Patent ID: 8568409

Claim:
A surgical method for treating tissue comprising: providing tissue having a tissue surface; providing radio frequency power and an electrically conductive fluid to an electrosurgical device having a tip portion which simultaneously provides the radio frequency power and the electrically conductive fluid to a tissue treatment site, the tip portion comprising at least one fluid outlet opening and a non-porous blunt distal end provided by an exposed electrode; providing an electrically conductive fluid from the electrosurgical device at a fluid flow rate; forming a localized fluid coupling with the electrically conductive fluid which couples the tissue surface and the electrode, the fluid coupling localized at the tip portion of the electrosurgical device; providing the radiofrequency power to the tissue; moving the tip portion of the electrosurgical device along the tissue; coagulating the tissue with the electrosurgical device without cutting the tissue; and blunt dissecting the tissue with the tip portion of electrosurgical device after coagulating the tissue.