Patent ID: 7862563

Claim:
A unitized high frequency electrode system comprising: a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end comprising an uninsulated electrode tip, and the cannula being rigidly adapted to enable self-supported penetration of skin and tissue so that the uninsulated electrode tip can be positioned in a target tissue; a unitized flexible leader having an inner lumen, the unitized flexible leader being inseparably connected to the proximal end of the cannula; a high frequency electrical connection carried, at least in part, in the unitized flexible leader to the proximal end of the cannula where the high frequency electrical connection is inseparably connected to the proximal end of the cannula and configured so that a high frequency signal connected to the high frequency electrical connection is connected to the uninsulated electrode tip; a temperature connection and a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor configured to be in thermal contact with the uninsulated electrode tip, the temperature connection being carried, at least in part, in the unitized flexible leader to the proximal end of the cannula and being connected to the temperature sensor; wherein the temperature connection is configured so that a temperature readout apparatus connected to the temperature connection can read the temperature at the temperature sensor; whereby, the high frequency electrode system, when inserted into the living body so that the uninsulated electrode tip is positioned in the tissue, enables the treatment of the tissue by applying the high frequency signal to the tissue while sensing the temperature of the tissue adjacent to the uninsulated electrode tip.