An electrosurgical probe for ablating tissue includes an elongated shaft having an axis and a distal end. An electrically insulating housing at the distal end of the shaft has a window, and an interior channel in the shaft extends through the housing to the window. The window faces laterally relative to the axis, and a moveable member with a blade-like electrode edge is disposed within the window. A motor drives the energized electrode edge axially in the window to ablate tissue.

The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to arms or forearms of medical devices that are configured to couple with quick-release end effectors, quick-release end effectors for use with such medical devices, and arms or forearms coupled to such quick-release end effectors. Certain forearms and end effectors have magnetic couplings, while others have mechanical couplings, and further implementations have both magnetic and mechanical couplings.

A method and apparatus for treating tissue are disclosed, including intra-operative mapping of a probe ablation zone. The method uses a system that maps the proximal and distal margins of the probe ablation zone using tools that access the ablation target. In some embodiments, the tools comprise a bone drill, and an introducer assembly, including a cannula and a stylet. The tools have features or markings that cooperate to indicate which probe to use to achieve the desired ablation. The method further facilitates planning probe placement for delivering energy to treat (ablate) a desired ablation volume of a target tissue by using a system that maps both the target tissue and possible probe ablation zones.

A surgical treatment instrument includes an elongated member an end effector that is bendable with respect to the elongated member, a bending operator operable to bend the end effector, a rotor rotatable about a rotation axis in response to operation of the bending operator, and a transmitter that transmits a driving force to bend the end effector. The bending operator, the rotor, and the transmitter are rotatable about the longitudinal axis together with the elongated member and the end effector.

An electrosurgical instrument comprising an end effector is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. At least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable to transition the end effector from an open configuration to a closed configuration to grasp tissue therebetween. The second jaw comprises linear portions cooperating to form an angular profile and a treatment surface comprising segments extending along the angular profile. The segments comprise different geometries and different conductivities. The segments are configured to produce variable energy densities along the treatment surface.

A tissue cutting probe includes an outer sleeve assembly, an inner sleeve assembly, a burr and an electrode. Each of the inner and outer sleeves has a proximal end, a distal end, and central passage extending therebetween. The inner sleeve assembly is coaxially and rotatably received in the central passage of the outer sleeve assembly, and the burr has a plurality of metal cutting edges carried on a first side of the distal end of the inner sleeve assembly. The electrode is carried a second side of the distal end of the inner sleeve assembly.

A surgical instrument comprising an end effector is disclosed. The end effector comprises a surgical dissector. The surgical dissector can apply mechanical and/or electrosurgical energy to treated tissue.

A surgical instrument connectable to a surgical energy module that is configured to provide a first drive signal at a first frequency range for driving a first energy modality and a second drive signal at a second frequency range for driving a second energy modality is provided. The surgical instrument can comprise a surgical instrument component configured to receive power from a direct current (DC) power source, an end effector, and a circuit. The circuit can be configured to convert the first electrical signal to a DC voltage, apply the DC voltage to the surgical instrument component, and deliver the second energy modality to the end effector according to the second drive signal. Alternatively, the circuit can be disposed within a cable assembly configured to connect the surgical instrument to the surgical energy module.

An energy source is offset from an elongate probe axis with an extension. The amount of offset of the energy source can be controlled by varying an amount of offset of the extension. The energy source rotated and translated at the offset distance to resect tissue. In some embodiments, the probe is configured to receive a second treatment probe comprising a second energy source, in which the second energy source is rotated and translated relative to the first treatment probe, which can improve positional accuracy and stability. The energy source and the extension can be coupled to a linkage to offset the energy source, and to translate and rotate the energy source with varying amounts of offset. The linkage can be coupled to a processor and one or more of the energy source moved in accordance with a treatment profile.

A vessel sealing instrument includes a housing having a shaft extending from a distal end thereof having an end effector assembly including a pair of opposing first and second jaw members operably coupled thereto. A drive assembly is disposed within the housing and is configured to move the jaw members upon actuation thereof between an open position and a closed position for clamping tissue with a closure pressure within the range of about 3 kg/cm.sup.2 to about 16 kg/cm.sup.2. An anti-backdrive assembly is operably disposed within the housing and includes a drive wedge. A solenoid controller is operably coupled to the drive wedge and is configured to selectively move the drive wedge into the drive assembly upon activation thereof to increase the closure pressure between the jaw members in response to tissue expansion during sealing.