction from the first shaft and is configured for advancement through a penetration in the target tissue to atraumatically engage a distal surface of the target tissue after being advanced therethrough. A pair of external members extend from the second shaft generally parallel to the transverse direction. The external members are spaced apart and are configured to atraumatically engage a proximal surface of the target tissue when the internal member is moved longitudinally relative to the external members. The internal member applies traction to the target tissue when retracted past the pair of external members, which apply counter-traction to the target tissue on opposing lateral sides of the internal member, to re-shape the target tissue and enable subsequent suture placement.