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 at the distal ends of the guide tubes allow sensing of nerve activity before and after attempted renal denervation. In a combination embodiment ablative energy or fluid is delivered to ablate nerves outside of the media.

A method of and apparatus for treating tissue wherein a handpiece with a cartridge of motor driven needles is placed in contact with tissue. The motor is energized to drive the needles. Energy is applied energy to the needles. Tissue impedance at the start of treatment is measured. Tissue impedance at the end of treatment is measured. The operator is then notified that corrective action is needed if the measured ending impedance is higher than the measured starting impedance indicating the needles are not inserted into the tissue.

A system for controlling ablation treatment and visualization is disclosed where the system comprises a tissue ablation instrument having one or more deployable stylets and a first electromagnetic sensor and an ultrasound imaging instrument which may be configured to generate an ultrasound imaging plane and further having a second electromagnetic sensor. An electromagnetic field generator may also be included which is configured for placement in proximity to a patient body and which is further configured to generate an output indicative of a position the first and second electromagnetic sensors relative to one another. Also included is a console in communication with the ablation instrument, ultrasound imaging instrument, and electromagnetic field generator, wherein the console is configured to generate a representative image of the tissue ablation instrument oriented relative to the ultrasound imaging plane and an ablation border or cage based upon a deployment position of the one or more stylets.

Described herein are methods and systems for using the treatment tip apparatuses and high-voltage connectors with robotic surgical systems. For example, retractable treatment tip apparatuses (e.g., devices, systems, etc.) including one, or more preferably a plurality, of electrodes that are protected by a housing (which may be retractable) until pressed against the tissue for deployment of the electrodes and delivery of a therapeutic treatment, are disclosed. In particular, these apparatuses may include a plurality of treatment needle electrodes and may be configured for the delivery of nanosecond pulsed electric fields. Also described herein are high-voltage connectors configured to provide high-voltage energy, such as nsPEF pulses, from a generator to the retractable treatment tip apparatuses.

The present invention relates to the field of biomedical engineering and medical treatment of diseases and disorders. Methods, devices, and systems for in vivo treatment of cell proliferative disorders are provided. In embodiments, the methods comprise the delivery of high-frequency bursts of bipolar pulses to achieve the desired modality of cell death. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to a device and method for destroying aberrant cells, including tumor tissues, using high-frequency, bipolar electrical pulses having a burst width on the order of microseconds and duration of single polarity on the microsecond to nanosecond scale. In embodiments, the methods rely on conventional electroporation with adjuvant drugs or irreversible electroporation to cause cell death in treated tumors. The invention can be used to treat solid tumors, such as brain tumors.

A system and method are presented for treating targeted tissue using cryoablation. An introducer canula and a cryoprobe are inserted the targeted tissue. The cryoprobe is cooled and an ice ball is formed. The cryoprobe is removed while the ice ball is still frozen, and an ultrasound catheter is inserted. Ultrasound generated within the ice ball is used to determine the distance from the ultrasound catheter to a perimeter of the ice ball. This is repeated at different angles to model a slice of the ice ball. The ultrasound catheter is moved radially, and the process is repeated to create a model of at least a portion of the ice ball. The ice ball model can be displayed on a registered set of images representing the targeted tissue to ensure that the tissue lies within the treatment zone of the ice ball.

To distribute electrical treatment to a treatment area of a patient, described herein are electrical therapy devices, methods of their operation and methods for delivery of the electrical therapy to the patient. In some embodiments, the electrical therapy device comprises an electrode assembly that includes at least two electrodes, and a conductive spacer positioned between the electrodes. Methods of selection of the electrical therapy devices and methods of their operation are also provided.

Some implementations include a coaxial bipolar ablation instrument comprising an outer needle and an inner needle inserted into the outer needle. The instrument can also include a first insulating layer disposed between the inner needle and the outer needle, and a second insulating layer disposed over a portion of the outer needle. The instrument can further include a first exposed region of the instrument disposed near a proximate end of the instrument, the first exposed region including a first exposed portion of the inner needle and a first exposed portion of the outer needle, the first exposed region constructed to provide contact to a connector, and a second exposed region of the instrument disposed near a distal end of the instrument, the second exposed region forming the active region of the instrument and including a second exposed portion of the inner needle and a second exposed portion of the outer needle.

The present invention relates to systems for use for radio frequency ablation. The systems can include one or more of an ablation tool, power source for use with the ablation tool and a backstop for use in conjunction with the ablation tool during surgical procedures. Preferred ablation tools comprise a series of three or more blade-shaped electrodes disposed in a linear, curved, curvilinear or circular array. The backstops are useful for reducing direct physical and thermal heat transfer injuries to the patient or surgeon during procedures using radiofrequency (RF) ablation devices.

Disclosed herein are transdermal microneedling devices that generate and emit low RF energy. Such a microneedling device may comprise a drive motor, drive circuitry for controlling the drive motor, and a drive linkage located on the drive motor rotor. The microneedling device may also comprise a power source capsule comprising a battery and associated power management circuitry. Also included may be a needle cartridge coupled to the main body, and comprising a drive shaft and a needle unit coupled to a distal end of the drive shaft to move therewith, where the needle unit has at least one needle extending therefrom. The drive shaft may comprise a linkage member configured to engage the drive linkage of the drive motor, and be configured to be driven by the drive motor and thereby drive movement of the needle unit such that the at least one needle extends beyond and retracts within the distal end of the needle cartridge. The microneedling device may also include RF energy circuitry powered by the power source and configured to generate RF energy, as well as transfer circuitry configured to transfer the generated RF energy from the RF energy circuitry to the at least one needle.