Patent ID: 6572613
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An electrosurgical electrode for volumetric shrinkage of tissue comprising:(a) an electrically-conductive member comprising a shank portion having at a first end means for connecting to electrosurgical apparatus and having at a second end an electrode portion comprising a tip that has a sharpened point adapted for penetrating tissue, (b) the electrode portion adjacent the tip being generally straight and needle-shaped and comprising, in order, an electrically-insulated first, a bare second, and an active third tip section located at the end of the shank portion furthest removed from the first end, (c) the active third tip section being bare so as to allow electrosurgical currents to enter penetrated tissue when the electrosurgical apparatus is activated, (d) the first section having a thin electrically-insulating coating so as to prevent electrosurgical currents to enter tissue penetrated by the third section when the electrosurgical apparatus is activated, (e) the active third tip section having a non-round angled cross-section terminating in sharpened point, (f) the active third tip section being tapered and having longitudinal ribs extending along sides of the taper.