A method for identifying and treating a neural pathway associated with chronic pain via nerve stimulation and brain wave monitoring of a mammalian brain includes positioning a probe to stimulate a target nerve, wherein the target nerve is suspected of being a source of chronic pain; delivering a first nerve stimulation from the probe to the target nerve, wherein the first nerve stimulation is sufficient to elicit a chronic pain response in the brain; and monitoring for evoked potential activity in the brain as a result of the first nerve stimulation. The method can also include delivering second and third nerve stimulations to confirm the correct identification of the neural pathway and to treat the chronic pain, respectively. A system and apparatus for performing a procedure to identify and treat a nerve that is the source of chronic pain are also described.

Forceps can include a drive pin, an outer tube, a first jaw, a second jaw, and an inner shaft. The outer tube can extend along a longitudinal axis. The first jaw can be pivotably connected to the outer tube. The first jaw can include a first flange that can be located at a proximal portion of the first jaw. The first flange can include a first chamfered edge configured to limit extension of the first flange laterally beyond an outer surface of the outer tube when the first jaw is in a closed position. The inner shaft can be located within the outer tube and can extend along the longitudinal axis.

An invasive medical device assembly includes an invasive medical device and a hub housing configured to surround a portion of the invasive medical device. The invasive medical device may be a needle or other invasive medical device, and the hub housing may be configured to surround a hub of the invasive medical device. In one aspect, the invasive medical device may include a transducer. The hub housing can include at least one integrated circuit embedded therein that is configured to contact the external surface of the needle to electrically connect the transducer to a power source. The hub housing can be configured to provide an ergonomic handle for a user.

In known electrosurgical handheld devices, a strengthening tube is firmly connected to a working element or a main body. Before the strengthening tube is connected to the main body, a contact body has to be pushed over the strengthening tube. For this purpose, the contact body has a corresponding bore. When the contact body is replaced for maintenance reasons or because of defects, the strengthening tube has to be removed with difficulty from the main body in order to be able to withdraw the contact body from same. The invention makes available an electrosurgical handheld device and a contact body which is able to be manipulated and maintained in a particularly simple and also time-efficient manner. This is achieved by the fact that a contact body for an electrosurgical handheld device has a slit parallel to a continuous bore and also parallel to a longitudinal axis of the handheld device.

A one-piece handle assembly and a method of assembling the one-piece handle assembly. The one-piece handle assembly includes an outer tube connected to a fixed jaw and an inner tube connected to a moveable jaw. The inner tube is installed within the outer tube. The surgical instrument assembly further includes a handle body overmolded onto the outer tube and a handle grip connected to the handle body. The handle grip controls movement of the moveable jaw along an axis about defined through the outer tube. The one-piece handle assembly further includes a knife plunger for controlling activation of a knife rod assembly. The one-piece handle assembly is void of any welds, adhesives, or fasteners to complete the final assembly of the one-piece handle assembly.

A steerable laser probe may include a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end, an auto-fixing actuation control, a housing tube having a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end, a first housing tube portion having a first stiffness, a second housing tube portion having a second stiffness, and an optic fiber disposed within an inner bore of the handle and the housing tube. An actuation of the auto-fixing actuation control may gradually curve the housing tube. A gradual curving of the housing tube may gradually curve the optic fiber.

Ablation systems and methods of the present disclosure include a catheter including one or more image sensors. The one or more image sensors can facilitate, for example, positioning an ablation electrode at a treatment site of an anatomic structure and, additionally or alternatively, can facilitate controlling delivery of therapeutic energy to a treatment site of an anatomic structure.

A device for treating ligamentum flavum by radio frequency includes a hand grip and a cannula fixed at its proximal end to the hand grip extending longitudinally from the hand grip to an opposed distal end of the cannula configured to reach the ligamentum flavum. At least one electrode is electrically connectable to a radio frequency generator. The device also includes an actuating device of the electrode provided in the hand grip for moving the electrode. The actuating device includes a slider along a sliding guide having a first and a second sliding portion placed in succession. The first portion is shaped to allow an axial translation of the slider along the guide to generate a translation of the electrode in the cannula. The second portion is configured to allow rotational translation of the slider along the guide to generate a corresponding rotational translation of the electrode outside the cannula.

An arthroscopic system includes a re-useable, sterilizable handle integrated with a single umbilical cable or conduit. The single umbilical cable or conduit carries electrical power from a power and/or control console to the handle for operating both a motor drive unit within the handle and delivering the RF power to a disposable RF probe or cutter which may be detachably connected to the handle. The RF power delivered to the handle and on to the probe or cutter is typically bi-polar, where the handle includes first and second electrical bi-polar contacts that couple to corresponding bi-polar electrical contacts on a hub of the disposable RF probe or cutter is connected to the handle.

An electrosurgical tool for conveying electrical energy comprising an elongated electrode extending in an axial direction from a proximal electrode end to a distal electrode end. The distal electrode end defining a working end configured for cutting or coagulation of tissue by way of electrical energy received by the electrosurgical tool. At least one layer of an insulation material covering an outer surface of the working end so that a portion of the outer surface of the working end is not covered by the insulation material. When electrical energy is provided to the elongated electrode, current is only conducted through an exposed portion of the outer surface of the working end. At least one layer of the insulation material prevents current from straying from the outer surface of the working end covered with the insulation material.