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.

An electrosurgical apparatus for generating a plasma discharge beam is provided. In one aspect, the electrosurgical apparatus includes a first fluid flow housing, a second fluid flow housing, and an electrode. A first gas is provided to the distal end of the first fluid flow housing, where the electrode is energized to ionize the first gas and generate a plasma discharge beam. A second gas is provided to the distal end of the second fluid flow housing, where the distal end of the second fluid flow housing injects the second gas into the plasma discharge beam. In another aspect, the electrosurgical apparatus includes a single fluid flow housing having an external electrode and an internal electrode. In another aspect, the electrosurgical apparatus includes a transformer assembly having a plurality of serially-connected transformers.

System and methods of an electrosurgical controller having multiple modes of operation that are configured for treatment of a specific targeted tissue type and the electrosurgical effect desired where the treatment and effect are provided by a single controller and an electrosurgical probe. The electrosurgical controller includes an integrated fluid control apparatus or pump where activation of the controller allows for selective energy delivery and corresponding fluid volume flow rates. The electrosurgical probe includes a fluid transport lumen and is in communication with the controller and the pump for operation of the probe in the various user selected modes with accompanying energy delivery and fluid control directed to the desired treatment and surgical effect.

An electrode arrangement is described that is configured to be coupled to a high voltage source for a dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatment of an irregularly three-dimensionally shaped surface of an electrically conducting body. The three-dimensionally shaped surface is used as a counter electrode. A first planar electrode is coupled to the high voltage source via a first lead, fitted to the object to be treated and brought in contact with a dielectric. A second electrode is contacted with the surface to be treated as reference electrode. The second electrode is provided in an edge portion that is circumferential to the first planar electrode and configured to be coupled to a reference voltage source via a second lead. An isolating cover layer covers the electrode and a third electrode covers the isolating cover layer as a ground electrode.

An electrosurgical wand is provided and includes a handle and an elongate shaft coupled to the handle and extending distally from the handle along an axis. An active electrode is disposed at a distal end of the electrosurgical wand. A return electrode abuts the elongate shaft and extends along and annularly about the axis. The return electrode has a top side adjacent the active electrode and an opposite bottom side and defines a notch. A support member is disposed in the notch between the electrodes and transitions curvilinearly from the notch to define a front surface extending laterally across and axially from the return electrode. The front surface tapers downwardly from the active electrode to define a first portion defining a first convex outer surface and also extends toward the bottom side of the return electrode to define a second portion defining a second convex outer surface.

A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall within a body of a patient includes an energy source, a balloon, and an energy guide. The energy source generates energy. The balloon includes a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior. The balloon is configured to retain a balloon fluid within the balloon interior. The balloon is selectively inflatable with the balloon fluid to expand to an inflated state, wherein when the balloon is in the inflated state the balloon wall is configured to be positioned substantially adjacent to the treatment site. The balloon further includes a balloon central axis that extends through a geometric center of the balloon when the balloon is in the inflated state. The energy guide selectively receives energy from the energy source and guides the energy from the energy source into the balloon interior. The energy guide including a guide distal end that is positioned on the balloon central axis when the balloon is in the inflated state.

An electrosurgical wand is provided and includes a handle and an elongate shaft coupled to the handle and extending distally from the handle along an axis. An active electrode is disposed at a distal end of the electrosurgical wand. A return electrode abuts the elongate shaft and extends along and annularly about the axis. The return electrode has a top side adjacent the active electrode and an opposite bottom side and defines a notch. A support member is disposed in the notch between the electrodes and transitions curvilinearly from the notch to define a front surface extending laterally across and axially from the return electrode. The front surface tapers downwardly from the active electrode to define a first portion defining a first convex outer surface and also extends toward the bottom side of the return electrode to define a second portion defining a second convex outer surface.

An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical instrument includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members each including a jaw housing supporting a sealing plate disposed thereon and movable relative to one another to grasp tissue therebetween. The sealing plates adapted to connect to opposite potentials of an electrosurgical energy source and the sealing plate of the first jaw member having an open T-shaped configuration defining a channel along a length thereof. A plasma blade is disposed within the channel and extends to a distal end portion thereof, the plasma blade electrically connected to the energy source and independently activatable from the sealing plates. The plasma blade includes an insulative material on either side thereof configured to focus electrical and thermal energy to an exposed edge defined along a length of the plasma blade.

A tissue cutting device has an outer sleeve with a distal window and an inner cutting sleeve which moves past the window to cut tissue. The inner cutting sleeve has a lumen which may have a larger proximal diameter than distal diameter. A perimeter of the window may comprise a dielectric material. A distal edge of the inner sleeve may be displaced inwardly.

The present technology is directed generally to devices, systems, and methods for capturing and cutting fibrous and trabeculated structures (such as synechiae) in vessel lumens. In one embodiment, the present technology includes an intraluminal tissue modifying system configured to capture the fibrous structures, put the fibrous structures in tension, and controllably cut through the fibrous structures without applying appreciable additional force to the vessel wall. The system may include an expandable capture device and a cutting device.