An electrosurgical system includes a supply apparatus and a neutral electrode. A measurement signal is applied or impressed to the neutral electrode and the resulting impedance actual value (Z.sub.ist) of the neutral electrode current circuit can be determined. The measurement signal (US, IS) is applied at different measurement frequencies (ω) and one impedance actual value (Z.sub.ist) for each measurement frequency (ω) is determined. The impedance actual values characterize a frequency-dependent progress of the impedance and can be checked by a predefined frequency-dependent check criterion. It can thereby be recognized whether the conductive connection between the neutral electrode and the patient complies with the specifications defined by the check criterion. Particularly it is checked whether a sufficiently large area portion of the neutral electrode is conductively connected to the patient, so that excessive current densities in the region of the neutral electrode inside the tissue of the patient can be avoided.

Described herein are methods and apparatuses for reducing or eliminating skin glands (e g , sebaceous, eccrine and apocrine) with an electric treatment. Also described herein are methods for treating and/or preventing a disorder of a skin gland. For example, described herein are methods of treating sebaceous hyperplasia.

A surgical protective equipment includes: a first boundary surface having a horseshoe shape in a plan view; a second boundary surface disposed face-to-face with the first boundary surface and having a horseshoe shape in a plan view; an inner surface disposed between the first boundary surface and the second boundary surface, and forming a groove by connecting an inner end of the first boundary surface and an inner end of the second boundary surface to each other; and an outer surface connecting an outer end of the first boundary surface and an outer end of the second boundary surface, wherein a surgical incision area is inserted in the groove.

A pedicle access system including a cannula, a stylet, and a removable T-handle. The pedicle access system may be used to percutaneously approach the pedicle, initiate pilot hole formation, and conduct a stimulation signal to the target site for the purposes of performing a pedicle integrity assessment during the pilot hole formation. To do this, the cannula and stylet are locked in combination and inserted through an operating corridor to the pedicle target site, using the T-handle to facilitate easy movement and positioning of the cannula/stylet combination. A stimulation signal may be applied during pilot hole formation to conduct the pedicle integrity assessment. In a significant aspect, the T-handle may be detached from the cannula/stylet combination to facilitate the use of various surgical tools as necessary.

A deflection system for deflecting a body lumen that includes a deflection mechanism, wherein the deflection mechanism includes: a beam having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the beam includes a neutral position and a deflected position, a pull wire coupled to the distal end of the beam, wherein the beam is configured to be placed in the deflected position when a tension force is applied to the pull wire, and wherein at least a portion of the pull wire is configured to move to a displacement distance away from the beam when the tension force is applied to the pull wire, and one or more constraint members operatively coupled to the beam, wherein each one of the one or more constraint members is configured to limit the displacement distance of the pull wire from the beam when the tension force is applied to the pull wire.

A phototherapy shield for an infant includes a shield body that is sized and shaped to extend around at least a portion of a torso of an infant. The shield body includes a reflective foil layer that is sandwiched between an upper fabric layer and a lower fabric layer and that is configured to block phototherapy light. A fastener is attached to the shield body to secure the phototherapy shield around the infant's torso. The disclosed phototherapy shield and associated methods are useful for shielding an infant undergoing phototherapy, and more particularly, for shielding the chest of a premature infant undergoing phototherapy to treat jaundice. The shield body can be sized and shaped to cover the infant's chest over the second to fourth thoracic rib position to shield an area of skin above a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

Compositions and formulations for use with devices and systems that enable tissue cooling, such as cryotherapy applications, for alteration and reduction of adipose tissue are described. Aspects of the technology are further directed to methods, compositions and devices that provide protection of non-targeted cells (e.g., non-lipid-rich cells) from freeze damage during dermatological and related aesthetic procedures that require sustained exposure to cold temperatures. Further aspects of the technology include systems for enhancing sustained and/or replenishing release of cryoprotectant to a treatment site prior to and during cooling applications.

Systems, devices, and methods for identifying a target in vivo are disclosed. A target identification system for use in electrosurgery includes a probe, an optical splitter, and a spectroscopy system. The probe includes an optical pathway to pass a first optical signal to an anatomical target and at least a portion of a second optical signal from the anatomical target. The optical splitter includes a first port to direct the first optical signal to the optical pathway and to receive the at least a portion of the second optical signal from the optical pathway, a second port to receive the first optical signal, and a parabolic reflector to redirect the portion of the second optical signal. The spectroscopy system can identify a characteristic of the anatomical target based on the redirected at least a portion of the second optical signal.

A positioning device is configured to selectively position or otherwise manipulate one or more organs within the body of a subject. The positioning device includes a shaped expandable element that is configured to be selectively transitioned between an unexpanded, or collapsed, state and an expanded state. While in the expanded state, the expandable element repositions or otherwise manipulates an organ. Systems that include positioning devices are also disclosed, as are methods for positioning or otherwise manipulating organs.

A system includes a radiation source, one or more beam-directing elements, and a controller. The controller is configured to cause the radiation source to emit one or more aiming beams at the beam-directing elements such that the aiming beams are directed, by the beam-directing elements, toward an eye of a patient, to verify that each of the aiming beams is properly directed by the beam-directing elements, and, in response to verifying that each of the aiming beams is properly directed by the beam-directing elements, to treat the eye by causing the radiation source to irradiate one or more target regions of the eye with respective treatment beams. Other embodiments are also described.