A forceps includes a drive assembly and an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members movable between a spaced-apart position, a first approximated position, and a second approximated position. The drive assembly includes a drive housing and a drive bar. The proximal end of the drive bar is coupled to the drive housing, while the distal end of the drive bar is coupled to at least one of the jaw members. The drive housing and the drive bar are selectively movable in conjunction with one another between a first position and a second position to move the jaw members between the spaced-apart position and the first approximated position. The drive assembly is selectively activatable to move the drive bar independent of the drive housing from the second position to a third position to move the jaw members from the first approximated position to the second approximated position.

A combined isolator-diplexer device for supplying radiofrequency (RF) energy and microwave energy obtained from separate sources to a probe via a common signal pathway. The invention combines into a single unit all the necessary components to isolate a microwave channel from an RF channel whilst providing a high withstanding voltage (e.g. greater than 10 kV). The device comprises a waveguide isolator for isolating the microwave channel having a pair of DC isolation barriers arranged therein to provide a pair of series-connected capacitive structures between a ground conductor at an output of the combining circuit and a conductive input section of the waveguide isolator.

Method for ameliorating secondary pulmonary hypertension in a patient including determining a pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) of the patient suffering from secondary pulmonary hypertension; assessing a change in the PVR in response to a selection treatment; and treating the patient with a pulmonary artery manipulation device to provide pulmonary artery denervation if the patient is determined to suffer from fixed PH, thereby ameliorating the secondary pulmonary hypertension of the patient.

An electrosurgical apparatus for treating fluid-filled biological growths by replacing the fluid within the growth with a substance that assists in delivering treatment energy.

The treatment energy may be microwave energy or may be thermal energy derived from microwave energy. The apparatus comprises an instrument having a radiating tip portion, and a fluid delivery mechanism for transporting fluid to and from a treatment zone located around the radiating tip portion. The fluid delivery mechanism comprises a rigid insertion element arranged to extend into the treatment zone, whereby fluid can be aspirated from the treatment zone, and a substance injected into the treatment zone to replace the aspirated fluid. The injected substance has dielectric properties selected to facilitate uniform delivery of treatment energy to biological tissue in the treatment zone.

A surgical stapling system comprising an end effector, a firing member, a motor, and a control system is disclosed. The end effector comprises an elongate channel, a staple cartridge, and an anvil. The staple cartridge comprises staples removably stored therein. The elongate channel and the anvil are configurable in a closed configuration to capture tissue therebetween. The anvil comprises an impedance sensor configured to sense an impedance of the tissue. The firing member is moveable between a starting position and an ending position. The staples are deployable from the staple cartridge based on the firing member moving toward the ending position. The motor is configured to drive the firing member toward the ending position. The control system comprises a multiplexer configured to control the impedance sensor. The control system is configured to interrogate the impedance sensor to determine the impedance and control the motor based on the determined impedance.

A surgical stapling system comprising an end effector, a firing member, a motor, and a control system is disclosed. The end effector comprises an elongate channel, a staple cartridge, and an anvil. The staple cartridge comprises staples removably stored therein. The elongate channel and the anvil are configurable in a closed configuration to capture tissue therebetween. The anvil comprises an impedance sensor configured to sense an impedance of the tissue. The firing member is moveable between a starting position and an ending position. The staples are deployable from the staple cartridge based on the firing member moving toward the ending position. The motor is configured to drive the firing member toward the ending position. The control system comprises a multiplexer configured to control the impedance sensor. The control system is configured to interrogate the impedance sensor to determine the impedance and control the motor based on the determined impedance.

A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The method comprises: using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target comprising or consisting of a microbial population; mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and analysing said spectrometric data in order to analyse said microbial population.

An instrument and method for tissue thermotherapy including an inductive heating means to generate a vapor phase media that is used for interstitial, intraluminal, intracavity or topical tissue treatment. In one method, the vapor phase media is propagated from a probe outlet to provide a controlled vapor-to-liquid phase change in an interface with tissue to thereby apply ablative thermal energy delivery.

An instrument and method for tissue thermotherapy including an inductive heating means to generate a vapor phase media that is used for interstitial, intraluminal, intracavity or topical tissue treatment. In one method, the vapor phase media is propagated from a probe outlet to provide a controlled vapor-to-liquid phase change in an interface with tissue to thereby apply ablative thermal energy delivery.

In general, devices, systems, and methods for multi-source imaging are provided.