Patent ID: 7150746

Claim:
An electrosurgical instrument for ablating tissue in a surgical procedure comprising: an elongate electrically conductive probe having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion and defining a lumen therethrough for aspirating gasses and debris; an electrically conductive seat disposed within the probe; and an electrode disposed at the distal end portion of the probe and electrically coupled to the electrically conductive seat, the electrode having a distal end and a proximal end, the electrode comprising: a lumen, in fluid communication with the lumen of the probe, extending from the proximal end of the electrode toward the distal end and being configured for aspirating gasses and debris therethrough; a plurality of upper active edges formed at the distal end of the electrode for ablating tissue, the upper active edges being spaced apart so as to form one or more openings in fluid communication with the lumen of the electrode; and at least one lower active edge formed between the upper active edges and the lumen of the electrode for ablating tissue that may otherwise block said lumen.