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.

An ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery pencil that can be used in both monopolar and bipolar modes for cutting and coagulation. The ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery pencil can operate at very low power levels (such as 15-20 Watts or less) to both cut and coagulate tissue thereby reducing patient risk and damage to tissue.

A medical device includes a shaft including a distal end including a passive electrode that defines a central opening extending through the passive electrode, and an active electrode within the central opening. The active electrode is movable between at least an extended position in which the active electrode does not contact the passive electrode, and a retracted position in which the active electrode contacts the passive electrode.

An intraluminal microneurography probe has a probe body configured to be introduced into an artery near an organ of a body without preventing the flow of blood through the artery. An expandable sense electrode and an expandable stimulation electrode are fixed to the probe body at one end of each electrode such that movement of the other end toward the fixed end causes the sense electrode to expand from the probe body toward a wall of the artery. A ground electrode is configured to couple to the body, and a plurality of electrical connections are operable to electrically couple the electrodes to electrical circuitry. The sense electrode is operable to measure sympathetic nerve activity in response to excitation of the stimulation electrode. A radio frequency ablation element is located between the expandable sense electrode and expandable stimulation electrode, and is operable to ablate nerves proximate to the artery.

An ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and an ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade has a non-conductive planar member with opposing planar sides, a cutting end, and an opposite non-cutting end, first active and return electrodes located on one opposing planar side, and second active and return electrodes located on the other opposing planar side.

Retrieval of material from vessel lumens can be improved by electrically enhancing attachment of the material to the removal device. The removal device can have a core assembly that includes a hypotube coupled to a first electrical terminal and a pushwire coupled to a second electrical terminal, the pushwire extending through the hypotube lumen. An insulating layer separates the hypotube and the pushwire, and an interventional element is coupled to a distal end of the pushwire. The interventional element can be disposed adjacent to a thrombus. An electrical signal is delivered to the interventional element to promote adhesion of the thrombus to the interventional element. The electrical signal can optionally be a periodic waveform, and the total energy delivered can be between 0.75-24,000 mJ and the peak current delivered via the electrical signal can be between 0.5-5 mA.

A kit for extracting a tissue specimen includes a specimen container having a proximal rim and a specimen bag operably supported about the proximal rim and depending therefrom. The specimen bag includes a plurality of ribs depending from the proximal rim having a series of mechanical interfaces associated therewith and extending therealong. The kit also includes a cutting guard having a body with proximal and distal ends. The distal end is configured for insertion within the specimen bag when disposed within an incision and the proximal end defines an opening therein configured to facilitate introduction of one or more surgical instruments therethrough. The cutting guard includes one or mechanical interfaces operably associated with the body of the cutting guard configured to selectively engage one of the series of mechanical interfaces of one of the plurality of ribs of the specimen container upon insertion of the cutting guard within the incision.

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.

Devices and methods for monitoring the temperature of tissue at various locations in a treatment volume during fluid enhanced ablation therapy are provided. In one embodiment, an ablation device is provided having an elongate body, at least one ablation element, and at least one temperature sensor. The elongate body includes a proximal and distal end, an inner lumen, and at least one outlet port to allow fluid to be delivered to tissue surrounding the elongate body. The at least one ablation element is configured to heat tissue surrounding the at least one ablation element. The at least one temperature sensor can be positioned a distance away from the at least one ablation element and can be effective to output a measured temperature of tissue spaced a distance apart from the at least one ablation element such that the measured temperature indicates whether tissue is being heating to a therapeutic level.

Various embodiments are described herein for a bipolar catheter that generally comprises: a catheter body having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion; a first electrode at the distal end portion, the first electrode being on a spiral structure for rotational insertion into a physiological target region; a second electrode at the proximal end portion and spaced apart from the first electrode; and first and second electrode terminals spaced apart from one another at the proximal end portion and electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes respectively. The first and second electrodes are configured to function as active and dispersive electrodes respectively, or vice-versa. Also described are various embodiments of methods which generally include coupling the bipolar catheter to a signal generator; inserting the bipolar catheter at a physiological target region; and performing the procedure.