Various embodiments provide an introducer for introducing an electrosurgical instrument into a body of a patient. The introducer comprises: a tubular member defining a lumen through which the electrosurgical instrument is insertable; and a cooling assembly configured to remove heat from the tubular member. Other embodiments provide an electrosurgical system comprising an electrosurgical instrument and an introducer.

The invention provides a tip that permits therapeutic electromagnetic energy systems to deliver multiple beams of overlapping, partially overlapping, and non-overlapping electromagnetic energy in the treatment of tissue disorders and conditions. The tip finds use with laser systems, intense pulsed light systems, LED systems, radiofrequency systems, and microwave systems.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for managing an esophagus of a subject during a medical procedure, such as cardiac tissue ablation or bronchial tissue ablation. Managing the esophagus may include displacing the esophagus, imaging the esophagus, and/or measuring temperature at one or more locations inside the esophagus. One example esophageal management system generally includes a tube configured for insertion through a mouth and into the esophagus of the subject. The tube generally includes a first port located at a proximal end of the tube and in fluid communication with a distal portion of the tube via a first path, a second port located at the proximal end of the tube, and a third port located between the proximal end of the tube and a distal end of the tube and in fluid communication with the second port via a second path.

Disclosed is a computer-implemented method for planning a trajectory (11) through an anatomical body part (1), the trajectory (11) being usable for a medical procedure and the method comprising executing, on at least one processor of at least one computer, steps of: • a) acquiring (S1), at a processor, patient image data describing a medical image of a patient anatomical body part being the anatomical body part (1) in a patient's body; • b) acquiring (S2), at a processor, atlas trajectory data describing a model anatomical body part being a model of the patient anatomical body part, and describing the position of at least one predetermined trajectory through the model anatomical body part; • c) acquiring (S3), at a processor, critical structure data describing the position of at least one critical structure (5) in the model anatomical body part or in the patient anatomical body part; • d) determining (S4), by a processor and based on the patient image data and the atlas trajectory data and the critical structure, mapping data describing a mapping of the model anatomical body part, of the position of the at least one predetermined trajectory and of the position of the at least one critical structure (5) onto the medical image of the patient anatomical body part; • e) determining (S5), by a processor and based on the mapping data and the atlas trajectory data and the patient image data, analysis region data describing an analysis region in the patient image data, the analysis region (16) having a position in the patient anatomical body part fulfilling a predetermined spatial condition relative to the position of the mapped predetermined trajectory (6); • f) determining (S6), by the processor and based on the patient image data and the atlas trajectory data and the analysis region data and the critical structure data, straight trajectory data describing a straight line trajectory (11) through the patient anatomical body part having a position fulfilling a predetermined spatial condition relative to the position of at least one critical structure (5) in the patient anatomical body part.

An active electrode probe for an enhanced control surgery system is disclosed. The probe has a flexible conductor for delivering electrosurgical energy during an electrosurgical procedure, and is adapted for connection to an electrosurgical generator. The probe also has a flexible electrical insulation substantially surrounding the conductor. The probe also has a flexible conductive shield substantially enclosing the electrical insulation, the flexible conductive shield electrically connected to a reference potential, whereby any current which flows in the flexible conductive shield from the conductor is conducted to the reference potential. The flexible conductive shield is formed from a conductive wire.

New techniques for controlling electromagnetic and other forms of radiation are provided. In some aspects of the invention, multiple sources of radiation with characteristics that are projected to constructively interfere at a target are provided. In other aspects, spatially-encoded source signals create a decrypted resulting beam at a planned, target location. In still other aspects, a variable shield which is also a lens is inserted between a radiation target and collateral material.

An amount of radiation exposure of a medical staff is significantly reduced, and a large working area is ensured during an operation. A size of each component of a radiation protection equipment is reduced so as to decrease a weight thereof. The radiation protection equipment is provided, which can be installed within a short time period before an operation and easily put away after the operation. The radiation protection equipment, includes: a first protection sheet arranged on a periphery of a radiation source device and configured to shield radiation; a second protection sheet formed separately from the first protection sheet, arranged on a side of an operation table, and configured to shield radiation; and a third protection sheet formed separately from the first and second protection sheets, arranged on a periphery of a surgical field so as to expose the surgical field, and configured to shield the radiation.

A protective assembly for use during laparoscopic surgery, the assembly comprising: a thin membrane formed from non-toxic material, the membrane being sufficiently thin and maneuverable to be passed through a cannula of a trocar; a flexible connector extending from the thin membrane; and an insertable shaft dimensioned to be passed through the cannula wherein a distal portion of the shaft is anchored to the flexible connector.

An apparatus for mechanically manipulating hollow organs within the body of a subject, or an organ manipulation apparatus, includes a manipulation section. The manipulation section may include a substantially two-dimensional element, which may have a width that exceeds a distance across a portion of the interior of a hollow organ within which the manipulation section is to be positioned. The manipulation section is configured to manipulate at least a portion of a hollow organ from within, which may modify at least one of a shape, orientation, or location of at least part of the hollow organ. Methods for manipulating hollow organs are also disclosed, as are operating techniques, such as left atrial ablation, in which the shapes, orientations, and/or locations of hollow organs are manipulated to move the hollow organs away from the site of the medical procedure, reducing the potential for damage to the hollow organs.

Systems, devices, and methods are described for providing, among other things, an intra-oral x-ray imaging system configured to reduce patient exposure to x-rays, reduce amount of scatter, transmission, or re-radiation during imaging, or improve x-ray image quality. In an embodiment, an intra-oral x-ray imaging system includes an intra-oral x-ray sensor configured to communicate intra-oral x-ray sensor position information or intra-oral x-ray sensor orientation information to a remote x-ray source.