Patent ID: 6135998
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
A method for electrosurgically cutting tissue surrounded by liquid using an electrosurgical probe, wherein the electrosurgical probe has a first electrode and a second electrode, and wherein the first electrode has an endface with area A in close proximity to the tissue, the method comprising the step of:a) applying to the first electrode an electrical pulse such that plasma streamers are formed from the electrode endface by an electrical discharge, wherein the electrical discharge starts in the tissue or the liquid, wherein the endface area A is less than 10000 microns.sup.2, and wherein the electrical pulse has a pulse power dissipation which:i) is greater than 500 Watts for a nonzero duration less than 300 nanoseconds,ii) rises from 50 Watts to 500 Watts in less than 100 nanoseconds;iii) falls from 500 Watts to 50 Watts in less than 150 nanoseconds.