Unintended current flow or plasma discharge has been observed in known illuminated electrosurgical devices having a metallic tubular heat sink surrounding a conductive electrode and an illumination element, and having a distal outer edge that abuts against the light emitting element. An insulating, shielding or other isolating element that prevents or discourages unintended plasma formation between the distal outer edge and nearby patient tissue can reduce the potential for tissue damage to a patient or injury to a surgeon.

The present invention relates to comprehensive systems and methods for delivering energy to tissue for a wide variety of applications, including medical procedures (e.g., tissue ablation, resection, cautery, vascular thrombosis, treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and dysrhythmias, electrosurgery, tissue harvest, etc.). In certain embodiments, systems and methods are provided for identifying and treating a target tissue region adjusting for ablation-related anatomical changes (e.g., tissue contraction).

A method is disclosed. The method includes delivering staples from a surgical staple cartridge of a surgical instrument to a first tissue during a first procedure; removing the surgical staple cartridge from the surgical instrument; and delivering radio-frequency energy from a radio-frequency cartridge of the surgical instrument to a second tissue during a second procedure.

A thermal system for preserving tissue is disclosed. The cooling system comprises a base member, a temperature control sleeve constructed of a thermally conductive material, and a selectively removable lid member. The base member defines a reservoir and receives the temperature control sleeve. The temperature control sleeve at least partially defines a tissue collector chamber that is configured to receive a tissue collector. The temperature control sleeve is in communication with the reservoir. The reservoir is configured to receive a cooling medium. A slit formed within the tissue collection chamber that is sized to receive a tubing connected to the tissue collector therethrough. The lid member is configured to be selectively attached to the base member, and permit access to a tube mount for the tissue collector when the lid is attached to the base member.

A smart tourniquet includes a casing having a control unit; a contact area arranged to the casing, configured to contact a patient's skin, and connected to the control unit; a cuff arranged to the casing with an inflatable bladder; an adjustable strap arranged to the cuff for securing the cuff and casing to the patient; a pump contained in the casing, connected to the bladder, and controlled by the control unit; a thermoelectric module contained in the casing, controlled by the control unit, and connected to the contact area; and at least one sensor contained in the casing for detecting blood pulse and controlled by the control unit. The control unit is configured to inflate and deflate the bladder in response to blood pulse for changing a pressure around an arm or leg and to heat the contact area for vasodilating a vein under the patient's skin for visual detection.

A system includes an intravascular medical device and a therapeutic medical device. The intravascular medical device includes a heat therapy assembly and an elongated member coupled to the heat therapy assembly. The heat therapy assembly is configured to expand a vessel beyond an initial size of the vessel and deliver energy to a wall of the expanded vessel to heat the wall of the vessel. The therapeutic medical device is communicatively coupled to the heat therapy assembly and configured to control the heat therapy assembly to deliver the energy to ablate smooth muscle cells of the wall of the vessel and substantially denature one or more structural proteins of the wall of the vessel.

A method for determining parameters for operating a light source within a photo-thermal targeted treatment system is disclosed. The method includes cooling a treatment location, administering first laser pulses at the treatment location, the first laser pulses having thermal energy below a known damage threshold, tracking skin surface temperatures at the treatment location while administering the first laser pulses, estimating a relationship between parameters for operating the light source and the skin surface temperature by fitting tracked skin surface temperature to a correlation model, determining a safe operating range for the light source to avoid thermal damage at the treatment location while still effectively targeting the chromophore, administering second laser pulses at the treatment location, the second laser pulses staying within the safe operating range for the light source, and adjusting the light source according to the tracked skin surface temperatures to stay within the safe operating range.

An unattended approach can increase the reproducibility and safety of the treatment as the chance of over/under treating of a certain area is significantly decreased. On the other hand, unattended treatment of uneven or rugged areas can be challenging in terms of maintaining proper distance or contact with the treated tissue, mostly on areas which tend to differ from patient to patient (e.g. facial area). Delivering energy via a system of active elements embedded in a flexible pad adhesively attached to the skin offers a possible solution. The unattended approach may include delivering of multiple energies to enhance a visual appearance.

Methods and surgical tools for treating back pain use a spinal facet debridement tool with cautery and denuding action and minimally invasive protocol that can denude and cauterize soft tissue associated with a synovial capsule of the spinal facet joint.

The present invention relates to comprehensive systems and methods for delivering energy to tissue for a wide variety of applications, including medical procedures (e.g., tissue ablation, resection, cautery, vascular thrombosis, treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and dysrhythmias, electrosurgery, tissue harvest, etc.). In certain embodiments, systems and methods are provided for identifying and treating a target tissue region adjusting for ablation-related anatomical changes (e.g., tissue contraction).