An electrosurgical vessel sealing device that can seal biological vessels using a confined microwave field that yields a well-defined seal location with low thermal margin. The device comprises a pair of jaws that are movable relative to each other to grip biological tissue. A blade for cutting the gripped tissue is slidable between the jaws. A coplanar microstrip antenna is mounted on the inner surface of one or both of the pair of jaws to emit microwave energy into the gap therebetween. The device may comprise a separate dissector element to enable fine tissue cutting and dissection to be performed.

An articulable wrist for an end effector includes a distal linkage provided at a distal end of the articulable wrist, a proximal linkage provided at a proximal end of the articulable wrist, and a central channel cooperatively defined by the distal and proximal linkages and extending between the distal and proximal ends. A flexible member is arranged within the central channel and has a first end operatively coupled to the distal linkage and a second end axially movable relative to the proximal linkage. One or more conduits are defined in the flexible member to receive one or more central actuation members extending through the flexible member.

An electrode assembly for an electrosurgical instrument includes a housing configured to operably receive a distal end of an instrument shaft, the housing including a pair of opposing spring clips. An active electrode is included having a proximal end configured to engage the distal end of the shaft and includes a cutting edge defined about a periphery thereof. An insulator is included that encapsulates the active electrode while leaving the cutting edge exposed. A pair of return electrodes is included that is each configured to operably engage an exposed side of the insulator, each return electrode including a recess defined therein configured to removably receive a distal end of each respective spring clip such that, upon selective engagement of the active electrode with the distal end of the shaft, each spring clip removably snaps into each respective recess to removably lock the active and return electrodes to the housing.

A bipolar electrosurgical devices and methods of use for coagulation and ablation of tissue in a fluid-immersed working space is disclosed. The bipolar electrosurgical device can comprise a handle and an elongated shaft coupled to the handle. The bipolar electrosurgical device can further comprise a bipolar electrode arrangement and a return electrode. The bipolar electrode arrangement and the return electrode can be electrically insulated from one another. The bipolar electrosurgical device can further comprise an adjusting member carried by the elongated shaft. Movement of the adjusting member from a first position toward a second position can contemporaneously increase an effective surface area of the active electrode and decrease an effective surface area of the return electrode.

A medical device including an elongate body having a proximal portion and a distal portion. A plurality of active electrodes is coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body and being configured to electrically couple to a source of pulsed electric field energy. At least one passive electrode is coupled to the elongate body and is not configured to electrically couple to the source of pulsed electric field energy, the at least one passive electrode being configured to passively extend or focus an electric field generated by the plurality of active electrodes.

A method of treating a patient with a bioelectrical system is provided. The method may include inserting a probe into a first position in an anatomy of the patient, the system being provided with a plurality of electrodes; energizing a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes with a measurement level of power; determining a complex impedance in the patient's anatomy; determining whether the first position is a desired position of the probe for ablating a predetermined portion of tissue of the patient, based on the complex impedance determined; and energizing one of the plurality of electrodes with an ablation level of power, the ablation level of power being greater than the measurement level of power. An apparatus for performing BIA on a patient is also provided.

System and methods for channeling a path into bone include a trocar having a proximal end, distal end and a central channel disposed along a central axis of the trocar. The trocar includes a distal opening at or near the distal end of the trocar. The system includes a curved cannula sized to be received in the central channel, and having a curved distal end configured to be extended laterally outward from the distal opening in a curved path extending away from the trocar. The curved cannula has a central passageway having a diameter configured allow a probe to be delivered through the central passageway to a location beyond the curved path.

A method of treating a patient with a bioelectrical system is provided. The method may include inserting a probe into a first position in an anatomy of the patient, the system being provided with a plurality of electrodes; energizing a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes with a measurement level of power; determining a complex impedance in the patient's anatomy; determining whether the first position is a desired position of the probe for ablating a predetermined portion of tissue of the patient, based on the complex impedance determined; and energizing one of the plurality of electrodes with an ablation level of power, the ablation level of power being greater than the measurement level of power. An apparatus for performing BIA on a patient is also provided.

An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The electrosurgical instrument includes a handle having a shaft that extends therefrom, an end effector disposed at a distal end of the shaft, at least one electrode operably coupled to the end effector and adapted to couple to a source of electrosurgical energy, a titanium nitride coating covering at least a portion of the electrode, a chromium nitride coating covering at least a portion of the electrode and/or titanium nitride coating, and a hexamethyldisiloxane plasma coating covering at least a portion of the chromium nitride coating.

An ablation needle apparatus (10) for delivering ablation energy (20) to a subject (40) comprising a hypotube with a proximal and distal end and having a hollow lumen, including a puncture member and a first electrode disposed at the distal end of the hypotube; a second electrode disposed within the hollow lumen; and a first ring member disposed about the second electrode and slidably holding the second electrode apart from the first electrode; wherein the first ring member comprises a semipermeable structure that allows for the passage of a gas and resists the passage of a liquid from the distal end to the proximal end of the hypotube.