A robotic system includes an electrosurgical instrument having an instrument housing with a shaft and first and second jaw members attached thereto movable to grasp tissue. An input is coupled to a jaw drive rod and is configured to move the jaw members. A strain gauge is coupled to the jaw drive rod and is configured to measure an amount of strain thereon and communicate the amount of strain to a robotic controller. A handle is remotely disposed relative to the instrument housing and is configured to communicate with the input for controlling the jaw members. The handle includes a housing having components therein and a lever operably associated therewith such that movement of the lever relative to the housing correlates to movement of the jaw members. The components are configured to operably regulate the resistance of the lever in response to the amount of strain from the strain gauge.

A surgical instrument is disclosed, which is configured to be releasably connectable to a hand-piece. The surgical instrument includes electrical contacts configured to be electrically connected to the hand-piece. The surgical instrument further includes a sealing member having sealing elements. At least one sealing element of the plurality of sealing elements is formed of an elastomeric material and is configured to form a seal around one the electrical contacts when the surgical instrument is connected to the hand-piece, such that the electrical contact is electrically isolated from other electrical contacts on the surgical instrument. At least one sealing element is configured such that a force required to connect the surgical instrument to the hand-piece is not reliant on a bulk compression of the elastomeric material.

A surgical instrument is disclosed, which is configured to be releasably connectable to a hand-piece. The surgical instrument includes electrical contacts configured to be electrically connected to the hand-piece. The surgical instrument further includes a sealing member having sealing elements. At least one sealing element of the plurality of sealing elements is formed of an elastomeric material and is configured to form a seal around one the electrical contacts when the surgical instrument is connected to the hand-piece, such that the electrical contact is electrically isolated from other electrical contacts on the surgical instrument. At least one sealing element is configured such that a force required to connect the surgical instrument to the hand-piece is not reliant on a bulk compression of the elastomeric material.

A vapor delivery system is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the vapor delivery system is that it can apply condensable vapor energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, or denature the prostate. In some embodiments, the vapor delivery system can include safety features including prostate capsule detection, needle tracking, and treatment tracking. Methods for safe and effective treatment of prostate tissues are presented.

Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a surgical instrument for cutting and sealing tissue. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, a shaft, and an end effector. The end effector may include: a blade that vibrates at an ultrasonic frequency, a shielded portion enclosing a back edge of the blade, a high-friction surface coupled to the shielded portion and positioned between the shielded portion and the back edge of the blade. A space is defined between the high-friction surface and the back edge of the blade when the end effector is in a cutting configuration. In a sealing configuration, the high-friction surface contacts the back edge of the blade, which generates heat based on ultrasonic vibrations of the blade rubbing against the high-friction surface. The shielded portion can coagulate bleeding tissue based on heat transfer from the high-friction surface to the shielded portion.

Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a surgical instrument for cutting and sealing tissue. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, a shaft, and an end effector. The end effector may include: a blade that vibrates at an ultrasonic frequency, a shielded portion enclosing a back edge of the blade, a high-friction surface coupled to the shielded portion and positioned between the shielded portion and the back edge of the blade. A space is defined between the high-friction surface and the back edge of the blade when the end effector is in a cutting configuration. In a sealing configuration, the high-friction surface contacts the back edge of the blade, which generates heat based on ultrasonic vibrations of the blade rubbing against the high-friction surface. The shielded portion can coagulate bleeding tissue based on heat transfer from the high-friction surface to the shielded portion.

Disclosed is a method for treating actinic keratosis of tissue of a patient, the method including contacting non-thermal, atmospheric pressure plasma over areas of the tissue having actinic keratosis for a time and at treatment conditions effective to give rise to an at least partial amelioration of the keratosis.

Ablation catheters and systems include coaxial catheter shafts with an inner lumen for delivering an ablative agent and an outer lumen for circulation of a cooling element about the catheter. Induction heating is used to heat a chamber and vaporize a fluid within by wrapping a coil about a ferromagnetic chamber and providing an alternating current to the coil. A magnetic field is created in the area surrounding the chamber which induces electric current flow in the chamber, heating the chamber and vaporizing the fluid inside. Positioning elements help maintain the device in the proper position with respect to the target tissue and also prevent the passage of ablative agent to normal tissues.

Ablation catheters and systems include coaxial catheter shafts with an inner lumen for delivering an ablative agent and an outer lumen for circulation of a cooling element about the catheter. Induction heating is used to heat a chamber and vaporize a fluid within by wrapping a coil about a ferromagnetic chamber and providing an alternating current to the coil. A magnetic field is created in the area surrounding the chamber which induces electric current flow in the chamber, heating the chamber and vaporizing the fluid inside. Positioning elements help maintain the device in the proper position with respect to the target tissue and also prevent the passage of ablative agent to normal tissues.

A device and method for treating a hollow anatomical structure using matter in a plasma state. Device includes a tubular delivery device comprising a tubular body, a hub, and a distal end, wherein the tubular body device having a longitudinal fluid delivery channel and an exit port near the distal end. Device also contains a container having pre-plasma matter being operatively coupled to the hub, at least one energy-emitting element operatively coupled near the distal end of the tubular delivery device. The energy-emitting element is operatively connected to energy source.