Patent ID: 6179836
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M

Abstract:
An electrosurgical probe for applying electrical energy to a target site within a confined spaced in a patient's body, the instrument comprising:a shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion extending from the shaft, the distal end portion having an axial length, a thickness substantially less than said length and a width substantially larger than said thickness to form a substantially planar body having an active side and a non-active side opposing the active side sized to fit within a relatively narrow space within the patient's body;an insulating member extending alone the non-active side of the substantially planar body;at least one active electrode extending along the active side of the substantially planar body of the distal end portion of the shaft and being insulated from the non-active side and having an exposed surface area;a return electrode having an exposed surface area larger than the exposed surface area of the active electrode and being spaced from the active electrode; anda connector disposed near the proximal end portion of the shaft for electrically coupling the active electrode to a high frequency voltage source.