A cooled radiofrequency ablation system including a probe assembly having a proximal region, a distal tip region, and a shaft is provided. First and second internal cooling fluid tubes extend from the proximal region and are positioned inside a cavity defined by the shaft. The distal tip region includes a conductive portion for delivering energy to a target location within tissue. The system also includes a radiofrequency generator for delivering energy to the target location and a cooling fluid reservoir and a bidirectional pump assembly for circulating a cooling fluid from the reservoir through the first internal cooling fluid tube then the second internal cooling fluid tube when the pump operates in a first direction or through the second internal cooling fluid tube then the first internal cooling fluid tube when the pump operates in a second direction to form lesions of different sizes at the target location.

Methods and systems are disclosed for tattoo removal from a subject by exposing tattoo ink particles trapped within the dermis to electrical energy while activating a kinetic applicator that causes an active tip of an electrode applying the electrical energy to move within the dermis, whereby the tattoo will be degraded by the combined application of energy and tip movement. The tattoo removal method and system can be used to remove the tattoo from the skin of the subject being treated. In addition, the method and system described allows for the extraction of the tattoo ink particles, which may have toxic properties, from the subject's body.

A system for ablating surface tissue of a patient is provided. The system includes a console and an ablation catheter fluidly attached to the console. The console includes an ablative fluid supply, a neutralizing fluid supply, an injectate fluid supply, a pump assembly, and a vacuum supply. The ablation catheter includes an expandable functional assembly, a tissue expansion subsystem for expanding sub-surface tissue in the intestine of the patient, and a tissue ablation subsystem for ablating surface tissue in the intestine of the patient. Methods of ablating surface tissue are also provided.

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for positioning electrodes within a body. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for slidably moving multiple features relative to a sheath inserted into a body and positioned relative to a reference point includes a primary actuator configured to move a primary electrode, a secondary actuator configured to move a secondary electrode, and a control mechanism. The control mechanism is configured to selectively prevent movement of at least one of the primary actuator based on a position of the secondary actuator and of the secondary actuator based on a position of the primary actuator and lock positions of the primary actuator and the secondary actuator.

An electrosurgical medical device may include an elongate needle that is delivered to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient and inserted through the gastrointestinal wall and into a cyst. Fluid within the cyst may be aspirated through a lumen of the needle. The cyst may then be filled with conductive fluid by delivering the conductive fluid through the needle lumen. Radio frequency energy may then be delivered to the needle and transferred to the cyst to ablate the cyst. A handle assembly of the electrosurgical medical device may communicate the cyst and conductive fluids to and from the needle lumen, as well as communicate radio frequency energy to the needle and a temperature signal generated by a thermocouple. An electrical cable assembly adapted to communicate both the radio frequency energy and the temperature signal may be removably connectable with the handle assembly.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing forward fluid delivery through an electrosurgical device, while avoiding coring when energy is delivered to the electrosurgical device. The device has a distal face defining an opening, with the distal face including at least one cutting portion and at least one non-cutting portion. An embodiment of the electrosurgical device for puncturing tissue includes an elongate member defining a lumen for fluid; a distal portion including an electrode and the distal face which defines at least one aperture. The portion of the at least one cutting portion defines a leading portion partially surrounding a circumference of the at least one aperture wherein the outer diameter of the at least one of the distal portion of the electrosurgical device or the electrode decreases towards a distal tip of the electrosurgical device.

According to one aspect, an instrument may include a sheath having a distal end. The instrument also may include a fluid cannula at the distal end of the sheath. The instrument also may include a cutting electrode at the distal end of the sheath. At least one of: (i) an exterior surface of the fluid cannula, and (ii) a cutting electrode surface that faces the exterior surface, is longitudinally slidable along the other of the exterior surface and the cutting electrode surface during movement of at least one of the cutting electrode and the fluid cannula relative to the other of the cutting electrode and the fluid cannula.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing forward fluid delivery through an electrosurgical device, while avoiding coring when energy is delivered to the electrosurgical device. The device has a distal face defining an opening, with the distal face including at least one cutting portion and at least one non-cutting portion. An embodiment of the electrosurgical device for puncturing tissue includes an elongate member defining a lumen for fluid; a distal portion including an electrode and the distal face which defines at least one aperture. The portion of the at least one cutting portion defines a leading portion partially surrounding a circumference of the at least one aperture wherein the outer diameter of the at least one of the distal portion of the electrosurgical device or the electrode decreases towards a distal tip of the electrosurgical device.

A needle electrode deployment shaft includes a central member and a plurality of needle electrodes. The central member has a plurality of needle advancement channels formed therein. The needle electrodes are disposed within the advancement channels and each advancement channel terminates in a ramp portion which deflects the needles radially outwardly as they are axially advanced. The ramps may be spirally or acutely configured in order to increase the distance through which the needles may be bent as they are axially advanced. Additionally, the central member may have a radially reduced distal tip in order to decrease tissue insertion forces.

A device for treating tissue includes a catheter including an elongated body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and including a lumen extending therethrough, a distal tip connected to the distal end of the elongated body and including a first electrode and a second electrode extending thereabout, the first electrode extending to a distal opening of the lumen and a first needle extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end, the first needle slidably received within the lumen of the catheter to be moved between a retracted bipolar configuration, in which the distal end of the needle is proximal the distal opening of the catheter, and an extended monopolar configuration, in which the distal end of the first needle extends distally past the distal opening of the catheter so that the first needle contacts the first electrode and is configured to cut tissue.