A medical probe includes a shaft and a basket assembly. The shaft is configured for insertion into a cavity of an organ of a patient. The basket assembly, which is connected at a distal end of the shaft, includes (a) multiple electrically-conductive spines that are electrically-connected to one another so as to form a distributed electrode, and (b) a plurality of spine mounted electrodes, which are disposed along the spines and are configured to (i) sense electrical activity in the cavity, (ii) ablate and (iii) prevent the distributed electrode from indenting tissue in the cavity.

A method for constructing a modular surgical system is disclosed. The method comprises providing a header module comprising a first power backplane segment, providing a surgical module comprising a second power backplane segment, assembling the header module and the surgical module to electrically couple the first power backplane segment and the second power backplane segment to each other to form a power backplane, and applying power to the surgical module through the power backplane.

A system for tissue puncture includes a radiofrequency (RF) generator, an RF puncture device, and at least a first intracorporeal grounding (IG) electrode. RF generator includes an RF output port and a ground return port. The RF puncture device includes an elongate member having a shaft and a tip. The tip includes an intracorporeal RF puncture electrode that is positionable adjacent a target site within a patient’s body, and the shaft includes a first electrical conductor that is electrically connected to the intracorporeal RF puncture electrode and is electrically connectable to the RF output port for delivering RF energy from the RF generator to the intracorporeal RF electrode. The IG electrode is positionable within the patient’s body proximate the target site, and is electrically connectable to the ground return port for returning current to the RF generator.

An electrosurgical dissection apparatus is disclosed, and includes a thermally insulating body, a thermally conductive insert, at least one active electrode, and at least one return electrode. The at least one active electrode is disposed on the thermally conductive insert, and the at least one return electrode is spaced from the at least one active electrode by a portion of the thermally insulating body. The thermally conductive insert is configured to cauterize tissue dissected by radiofrequency energy passing from the at least one active electrode to the at least one return electrode.

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.

An elongate medical device shaft may comprise an elongate body and an annular electrode disposed on the elongate body. The annular electrode may define a longitudinal axis and have an outer diameter. The outer diameter may be greater at an axial center of the electrode than at an axial end of the electrode. Additionally or alternatively, the elongate body may comprise three longitudinal sections having three wall thicknesses. The middle wall thickness may be less than the proximal and distal wall thicknesses and the distal wall thickness may be less than the proximal wall thickness. Additionally or alternatively, the shaft may comprise an inner cylindrical structure and an outer tube. The outer tube may comprise a first radial layer and a second radial layer that is radially-outward of the first radial layer, the first radial layer, second radial layer, and inner structure having different stiffnesses.

An electrosurgical system includes an instrument, an RF energy generator, and two ground pads. The instrument includes an electrode and a conductive shield that is configured to collect a capacitive coupling current that is induced by the application of RF energy to tissue by the electrode. A first electrical lead couples the first ground pad with the ground return of the conductive shield and the generator. The ground return is configured to divert a first portion of the capacitive coupling current to the generator via the first electrical lead. A second electrical lead couples the second ground pad with the ground return of the conductive shield and the generator. The ground return is configured to divert a second portion of the capacitive coupling current to the generator via the second electrical lead. The first and second portions of the capacitive coupling current are substantially equal.

An electrosurgical device may include a controller including an electrical generator, a surgical probe having a distal active electrode in electrical communication with an electrical source terminal of the electrical generator, and a return pad in electrical communication with an electrical return terminal of the electrical generator. The electrical generator may be configured to source an electrical current from the electrical source terminal, in which the electrical current combines characteristics of a therapeutic electrical signal and characteristics of an excitable tissue stimulating signal. The device may be configured to determine a distance from the electrode to an excitable tissue, based at least in part on an output signal generated by a sensing device in the pad. The device may also be configured to alter one or more characteristics of the therapeutic signal when the distance from the electrode to the tissue is less than a predetermined value.

An energy module is disclosed. The energy module includes a control circuit and a two wire interface coupled to the control circuit. The two wire interface is configured as a power source and as a communication interface between the energy module and a neutral electrode.

This invention relates to high-frequency ablation of tissue in the body using a cooled high-frequency electrode connected to a high frequency generator including a computer graphic control system and an automatic controller for control the signal output from the generator, and adapted to display on a real time graphic display a measured parameter related to the ablation process and visually monitor the variation of the parameter of the signal output that is controlled by the controller during the ablation process. In one example, one or more measured parameters are displayed simultaneously to visually interpret the relation of their variation and values. In one example, the displayed one or more parameters can be taken from the list of measured voltage, current, power, impedance, electrode temperature, and tissue temperature related to the ablation process. The graphic display gives the clinician an instantaneous and intuitive feeling for the dynamics and stability of the ablation process for safety and control. This invention relates to monitoring and controlling multiple ground pads to optimally carry return currents during high-frequency tissue ablation, and to prevent of ground-pad skin burns. This invention relates to the use of ultrasound imaging intraoperatively during a tissue ablation procedure. This invention relates to the use of nerve stimulation and blocking during a tissue ablation procedure.