Patent ID: 8267934

Claim:
An electrosurgical tool comprising: a housing disposed at and defining a proximal end of said tool; and a lumen assembly projecting from a distal end of said housing and including an elongated outer shaft defining a hollow interior, a distal end of said outer shaft comprising an electrically conductive material and defining a return electrode, a suction conduit defined within said outer shaft and in communication with a suction source, a suction tube disposed within said hollow interior of said outer shaft and defining a conduit therein forming part of said suction conduit, said suction tube comprising an electrically conductive material and being connected to a source of electrical energy, an electrode element comprising an electrically conductive material and having a distal end defining an active, energy-delivering electrode at a distal end of said lumen assembly and an electrically conductive proximal end, and an insulator disposed between said return electrode and said active electrode, said proximal end of said electrode element and an electrically conductive distal end of said suction tube defining respective connectors which cooperate to define a connection area directly between said electrode element and said suction tube, said connection area electrically connecting said electrode element to said suction tube such that said suction tube delivers electrical energy to said active electrode.