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Electrosurgical instrument

  • US 6,015,406 A
  • Filed: 08/21/1996
  • Issued: 01/18/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An electrosurgical instrument for the treatment of tissue in the presence of an electrically-conductive fluid medium, the instrument comprising:

  • an instrument shaft, and an electrode assembly at one end of the shaft;

    the electrode assembly comprising a tissue treatment electrode and a return electrode which is electrically insulated from the tissue treatment electrode by means of an insulation member;

    the tissue treatment electrode being exposed at the distal end portion of the instrument, and the return electrode having an exposed fluid contact surface spaced proximally from the exposed end of the tissue treatment electrode by the insulation member to an extent that the return electrode remains out of contact with tissue undergoing treatment by the tissue treatment electrode, so that electrical current flow between the tissue and the return electrode occurs only on a path through the conductive fluid medium;

    the exposed end of the tissue treatment electrode is constituted by a plurality of tissue treatment filamentary members made of an electrically-conductive material, the filamentary members being electrically connected distally of the insulation member to a common electrical supply conductor; and

    wherein the insulation member is formed with a least one wing, said at least one wing extending distally from the insulation member at a side of the tissue treatment electrode to project beyond the tissue treatment electrode.

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