Patent ID: 9283032
Filing Date: 2016-03-15
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
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: an exposed surface of the tissue treatment electrode forming a tissue treating surface, the majority of the tissue treating surface being substantially planar, and the return electrode having a fluid contact surface so as to define, in use, a conductive fluid path that completes an electrical circuit between the tissue treatment electrode and the return electrode, the insulation member including an aperture, and the tissue treatment electrode being mounted within the aperture, such that a peripheral channel is defined between an outer perimeter of the tissue treatment electrode and an inner perimeter of the insulation member aperture and extends around at least a substantial portion of the outer perimeter of the tissue treatment electrode to form a suction channel through which vapour bubbles and/or particulate material can be aspirated from the region surrounding the tissue treatment electrode.