An electrosurgical system includes a supply apparatus and a neutral electrode. A measurement signal is applied or impressed to the neutral electrode and the resulting impedance actual value (Z.sub.ist) of the neutral electrode current circuit can be determined. The measurement signal (US, IS) is applied at different measurement frequencies (ω) and one impedance actual value (Z.sub.ist) for each measurement frequency (ω) is determined. The impedance actual values characterize a frequency-dependent progress of the impedance and can be checked by a predefined frequency-dependent check criterion. It can thereby be recognized whether the conductive connection between the neutral electrode and the patient complies with the specifications defined by the check criterion. Particularly it is checked whether a sufficiently large area portion of the neutral electrode is conductively connected to the patient, so that excessive current densities in the region of the neutral electrode inside the tissue of the patient can be avoided.

A surgical device includes a limited-use component configured to perform a surgical operation, where the limited-use component can be used for a pre-determined number of uses, and a reusable component operationally coupled to the limited-use component. The limited-use component includes a body forming a pocket and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag disposed within the pocket. The reusable component includes an RFID tag transceiver configured to read operating parameters from a memory of the RFID tag of the limited-use component. The operating parameters are erased from the memory when the limited-use component has been used for the pre-determined number of uses.

A microneedling system may reciprocate a plurality of microneedles disposed on a handpiece into the skin of a patient. The microneedles and/or electrode plates may deliver RF energy to the patient for inducing collagen coagulation and regeneration. An interrogative modality such as ultrasound may combined into the microneedling handpiece or used as a separate instrument to interrogate the skin and identify or measure the thicknesses of constituent layers. The data obtained from the interrogative modality may be displayed and can be used to automatically adjust operating parameters of the microneedling device, including the penetration depth of the needles, the pulse duration, and/or the power level of the RF energy to optimize the treatment for the specific patient and/or condition being treated. The microneedling system may recall the skin measurements for distinct sectors of the skin which are expected to have different properties.

Systems, such as an electrosurgical unit, and method for use with an active electrode and a plurality of return electrodes are disclosure. An electrosurgical treatment is provided to tissue via the active electrode at a treatment site and a first return electrode of the plurality of return electrodes at the treatment site. An impedance measurement is received or determined of an impedance in the tissue between the active electrode at the treatment site and a second return electrode of the plurality of return electrodes at a site remote from the treatment site.

An injectate delivery device for expanding tissue is provided. The injectate delivery device comprises: at least one fluid delivery tube comprising a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen therebetween; at least one fluid delivery element in fluid communication with the at least one fluid delivery tube lumen; a radially expanding element comprising the at least one fluid delivery element; a supply of vacuum constructed and arranged to cause tissue to tend toward the at least one fluid delivery element; and at least one control constructed and arranged to perform a function. The at least one control can be constructed and arranged to expand the radially expandable element and activate the supply of vacuum. Systems and method of injectate delivery are also provided.

An electric heating pad for warming a patient. The electric heating pad may be a heated underbody support, heated mattress or heated mattress overlay. An embodiment of the heating pad includes a flexible sheet-like heating element including an upper edge, a lower edge, and at least two side edges. The heating pad may also include a shell covering the heating element and comprising at least two sheets of flexible material (e.g., two sheets may be one sheet folded over to form at least two sheets). The two sheets of flexible material may be coupled together about the edges of the heating element by a weld. The material of the two sheets may include urethane. In some embodiments, a catalyst to accelerate hydrogen peroxide decomposition is coated on or impregnated into an element within the shell, or on the interior surface of the shell.

The present disclosure provides electroporation systems, methods of controlling electroporation systems to limit electroporation arcs through intracardiac catheters, and catheters for electroporation systems. One method of controlling an electroporation system including a direct current (DC) energy source, a return electrode connected to the DC energy source, and a catheter connected to the DC energy source is disclosed. The catheter has a at least one catheter electrode. The method includes positioning the return electrode near a target location within a body and positioning the catheter electrode adjacent the target location within the body. A system impedance is determined with the return electrode positioned near the target location and the catheter electrode positioned within the body. The system impedance is adjusted to a target impedance to limit arcing from the catheter electrode.

Described herein are systems and methods for performing a denervation procedure and determining an efficacy thereof. Such a system can include an excitation source, a controller, and a catheter with element(s) for delivering first ablation therapy from a first longitudinal location along a biological lumen and delivering second ablation therapy from a second longitudinal location longitudinally spaced apart from the first longitudinal location. A sensing subsystem of the system senses neural activity from a third longitudinal location along the biological lumen, to determine the efficacy of at least one of the first or second ablation therapies.

An electrosurgical device comprising: forceps including: (i) a first working arm having a contact surface and (ii) a second working arm having a contact surface; wherein the forceps has a first electrical configuration where the contact surface of the first working arm and the contact surface of the second working arm are substantially opposite each other so that the contact surfaces of the forceps can be used to grip an item between the working arms and so that the forceps is configured to deliver a first therapy current through the first working arm, the second working arm, or both; and wherein the forceps has second electrical configuration where the contact surface of the first working arm and the contact surface of the second working arm are askew relative to each other and an electrode edge is formed on at least one side of the forceps so that a second therapy current extends from the electrode edge.

A self-limiting electrosurgical return electrode for use with electrosurgical procedures is disclosed. The return electrode includes a conductive element and pads disposed on opposing sides of the conductive element. The conductive element, optionally in combination with the pads, is configured to limit the density of electrical current that passes from a patient to the return electrode. The conductive element and the pads can cooperate to define two separate working surfaces on opposing sides of the return electrode. The return electrode can also be safely used with patients of substantially any size and without requiring adjustments to the power settings of an electrosurgical generator.