Patent ID: 11903636
Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 11:
12. A tissue removal system, comprising:
a monopolar electrosurgical pencil configured to connect to an active monopolar port of an electrosurgical generator, the monopolar electrosurgical pencil configured to apply electrosurgical energy received from the electrosurgical generator to tissue to cut tissue; and
a tubular tissue guard configured for positioning within an opening in tissue, the tubular tissue guard including an inner surface defining a tubular passageway therethrough, the tubular tissue guard having a proximal end defining a proximal opening, a distal end defining a distal opening, and an intermediate waist portion between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein a diameter of the intermediate waist portion is less than a diameter of the proximal opening and a diameter of the distal opening, the tubular tissue guard including a first electrically-conductive portion and a second electrically-conductive portion, the first and second electrically-conductive portions disposed on the inner surface of the tubular tissue guard and extending from the intermediate waist portion to the distal end of the tubular tissue guard, the first electrically-conductive portion electrically isolated from the second electrically-conductive portion, the first and second electrically-conductive portions configured to connect to a return monopolar port of the electrosurgical generator to return electrosurgical energy from tissue to the electrosurgical generator.