Patent ID: 7198626

Claim:
An electrosurgical device, comprising: a body having an outer surface, a proximal end, and a distal end; an elongate active element having a distal end coupled to the distal end of the body, the active element being adapted to be electrically connected to a power source and configured to selectively assume a non-deployed configuration and a deployed configuration, the elongate active element being in a straightened configuration in the non-deployed configuration and being in a bowed condition in which the active element extends radially away from the outer surface of the body when in the deployed configuration; a tissue collection element that is configured to substantially span a length of the elongate active element coming into contact with tissue, the tissue collection element being configured to radially trail behind the active element and to collect tissue cut by the active element when the active element is in the deployed configuration and rotated, and an insulating sleeve, the insulating sleeve being slidable relative to the active element to cover at least part of the active element from a patient's tissue in a first position and expose the active element to the patient's tissue in a second position.