An electrode assembly for an electrosurgical instrument includes a housing configured to operably receive a distal end of an electrosurgical instrument shaft, the housing encapsulating an insulative core sandwiched between a pair of return electrodes. The insulative core includes a slot defined about a periphery thereof configured to partially receive an active electrode. The active electrode and the pair of return electrodes are adapted to connect to opposite polarities of an electrosurgical generator. A tensioning mechanism is configured to tension the active electrode about the insulative core during assembly.

A medical device can include a surgical device (102) that can include an elongated shaft (118) configured to be guided via an access stabilizer (1224). The device can include a housing mechanically coupled to the shaft. The device can include an electrical port (122) at least partially around the shaft, the shaft extending through and able to longitudinally translate through an opening in the electrical port. The device can include one or more electrical interconnects (120) configured to receive an electrical signal from or provide the electrical signal to the electrical port.

An electrosurgical system comprising: a plurality of electrosurgical connection units, each electrosurgical connection unit comprising an input port connectable to an electrosurgical channel and an output port connectable to an electrosurgical instrument, the electrosurgical connection unit configured to connect the input port to the output port; an electrosurgical network comprising a plurality of electrosurgical links that connect the input ports of the electrosurgical connection units to an electrosurgical channel; and a control unit configured to: receive information from a device indicating that the device has detected an electrosurgical generator connected to the electrosurgical channel, the device being one of the electrosurgical connection units and an electrosurgical output device connected to the electrosurgical channel; determine a location of the electrosurgical generator in the electrosurgical network based on the received information; and transmit one or more control signals to the electrosurgical connection units and/or one or more electrosurgical output devices connected to the electrosurgical channel to cause the output port of a selected combination of electrosurgical connection units to be connected to the electrosurgical channel based on the determined location of the electrosurgical generator.

A medical device includes a body and at least one electrode disposed thereon. The electrode includes a metallic substrate, such as a platinum group metal, an alloy of platinum group metals, or gold. The surface of the substrate is modified in a manner that increases its effective surface area without inducing bulk heating. For example, the surface of the substrate can be laser textured and/or coated, such as with titanium nitride or iridium oxide.

A current sensor includes a current sense coil disposed about a conductive lead, the current sense coil configured to sense a current passing through the conductive lead. The current sense coil includes: a first outer coil configured to detect a first magnetic field generated by the current; a second outer coil configured to detect the first magnetic field, the second outer coil further configured to cancel an electrical field induced in the first outer coil; and an inner conductor disposed between the first outer coil and the second outer coil, the inner conductor configured to detect a second magnetic field generated by the current.

A system includes an elongated catheter including a proximal end configured for operative coupling to an electrical power source, a distal end with a first electrical connector and a first conducting wire, an implant including a tissue energising module and a proximal connecting hub configured to detachably couple with the distal end of the elongated catheter. The proximal connecting hub includes a second electrical connector configured to mate with the first electrical connector and electrically couple the first electrical connector with the tissue energising module through a second conducting wire. A latch system to lock the distal end of the catheter to the proximal connecting hub arm includes an arm attached to the distal end of the catheter that is resiliently deformable such that the arm engages a sidewall of the proximal connecting hub and a locking element that is axially adjustable.

A system including an elongated catheter and an implant. The elongated catheter includes a proximal end configured for operative coupling to an electrical supply module, a distal end with a first electrical connector and a first conducting wire to electrically couple the electrical supply module with the first electrical connector. The implant includes a proximal connecting hub configured to detachably mount to the distal end of the elongated catheter, a second electrical connector configured to mate with the first electrical connector, and an active module electrically coupled to the second electrical connector. The first electrical connector is rotatably mounted to the distal end of the elongated catheter and the second electrical connector is non-rotatably attached to the proximal connecting hub of the implant and the elongated catheter can detach from the implant without rotation of the first electrical connector relative to the second electrical connector.

Described herein are elongate applicator tools adapted to be inserted into a body to deliver high voltage, sub-microsecond electrical energy to target tissue. These tools may be configured as laparoscopes, endoscopes, and/or catheters. Also disclosed herein systems including these tools and method of their operation.

A slip ring assembly is used with a surgical shaft assembly. The slip ring assembly includes a slip ring, a first conductor mounted on the slip ring, a commutator rotatable relative to the slip ring, and a second conductor mounted on the commutator. The slip ring assembly further includes a flexible member disposed between the slip ring and the commutator. The flexible member comprises a body and flexible protrusions extending from the body, wherein the flexible protrusions are elastically deformed against the first slip ring.

Instruments having plugs with data carriers containing codes identifiable as being correlated. The codes can be individual identifiers that are individually provided to the plugs. If plugs identical in construction of instruments of identical types are connected with apparatus or an apparatus group, e.g., a first plug of a used instrument and a second and third plug of a new instrument that replace the used instrument, the three inserted plugs are determined as not being part of the same instrument and an operation of the apparatus and thus the instruments is blocked.